How was the Abu Simbel transported?
To rescue the ancient temples in Abu Simbel from the waters of the Nile, the temples had to be relocated. To move the temples, the rock above the temple roofs first had to be “peeled away”. The roofs, walls and not the least the temple facades were then cut into blocks, each weighing between 20 and 30 tons.
Why was the Abu Simbel temple moved?
Moving the temple Abu Simbel survived through ancient times, only to be threatened by modern progress. Because the site would soon be flooded by the rising Nile, it was decided that the temples should be moved.
What happened to the temples of Abu Simbel?
Abu Simbel, site of two temples built by the Egyptian king Ramses II (reigned 1279–13 bce), now located in Aswān muḥāfaẓah (governorate), southern Egypt. By means of a complex engineering feat in the 1960s, the temples were salvaged from the rising waters of the Nile River caused by erection of the Aswan High Dam.
What was special about Abu Simbel?
It was dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah, as well as to the deified Ramesses himself. It is generally considered the grandest and most beautiful of the temples commissioned during the reign of Ramesses II, and one of the most beautiful in Egypt.
What important ancient Egyptian monument S were moved so they would not be underwater when the Aswan High Dam was built?
Abu Simbel
The creation of the dam’s reservoir necessitated the costly relocation of the ancient Egyptian temple complex of Abu Simbel, which would otherwise have been submerged.
When was the temple of Philae relocated?
The Philae temples, a must-see destination for tourists to upper Egypt, were relocated from the Philae Island to the higher Agilkia Island in “the greatest archaeological rescue campaign of all time” that lasted from 1972 to 1980.
How did they move Philae temple?
In 1902, the Aswan Low Dam was completed on the Nile River by the British. This threatened to submerge many ancient landmarks, including the temple complex of Philae. It was proposed that the temples be relocated, piece by piece, to nearby islands, such as Bigeh or Elephantine.
Why is Abu Simbel important to Egypt’s history?
The Small Temple is also notable in that it is the second time in ancient Egyptian history that a ruler dedicated a temple to his wife (the first time being the Pharaoh Akhenaton, 1353-1336 BCE, who dedicated a temple to his queen Nefertiti).
What was the relocation process for Abu Simbel?
Abu Simbel temple relocation process was complex and involved many details as there was no place for any mistakes or lack of planning. The water of the High Dam would have eventually flooded the temples of Abu Simbel and there must be accurate procedures to save them.
When was the Abu Simbel temple reassembled in Egypt?
In 1964, one of the world’s largest and most spectacular dismantling and reassembly projects was begun in Egypt. To rescue the ancient temples in Abu Simbel from the waters of the Nile, the temples had to be relocated.
How did they remove the stone from Abu Simbel?
Because the temples were carved in porous sandstone, explosives could not be used to any greater degree. The stone masses above the temple roofs were instead removed with bulldozers. Atlas Copco’s one-man pneumatic breaker turned out to be a very useful tool, together with compressors and drills.
When does Abu Simbel Sun Festival take place?
Tourists gather together from around the world on two well-known dates “October 22nd & February 22nd” to witness the magnificence Abu Simbel Sun Festival. These two temples were built in the 13th century through the 19th century. Ramses II wanted to commemorate his victory in the battle of Kadesh.