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One of the most popular and impressive sites in Egypt, the Abu Simbel Temples are gigantic rock carvings of some of Egypt’s pharaohs.
Originally built to mark the Egyptian border with Nubia, and meant to display the power and strength of Egypt’s rulers to any who might think to threaten it, Abu Simbel was buried by sand and forgotten until 1813, when it was rediscovered by a Swiss explorer.
Today, the imposing carvings stand as a facade for visitors to walk past on their way into the temples, and on certain days of the year, they will see the sun beam all the way through these cavern-like spaces, illuminating statues of the gods it was built for.
Abu Simbel Temples, Aswan Governorate, Egypt
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