What is abu simbel?

Abu Simbel is a set of two temples located in Nubia, a region along the Nile river in southern Egypt, near the border with Sudan. The temples were constructed during the reign of Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, as a way to demonstrate his power and celebrate his victories in battle. The larger temple is dedicated to Ramses himself, while the smaller temple is dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari.

The temples were eventually abandoned and forgotten until their rediscovery in the early 19th century. They were then threatened with flooding due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s, but a major international effort was undertaken to move them to higher ground. The relocation process, which took several years and involved cutting the temples into blocks and reassembling them piece by piece, is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century.

Today, Abu Simbel is a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its intricate carvings and murals depicting the lives and accomplishments of Ramses II and his family, as well as the stunning architecture and engineering that went into its construction, relocation, and preservation.