Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, Archaeological complex along Nile River in Southern Egypt
The Nubian Monuments span multiple locations with carved temples, stone statues, and inscriptions showing religious ceremonies and royal rituals. The sanctuaries were originally built directly along the riverbank and display the architectural power of the pharaonic age.
The temples were built during pharaonic times to display Egypt's power over the region. In the 1960s, they were moved to higher ground during the construction of a major dam to save them from being submerged.
The temples show how ancient Egypt and Nubia interacted through religious imagery and trade relationships carved into the stone walls. You can see in the reliefs how both cultures exchanged goods and ideas.
The best way to visit is by organized boat tours from Aswan, with early morning departures recommended. It is wise to bring light clothing and head protection, as the sun is very intense in this region.
The great temples are positioned so that twice yearly, sunlight penetrates directly into the inner sanctuaries and illuminates the statues in shadow. This alignment was no accident but the result of sophisticated astronomical calculations by the ancients.
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