Is Solar Alignment on Pharaonic Monuments Scientific or Baseless?

By: Ali Abu-Dashish and Norhan Mahmoud

CAIRO, Jan. 2 (SEE)- Fascinators of ancient Egyptian civilization queue up twice yearly, exactly on the 21st of both February and October, at King Ramses II’s Abu Simbel temple to check out the alignment of sun rays on the face of the king’s statue. 

This phenomenon is not one of a kind as sun rays also illuminates the Sphinx’s shoulders twice per year. Such scientific advancement allude to the genuineness of pharaohs in astronomy, mathematics and architecture.  

“Undoubtedly these occurrences were intended by the supervising architect of Abu Simbel temple, especially after Ramses II revered his status and positioned his statue besides the gods at the sanctuary,” Archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass confirmed.

As for the Sphinx, the brilliant architect “Ankh-Haf” succeeded to project the Sphinx in a model that resembles the rising and setting of the sun embraced by the two great pyramids. “The Sphinx’ hieroglyphic title “Hur Em Akht” which means “Horus in the Horizon” proves this hypothesis.”

FYI, Ankh-Haf is the one who carried on the construction of King Khufu’s pyramid and was in charge of King Khafre’s pyramids collection.

Hawass also denounced legends in which nonprofessionals claim that the two days in which the sun falls on the face of Ramses II are his birthday and crowning day, saying that “Such explanations has no scientific basis.”

What is more interesting about this bedazzling astronomical juvenile is that the alignment still subsists even after the temple has been relocated to an area 60 meters above its original place. 

“The mind boggling happening that I wish an explanation is set forward for is the penetration of sun rays at 6 am to Isis Temple.” Hawass added. “Actually, the sun aligns on the paintings of ‘Amun’ and ‘Mento Ra’ inside the sanctuary for 25 continues minutes.” 

Meanwhile, a mission operates to record the astronomical phenomenons, headed by Ayman Abu Zaid, the Head of the Egyptian Association for Tourism and Archaeological Development, and as of now, Fourteen astronomical phenomenon that occurs inside various temples across Egypt. 

“Hopefully, researching these phenomenons will demonstrate the precedency of Ancient Egyptians in Astronomy,” Hawass concluded.