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The Greater Abu Simbel Temple (Ramses II)
One of the many relics erected by the Pharoah Ramses II, this is the
grandest and most beautiful
of his temples. The facade is 33 meters high and 38 meters wide. It is
guarded by four statues of Ramses II, each of which is 20 meters high.
Between the legs of the colossal statues we can see smaller statues of
Ramses II 's family: his mother "Mut--tuy", his wife "Nefertari" and his
sons
and daughters. At the top of the facade, there is a carved row of baboons,
smiling at the sunrise. The temple is dedicated to the god Ha-Rakhte (a
form of the sun god Horus, worshipped at Heliopolis). It is seen in a
central niche above the entrance. |