Abu Simbel temple, Egypt, 19th century C017 / 7839
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Abu Simbel temple, Egypt, 19th century C017 / 7839
Abu Simbel temple. 19th-century view of the Great Temple at Abu Simbel in its original position on the west bank of the River Nile. This temple, carved from sandstone, was excavated from sand dunes in the 19th century; the entrance had been uncovered by 1817. This temple (and another nearby) was constructed in what was then Nubia in the 13th century BC on the order of pharaoh Rameses II, depicted in the Great Temples four colossal statues (each 20 metres tall). The temples were moved in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser behind the Aswan High Dam. This photograph is from between 1860 and 1900
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9208209
© LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
2nd Millennium Bc Africa African Ancient Egypt Antiquity Archaeological Archaeology Archeology Architectural Architecture Carved Classical Egypt Egyptian Egyptology Excavated King Large Nile North Africa North African Pharaoh River Bank Rock Ruler Sand Dune Sandstone Statue Statues Temple 13th Century Bc Ancient Egyptian Colossi Colossus Nubia Rameses Ii Rameses The Great Ramesses Upper Egypt
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back to the 19th century, offering a glimpse into the majestic Abu Simbel temple in its original location on the west bank of the River Nile. Carved from sandstone, this architectural marvel was unearthed from beneath towering sand dunes during excavations that began in the early 1800s. By 1817, the entrance had been uncovered, revealing an awe-inspiring sight. Commissioned by pharaoh Rameses II around 3,000 years ago in what was then Nubia, these temples were dedicated to various deities and adorned with colossal statues. The Great Temple at Abu Simbel featured four immense statues of Rameses II himself, each standing an astounding 20 meters tall. These imposing figures embodied his power and grandeur as one of ancient Egypt's most renowned rulers. However, as progress marched forward and Lake Nasser threatened to submerge these magnificent structures behind the newly constructed Aswan High Dam in the 1960s, a monumental effort was undertaken to save them. The temples were painstakingly relocated stone by stone to higher ground. Through this photograph captured between 1860 and 1900 by Library of Congress/Science Photo Library, we are transported back in time to witness both the splendor of ancient Egyptian architecture and a moment frozen before their eventual relocation. It serves as a testament not only to human ingenuity but also our enduring fascination with history and archaeology.
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