These are two massive rock temples at a place known as Abu Simbel. The Temples are situated a village in Nubia, Southern Egypt. They were carved out of mountainsides in the 13th century BC.
Why they are special: These famous Temples were carved during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses-II. They were built to commemorate the Pharaoh’s victory in the Battle of Kadesh. However, once the Aswan dam was built, the Temples were relocated to an artificial hill. The Temples are dedicated to Amun, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah and a deified version of Ramesses himself. The entrance is flanked by four 20-metre high statues of the Pharaoh and crowned by a bas-relief. The inner part of the Temples follows the layout observed by most Egyptian temples.
