Stunning display in Egypt! Sun illuminates Ramses II statute at Aswan's Abu Simbel Temple

Shahd Hashem, Tuesday 22 Oct 2024

The sun rays once again penetrated the entrance of Aswan's iconic Abu Simbel Temple earlier on Tuesday in a captivating celestial phenomenon, illuminating the Ramses II statue and showcasing the incredible precision of ancient Egyptian architecture and astronomy.

The Abu Simbel Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979

Nearly 3,000 tourists and Egyptian visitors witnessed this awe-inspiring phenomenon at Abu Simbel, according to Al-Qahera News.

This event occurs twice a year, on 22 February and 22 October.

These dates signify important incidents: 22 October marks the anniversary of the birth of King Ramses II and 22 February marks the anniversary of his coronation as Egypt's king.

Originally taking place on 21 February and 21 October, the biannual phenomenon shifted one day following the temple's relocation in the 1960s.

The temple was moved 66 metres higher to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the construction of the High Dam.

Despite this monumental relocation effort, the precision of the alignment remains intact.

Dawn breaks on statues of Pharoah Ramses II (R) and Amun, the God of Light (L), in the inner sanctum of the temple of Abu Simbel. Reuters

The solar alignment lasts for 20-25 minutes, during which the sun rays illuminate the sacred sanctuary, casting light on three statues: King Ramses II, Amun-Re, and Re-Hur-Akhty. However, Ptah's statue stays in the shadow because he is considered the "God of Darkness."

The main temple at Abu Simbel, commissioned by Ramses II near the Nubia-Upper Egypt border, is dedicated to the sun gods Amun-Re and Re-Hur-Akhty.

Standing 33 metres tall and guarded by four colossal 22-metre-high statues of Ramses, the temple extends 56 metres into the mountain, featuring carvings of the king's achievements. There exists another smaller temple dedicated to his wife Nefertari.

Abu Simbel Temple in Aswan, with its colossal statues of Ramses II

Moreover, Abu Simbel temples, including two awe-inspiring temples of King Ramses II and his wife Nefertari, are not just archaeological marvels but have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.

Egypt is known for its rich cultural heritage, which attracts millions of tourists annually.

Tourism is one of Egypt’s main sources of foreign currency.

Between January and June 2024, Egypt attracted 7.069 million tourists, with revenues reaching $6.6 billion, compared to $6.3 billion in the same period in 2023.