The Great Temple of Abu Simbel, located in Nubia near Egypt's southern border, is one of the most magnificent monuments in Egypt. It was built by King Ramses II of the 19th Dynasty around 1264 BC and is entirely carved into the mountain.

Key Features:

• Facade: Famous for the four colossal seated statues of King Ramses II that adorn it. One of these statues collapsed due to an ancient earthquake.
• Interior: Massive statues of the king stand along the main hall leading to the sanctuary, where four gods sit: Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and Ramses II as a deified being.
• Sun Alignment: The temple was built with such precision that sunlight enters and illuminates the statues in the sanctuary (except for the god Ptah) twice a year, on February 22 and October 22.
• Small Temple: To the north lies another temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari, Ramses II's wife. The statues of Queen Nefertari on this temple's facade are the same size as those of her husband, which is rare.
• Relocation: Both temples were moved from their original location in 1968 to save them from flooding after the construction of the Aswan High Dam, thanks to international efforts led by UNESCO. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.