Yesterday while scrolling through web pages, I came across a photo: four colossal stone statues seated before a mountain, their faces turned toward the sun—truly spectacular. Below it read “Abusimbel Temple.”
I’d never heard of this place before, but at first glance I knew: this spot must have a story.
I brewed a cup of coffee, opened my laptop, and thought, “Let’s look up something interesting.”
I typed phrases like “What makes Abu Simbel Temple special?” and “Fun historical stories” into the search bar.
The results that popped up left me a bit disappointed.
Some articles simply stated, “This is a famous Egyptian attraction,” and ended there.
Others read like travel ads: “Come check it out! A must-see wonder!”——But what I really wanted to know was: Why is it important? Who built it? How was it constructed?
Even more absurdly, I came across claims like: “This temple was built by aliens.”
I closed that page immediately. Such nonsense was completely unreliable.
I decided to look elsewhere for information
Tired of those sloppy blogs, I turned to university open-access materials and historical websites.
Though slower to read, these sources offered clear, sourced information—no made-up nonsense.
I took notes on paper as I read.
When I encountered something I didn’t understand, I crossed it out and rewrote it.
Gradually, the scattered pieces of information began to connect.
I realized this temple wasn’t just “big” and “beautiful”—it held many astonishing secrets.
I compiled ten facts that shocked me the most, not copied from random online sources, but uncovered step by step through my own research.
These Ten Facts Completely Changed My Perspective
1. It Was Built by Pharaoh Ramses II
This Egyptian king from over 3,000 years ago was obsessed with leaving his mark.
He didn’t build this temple for religion—it was more like a declaration: “Look how powerful I am!”
2. The Four Colossal Statues Were Carved Directly from the Mountain, Not Placed There
You heard that right. Workers didn’t transport the statues to the site—they used tools to chip away at solid rock, gradually carving out these four giants.
Each stands over 20 meters tall, taller than a five-story building.
3. The entire temple was later relocated
This fact astonished me the most.
In the 1960s, Egypt planned to build a massive dam. The reservoir would have submerged the temple.
The solution? Instead of demolishing it, they cut the entire temple into large blocks, moved them to higher ground, and reassembled them.
4. Relocating took years, like assembling giant LEGO
They cut the temple into 807 massive stones, numbered each piece, then transported them one by one to the new site for reassembly.
It took four years and cost a fortune, but no one gave up.
5. Twice a year, sunlight illuminates the innermost chamber
The temple’s interior is deep and usually dim.
Yet on February 21st and October 21st each year, sunlight streams through the doorway, illuminating the face of the innermost statue.
This isn’t coincidence—ancient architects precisely engineered it.
6. The innermost statues aren’t just of Ramses—there are three gods
One is the sun god Ra, another is Amun, and the third is Ptah.
By placing himself alongside the gods, Ramses declared: “I am as important as the gods.”
7. Numerous small statues lie at the colossus’s feet
These depict his wives, children, and vanquished enemies.
Inscribing his family here declares: “My dynasty is mighty and eternal.”
8. The walls are covered in battle scenes
The temple is adorned with depictions of Ramses’ victorious campaigns.
No defeats are shown—only triumphs.
Much like modern social media—only the best selfies get posted.
9. A smaller temple stands beside it, built for the queen
This is exceptionally rare.
In ancient Egypt, few queens possessed their own dedicated temple.
Yet Ramses erected one for his queen Nefertari, housing her colossal statue.
Evidently, he cherished her deeply.
10. Today it’s a major tourist attraction, yet still awe-inspiring
Many travel long distances by bus to see it.
When the light show begins, illuminating the temple to the rhythm of music, the sensation is so powerful that even photos give you goosebumps.
I finally grasped its significance
After researching this, I no longer see it as merely “an ancient temple.”
It embodies human ambition, technological prowess, and the battle against time.
Ramses sought eternal remembrance, so he built this colossal temple.
Thousands of years later, a dam threatened to submerge it, yet people refused to let it vanish.
So experts from around the world collaborated to dismantle it piece by piece and reassemble it elsewhere.
This wasn’t merely about preserving a building—it declared: Some things are worth the immense effort to save.
Finally, I want to say
Abusimbel taught me one thing:
Great things never appear overnight.
It requires time, effort, and even generations of guardianship.
We see it today not because of “luck,” but because someone refused to let it vanish.
Next time you see a photo of an ancient structure, don’t just say “Wow, beautiful.”
Ask yourself: “Why has it survived until now?”
Perhaps the answer will move you more than you imagine.
