Abu Simbel

The most beautiful of Ramses II's structures, Abu Simbel is both a perfect example of the pharaoh's ambition and a model illustration of modern engineering and worldwide collaboration. Even in a land where temples abound, Abu Simbel stands out. This is Ramses II's magnificent temple, with huge statues guarding the entrance and a beautifully decorated interior with wall murals.

Abu Simbel is well-known for its megalithic proportions, but it is also well-known for the astounding engineering feat accomplished by UNESCO in the 1960s, which saw the whole temple shifted from its original location to save it from being destroyed by the Aswan dam. Pharaoh Ramses II's quest for immortality is depicted by the huge stone statues that surround the front. Visitors now still crane their necks in awe at the colossal structures, much as the pharaoh's people must have done when they were initially built. Exploring Abu Simbel now is about admiring the worldwide effort to save the temple complex as much as it is about gaping in awe at Ramses II's awe-inspiring construction achievements.