Abu Simbel is an ancient temple complex located in southern Egypt on the western bank of the Nile River. It was built by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC as a monument to himself and his queen, Nefertari. The two temples at Abu Simbel are among the most impressive monuments of ancient Egypt. The Great Temple of Ramses II is dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, while the Small Temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor.
The temples were carved out of the sandstone cliffs of the Nile Valley and are decorated with scenes of Ramses II’s military victories and his deification. The entrance to the Great Temple is guarded by four colossal statues of Ramses II, each standing 20 meters high. Inside the temple, there are further statues of the pharaoh and his queen, as well as a sanctuary dedicated to the gods.
In the 1960s, the temples were threatened by the rising waters of the Nile due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam. To save the monuments, the Egyptian government and UNESCO launched a massive international effort to relocate the temples to higher ground. The relocation was completed in 1968 and the temples are now a popular tourist attraction.