Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel (أبو سمبل) is a monumental temple complex in southern Egypt near the border with Sudan and one of the most impressive surviving legacies of ancient Egypt. Pharaoh Ramses II commissioned the two rock-cut temples in the 13th century BCE. The site is best known for the four colossal seated statues of the pharaoh at the Great Temple and the nearby temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Abu Simbel gained worldwide recognition through the spectacular rescue of the temples from the rising waters of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. Since 1979, the complex has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and stands as a powerful symbol of international heritage preservation.