Aswan - Abu Simbel

Two temples stare out from the cliff face at Abu Simbel. On the left is the temple of Re-Herakhte with its colossi of Ramses II, and on the right the smaller temple of Hathor, associated with ramses's queen, Nefertari. Before the creation of Lake Nasser, the temples overlooked a bend in the Nile and dominated the landscape. As impressive statements of Egyptian might, they served as a warning to any troublesome Nubians, while offering a welcome to peaceful traders arriving out of Africa.

Temple of Hathor, one of the two temples of Abu Simbel, is in the form of a buttresses pylon. Between the buttresses are six colossal statues of ramses and Nefertari. Heads of Hathor adorn the columns of the hyostyle hall inside. On the entrance wall are reliefs of ramses slaying his enemies nd a very graceful Nefertari with her arms upraised in prayer. Beyond tis is the sanctuary with Hathor, as the divine cow, emerging from the rock wall. This and the facade suggest the overall symbolism of the temple, which complements that of Re-Harakhte's.

Temple of Re-Herakhte is the other of the two temples of Abu Simbel. Arranged in pairs on either side of the entrance are the four enthroned, 20 m high Colossi of Memnon at the Thebes, wearing the double crown of upper and lower Egypt. Osiris-type figures of Ramses stand against the piers of the hypostyle hall within. the battle of Kadesh, in which the Egyptians were nearly defeated by the Hitties, is depicted on the left, and Ramses is shown appealing to Amun. On the right, a triumphant Ramses is shown storming a Syrian fortress and capturing Hitties. In the next hall of four pillars Ramses and Nefertari are shown before the boats of Amun and Re-Herakhte. Beyond is the sanctuary, where a divinized Ramses sits with Ptah, Amun and Re-Herakhte. The temple progressively depicts Ramses, therefore, as a conqueror, hero and then God.

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