The Temple of Abu Simbel

Ramesses

abu simbel temple in egypt

: Abu Simbel and

Ramesses II

The main temple was dedicated to

Ramesses II

and to the four universal gods Ptah, Re-Harakhte,

Amun Ra

, and to

Ramesses II

himself. Abu Simbel is considered to be the most impressive of the seven temples he built,.

the temple of abu simbel,

The Temple of Abu Simbel

The external shape of the main temple is 108 feet high and 125 feet wide with four colossal seated statues about 65 feet high wearing the double crown and having the cartouches of

Ramesses II

. They Memnon at Thebes are carved out of solid rock. At the feet of the colossus, beginning on the left are Queen Nofretari, Prince Amenhirkhopshef, the Kings mother Muttuya, Princess Bent'anta, unnamed, but probably Esenofre, Princess Nebettawy, Queen Muttuya, Princess Nofretari, Princess Merytamun, Princess Beketmut, Prince Ri'amsese, and Queen Nofretari, who where all members of

Ramesses II

's family Above the doorway in stands the sun god, a falcon headed representation of

Ramesses

, holding a war-scepter which shows the head and neck of an animal in his right and a figure of Ma'at in his left. This cleverly creates the Kings throne name of User-Ma'at-Re.

the temple of abu simbel,

At the top of the facade is a row of baboons which are thought to be greeting the morning sun. The sides of the thrones next to the entrance are decorated with Nile gods symbolically uniting Egypt, while below are prisoners, representing conquered nations, to the left, African and to the right, Asian. The entrance leads into a Grand Hall which is 57 feet in hight and 52 feet in width and was cut from the rock. It is supported with eight pillars with statues of

Ramesses

. The statues on the north side of the hall wear the double crown, while those on the south the white crown of upper Egypt.

the temple of abu simbel,

Just as other

temples in Egypt

, the floor and ceiling taper off to draw focus to the sanctuaries in the back of the temple. The pictures on the north wall of the Grand Hall show events from the Battle of

Kadesh

. Other walls show the king slaughtering captives in front of the gods

Amun Ra

and Re-Harakhte, and storming a fortress with his three sons. There are smaller rooms to either side of the Grand Hall, two to the South and four to the North. Most suggest that these rooms were for storage (treasure rooms) but elsewhere it is suggested that they were used for festivals related to the Kings Jubilee Beyond the Grand Hall is the second hypostyle hall with its flowered pillars. Views in this hall show the King and his wife,

Nefertari

making offerings to

Amun Ra

and Re-Harakhte (the Sun God), and beyond that is the three chapels. The central one containing the four deities worshipped in the temple (including

Ramesses II

). A Solstices takes place twice a year on or about February 20-22nd and October 20-22nd when the rays from the sun enter the front of the temple and cover the statues of the Gods 200 feet inside the temple with light. Interestingly enough, all but Ptah, the source of Chthonian life.

the temple of abu simbel,

On either side of the Facade are two small chapels. At the Southeast corner of the facade there are three stelae. One of these is called the Marriage Stele which documents the marriage of

Ramesses II

to the daughter of the King of the

Hittites

. On the other side of the Facade is the Sun Chapel, an open court devoted to the sun. Here, there are pillars with cavetto cornices. The one with steps held four praying baboons, the other a chapel with images of Khepri and Baboon-Thoth. The latter is now in the Antiquities Museum in Cairo.