Slightly loose structure of the back portion of the Abu Simbel temple in south Egypt

When visitors reach the temple of Abu Simbel in south Egypt, they see 2 small hills that contain the twin temples of Abu Simbel - the temple dedicated to the pharaoh and the other dedicated to his chief queen. However, a number of visitors do not know that these hills or hillocks are actually not the original structures in which the temple was housed. In the the 1950's and 1960's, the construction of the High Dam at Aswan threatened the Abu Simbel temple, with the rising water level due to the creation of Lake Nasser going to submerge the temple. In a restoration effort, the entire temple was cut into blocks which were re-assembled with a high level of accuracy at a higher level, safe from the water, and that is what visitors to the temple now see. So, in this photo you are seeing the back of the hill, the combination of an ancient marvel and a modern restoration effort that together make this whole place special.

The Mysteries of Abu Simbel: Ramesses II	View Larger Map

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