day11

Day 11: Aswan - Abu Simbel

This morning we took an excursion to Abu Simbel. After an early breakfast, we flew (approximately 40 minutes) south, and spent time exploring the monuments carved into solid rock 3,000 years ago. In a feat of modern engineering, these massive temples were moved to their present location when construction of the Aswan High Dam in 1960 created Lake Nasser and flo

oded their original location. This operation to save one of the world’s greatest treasures took years and the efforts of an international team of engineers and archaeologists.

The two temples at Abu Simbel were built by Egypt’s great Pharaoh Ramses II (Egypt’s longest-ruling king) as a tribute to the deities and his favorite wife Nefertari. Four colossal statues, 60 feet high and directly facing the rising sun, are of the pharaoh himself, with his queen and daughters at his feet. More tremendous statues surround you as you enter the temple. And in the very depths of the temple, Ramses sits in state flanked by the gods to whom the