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The great temple of Ramses II
article.by M Badwy Sep 08, 2024

The great temple of Ramses II

Facade and Colossal Statues:
  • The facade of the Great Temple is dominated by four colossal statues of Ramses II, each about 20 meters (66 feet) tall. These statues are carved directly from the rock face and represent Ramses in a seated position, wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.
  • The statues are accompanied by smaller figures of Ramses' family members, including his queen Nefertari, his mother, and his children, carved at the feet of the colossal statues.
2. Entrance and Hypostyle Hall:
  • The entrance to the temple leads to the grand Hypostyle Hall, which is supported by eight large pillars, each with a statue of Ramses II as the god Osiris, symbolizing the eternal nature of the pharaoh.
  • The walls of the Hypostyle Hall are decorated with intricate reliefs depicting Ramses II's military victories, including the famous Battle of Kadesh, as well as scenes of the pharaoh making offerings to the gods.
3. Inner Sanctum:
  • The temple's inner sanctum, or sanctuary, houses statues of Ramses II and three gods: Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah. The alignment of the temple is such that twice a year (on February 22 and October 22), the rising sun illuminates the statues of Ramses II, Amun, and Ra-Horakhty, leaving Ptah, the god of the underworld, in darkness.
4. Artistic and Architectural Significance:
  • The Great Temple of Ramses II is renowned for its artistic and architectural achievements. The scale of the statues and the precision with which the temple was carved into the mountainside are testaments to the engineering skills of the ancient Egyptians.
  • The temple's design reflects the grandeur and divine authority of Ramses II, emphasizing his role as a god-king.
5. Relocation:
  • In the 1960s, due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the Great Temple and the neighboring Temple of Hathor were relocated to higher ground to avoid flooding from the newly created Lake Nasser. The relocation was a monumental feat of engineering, involving the cutting and reassembly of the temples in a new location about 65 meters higher and 200 meters back from the river.

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All of Egypt is worth seeing in all its splendor, but some sites must be seen first, like the magnificent Red Sea of Hurghada, the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the Luxor wonders like the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Hatshepsut Temple, the Aswan wonders like Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, and the Unfinished Obelisk, and the Alexandrian wonders like the Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar, and Alexandria's Library. Learn more about Egypt's top tourist destinations.