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السبت، 12 أكتوبر 2013
The temple of Abu Simbel
The head of King Ramses II
Temple of Abu Simbel on the Egyptian currency
Diagram of the temple of Abu Simbel
Ramses head during the rebuilding of the temple
Ramses head during the rebuilding of the temple
Sound and light in the temple of Abu Simbel
The sun passes over the face of Ramses II
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Not only are the two temples at Abu Simbel among the most
magnificent monuments in the world but their removal and reconstruction was an
historic event in itself. When the temples (280 km from Aswan) were threatened
by submersion in Lake Nasser, due to the construction of the High Dam, the
Egyptian Government secured the support of UNESCO and launched a world wide
appeal. During the salvage operation which began in 1964 and continued until
1968, the two temples were dismantled and raised over 60 meters up the
sandstone cliff where they had been built more than 3,000 years before. Here
they were reassembled, in the exact same relationship to each other and the
sun, and covered with an artificial mountain. Most of the joins in the stone
have now been filled by antiquity experts, but inside the temples it is still
possible to see where the blocks were cut. You can also go inside the man made
dome and see an exhibition of photographs showing the different stages of the
massive removal project.
The Temple of Re-Harakhte (The Sun Temple
of Ramsis II):
The main temple was dedicated to Ramsis II and to the four universal gods Ptah,
Re-Harakhte, Amun-Re, and to Ramsis II himself. Of the seven temples he built,
Abu Simbel is considered to be the most impressive.
Above the doorway in a niche stands the sun god, a falcon headed
representation of Ramsis, holding a war-scepter which shows the head and neck
of an animal which is read as user, in his right and a figure of Ma'at in his
left. This setup ingeniously creates the Kings Throne name of User-Ma'at-Re. At
the top of the facade is a row of baboons which are thought to be greeting the
morning sun and indeed the monument looks best at that time. The sides of the
thrones next to the entrance are decorated with Nile gods symbolically uniting
Egypt, while below are prisoners, representing conquered nations, to the left,
African and to the right, Asian.
The entrance leads into a Grand Hall which is 57 feet high and 52
feet wide and was cut from the rock. It is supported with eight pillars with
statues of Ramsis.
To either side of the Grand Hall are smaller rooms, two to the
South and four to the North. Most suggest that these rooms were for storage
(treasure rooms) but elsewhere it is suggested that they were used for festivals
related to the Kings Jubilee.
Beyond the Grand Hall is the second hypostyle hall with its
flowered pillars. Scenes in this hall show the King and his wife, Nefertari
making offerings to Amun and Re-Harakhte (the Sun God), and beyond that is the
three chapels, the central one containing the four deities worshipped in the
temple (including Ramsis II).
The sun shines on the face of the statue on February 22 and October 22 every year, the birthday and date of the coronation of Ramses II.
Nefertari's Temple of Hathor (Abu Simbel -
Small Temple):
Hathor was the wife of the Sun God so in a symbolic way, the two
Temples, that of Ramsis II and that of Nefertari, brings Ramsis II and
Nefertari and Hathor and the Sun God together as one. The facade of the temple
is a receding Pylon, just as the larger temple of Ramesses II. On either side
of the entrance to the temple is a deified statue of Nefertari with statues of
Ramsis II on either side of her. The statues of Nefertari are the same height
as those of Ramsis, which is unusual. Like at Ramsis II's temple, there are
children depicted around their feet. There are cobras protecting the Temple
door.
This temple is much simpler than the Temple of Re-Herakhte. It has
only one hypostyle hall and the sanctuary. Within the hall are images of Ramsis
in battle with Nefertari present. Other scenes depict Ramsis being crowned by
Horus and Seith and presenting Ma'at to Amun. On the back wall, Nefertari is
before Hathor and Mut. Just behind the Hypostyle Hall is a small chamber with
images of Hathor cow framed in reeds. Beyond that is the sanctuary with a
divine cow emerging from the rear rock wall protecting Ramsis, below her. Above
the cow, vultures guard the Queens cartouches. Other scenes show Nefertari
offering incense to Mut and Hathor, and the King worshipping before his own
image and that of Nefertari.
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