6300 Tourists Watch Solar Alignment on King Ramses II Statue in Abu Simbel

On Wednesday, 6300 tourists observed the phenomenon of solar alignment on the King Ramses II statue's face in Abu Simbel Temple, Aswan, and Nubia Antiquities General Manager Abdel Meniom Saied revealed. 

The solar alignment on the Holy of Holies in the Temple of Ramses II in Abu Simbel occurs twice every year on February 22 and October 22.

During the solar alignment, the sun's rays penetrate the front corridor of the entrance to the Temple of Ramses II with a length of 60 meters until it reaches the Holy of Holies.

Aswan Governor Ashraf Attia attended the event, alongside a huge number of tourists and Egyptians who were keen to see the phenomenon. 

It is worth mentioning that Abu Simbel is the largest temple carved in rocks in the world. 

The Holy of Holies consists of four statues that include the statue of King Ramses II, sitting next to it is the statue of the Ancient Egyptian god Ra-Hor, the god Amun, and the statue of the god Ptah.

The statue of the god Ptah is the only statue that isn't enlightened by the sun because he was considered by the ancient Egyptians as the god of darkness.