By Ali Abu Dashish, Maydaa Abo El-Nadar
CAIRO, Feb.21 (SEE) - One of the greatest miracles that Abu Simbel Temple offers is the sunrays breaking through the temple’s door, greeting Ramses II’s face twice a year.
Coinciding with this fascinating phenomenon, two days ago, the full moon rose over the Parthenon, located on the ancient Acropolis Hill, one of the most touristic attractions in Greece located in Athens.
The full moon was brighter than any other super moons as it was close to its perigee (the closest point to its earth’s orbit.
The Erechtheum's Porch of the Caryatids at the Acropolis
Speaking about the sun being perpendicular on the Pharaoh's face, Egyptian archeologist Hussien Abdel Bassir says, “Till nowadays, this astronomical and geometric phenomenon keeps on astonishing people worldwide.”
The temple’s status was fine till the Nile River’s level started to rise,which threatened with the temple’s drowning. The incident occurred after building the High Dam and digging the Naser’s lake.
Thus, relocating the temple was necessary, a process that was not easy by any means. The most challenging task was keeping the geometric angels and the astrological measurements, to keep the sun perpendicular on Ramses II’s face twice a year.
Photo Credit: Cali International Travel
The relocation process started in the sixties of the past century, after
building the High Dam, and lasted for years. Currently, the temple is located on the eastern
hill, around 64 meters higher than its old location, and around 180 meters to
the west of its original place.
Abu Simbel includes four statues of Ramses II; each of these is around 22-meter-tall. The statues are surrounded by other small ones depicting Ramses II’s mother and wife. The temple even includes smaller statues for the kings’ sons.
In the middle ages, due to an earthquake, one of the four statues’ upper-part fell down. Another statue suffered damages, however it was restored in the era of one of Ramses II’s successors.
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