Abu Simbel is more than just a temple. It's a message from the depths of time, carved into rock by ancient craftsmen and saved from flooding in one of the 20th century's most ambitious engineering operations. Two temples on the shores of Lake Nasser—a monument to Ramesses II's greatness and a triumph of international cooperation.

Construction History

Ramesses II ruled Egypt for 66 years—longer than any other pharaoh. During this time, he built more temples and erected more statues than all his predecessors combined. But Abu Simbel became a special project.

Construction began around 1264 BCE ...