Shaspo Tours gives you the opportunity to explore the temples of Abu Simbel, enjoy visiting the wonderful monuments in Abu Simbel. Visit Ramses II Temple, his wife Temple “Nefertari temple” and more. And also you can choose from our wide selection of Egypt Travel Packages and Aswan day tours.
Abu Simbel is located close to the southern border with Sudan and 280 km south of Aswan. It consists of Two of the most interesting Pharaonic Temples. These two rock-cut Temples, date back the reign of King Ramses II (1290-1223 BC). Unfortunately these unique Temples suffered from the raising water of Lake Nasser while the High Dam was being built. Other countries, with the help of UNESCO, assisted Egypt to help save them.
The two Temples were cut into many pieces, and then they were reconstructed again on a site 65m higher than the original location, and 200m back inland, to escape the rising water level. This great rescue operation began in June 1964 and finished in September 1968.
The first Temple was built by King Ramses II and is dedicated to the God Re-Hor-Akhty, Amon, Ptah, and King Ramses II as a deified King. Its façade is 35m long and 30m high. The façade has four seated colossi of the King; each one is 20m tall and represents the King seated on his throne wearing the double crown, accompanied by 3 small figures of his wives, daughters and sons flanking his legs. Near to the summit of the façade there are number of baboons and above the entrance stands the figure of Re-Hor-Akhty.
The second Temple is the smaller temple of Nefertari. Temple of Queen Nefertari is located 120m from the Temple of Ramses II and was also built by Ramses II, dedicated to the Goddess Hathor and to his wife Queen Nefertari. Queen Nefertari was the most beloved wife of King Ramses II.
This Temple is also a rock-cut Temple with a façade of about 28m long and 12m high, It contains 6 standing colossi, each one being about 11m in height. Four of these standings represent Ramses II and the other two represent Queen Nefertari, each is accompanied by two smaller figures of their children. We can see also the entrance leads to a square hall, which is supported by 6 Hathor-headed pillars decorated with scenes depicting the King and the Queen making offerings to different deities. At the end of the hall there is a doorway leading to a transverse vestibule decorated with scenes of King Ramses II making offering to Re-HorAkhty while the Queen is presenting flowers to Khenum, Sat-tet and Anket. The Transverse Hall leads to the Sanctuary, which contains a niche in the rear wall with a statue of Goddess Hathor, as a cow, protecting Ramses II.