Abu Simbel
Site, Abydos to Abu Simbel · also called Abu Simbel temples, Great Temple of Ramesses II, Temple of Nefertari, Temple of Hathor at Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is a pair of temples cut into the rock by Ramesses II, one for himself and the gods, one for Nefertari and Hathor. Its walls tell the battle of Kadesh, and its façade writes the king's name as a giant rebus.
Abu Simbel lies in Nubia, about 280 km south of Aswan, on the shore of Lake Nasser. Ramesses II (c. 1279–1213 BC) had two temples cut into the sandstone cliff. The Great Temple honours Amun, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah and the king himself; the Small Temple honours Hathor and his queen Nefertari.
When the Aswan High Dam was built, both temples were cut into blocks and moved higher up the cliff between 1964 and 1968, in a UNESCO rescue. Twice a year, around 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun still reaches the statues in the inner sanctuary.
The writing here is bold, made to be seen from a distance and to impress visitors arriving from the south. Cartouches are large and deeply cut, the inner walls tell a war story in pictures and captions, and the façade itself is a pun on the king's name.
What to see and read
Façade rebus
Above the door, the falcon-headed sun god holds a was sceptre and a figure of Maat. Together they spell User-maat-ra, Ramesses' throne name.
Battle of Kadesh
The north wall of the great hall shows Ramesses fighting the Hittites, with the camp, chariots and long captions.
Greek graffiti
On the legs of the colossi, Greek, Carian and Phoenician soldiers of Psamtik II scratched their names in 591 BC, among the oldest Greek inscriptions known.
Small Temple
Nefertari stands as tall as the king on its façade. Inside, scenes of her offering to Hathor and Isis carry her names in cartouches.
Sanctuary
Four seated gods: Ptah, Amun, the deified Ramesses and Ra-Horakhty. Ptah, god of the underworld, stays in shadow when the sun comes in.
Names you can find here
Signs to look for
- Sun N5rꜥ The sun disc writes Ra and tops Ramesses' throne-name cartouche, User-maat-ra.
- Was sceptre S40wꜣs The was sceptre writes user, 'strong', and is held by Ra-Horakhty above the entrance.
- Goddess Maat C10mꜣꜥt The seated goddess Maat completes User-maat-ra in the cartouche and in the façade rebus.
- Three fox skins F31ms The three fox skins write ms in Ramesses (Ra-messu) in his second cartouche.
- Cartouche V10 Giant cartouches of Ramesses and Nefertari are carved on the façades and inner walls.
Reading the hieroglyphs here
- Photography rules inside the temples change; check at the entrance before using a camera.
- Arrive at opening time to see the façades in low sun and the halls before tour groups.
- Point Hiero Lens at a single cartouche on the façade; it is big enough to read from the ground.
Point your camera at a wall Hiero Lens boxes the signs and names them, on your phone; nothing is uploaded. On worn stone, trace a sign over the photo.
Questions
When does the sun shine into Abu Simbel?
Around 22 February and 22 October each year the rising sun reaches the sanctuary statues. Since the temple was moved, the dates are a day or so later than in antiquity.
Was Abu Simbel moved?
Yes. Between 1964 and 1968 both temples were cut into blocks and rebuilt about 65 m higher to escape Lake Nasser.
Who is the small temple at Abu Simbel for?
For Hathor and for Nefertari, Ramesses II's great royal wife. She appears on the façade as large as the king.
Where it is
Open in OpenStreetMap · Written from published sources and not yet checked on site by our team: displays and open tombs change.