The Temples of Abu Simbel

While waiting for the departure of our Egyptian EscapeIn this exhibition, we rediscover the Mysterious Temples of Upper Egypt and particularly those of Abu Simbel in Nubia.

Built around 1260 BC, these rock-cut temples bear witness to the greatness of Ramses II, the builder and warrior pharaoh who ruled Egypt for 66 years.

The entrance to the great temple, dedicated to the worship of the god Amun-Ra, is protected by four gigantic colossi representing the pharaoh. Inside, the engraved walls tell of the exploits of Rameses II during the Battle of Qadesh, which opposed him to the Hittite Empire. A second temple carved into the adjacent hillside is dedicated to the cult of Nefertiti and the goddess Hathor.

The shrine was buried under the sand before being rediscovered in the early 19th century. At the end of the 1950s, the construction of the Aswan Dam threatened its further disappearance in the waters of the new Lake Nasser. On 8 March 1960, an appeal was launched for the rescue of the Nubian monuments.

You can read more about this exciting story in the archive images below.

🔹 Read more: André Malraux's speech to the National Assembly
🔹 To be listened to: André Malraux's speech to the National Assembly (Part 1)
🔹 To be listened to: André Malraux's speech to the National Assembly (Part 2)