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The Temples of Abu Simbel are found 768
miles south of Cairo near the edge of the Nile River
in southern Egypt. It was carved out of the side of a sandstone rock
cliff. It faces east so it can
be illuminated by the rising sun. The complex was built between 1300 and
1233 B.C. by
Ramses II. There are two temples. The greater temple (on the left) was
built for Pharoah
Ramses II and dedicated to the the three principal gods of ancient Egypt
-- Ha-Rakhte, Ptah
and Amen-Ra. The lesser temple --Temple of Hathor (on the right) was built
for Ramses's
wife -- Nefertari and dedicaded to the goddess Hathor. |