The Abu Simbel temples, located in southern Egypt near the Sudanese border, are among the most remarkable monuments of ancient Egypt. Built by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, these temples were intended to honor the gods and immortalize Ramses’ legacy. The site comprises two main temples: the larger dedicated to the sun gods Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty, featuring four colossal statues of Ramses II, and the smaller temple devoted to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari. What makes Abu Simbel unique is its alignment with the sun. Twice a year, on February 22nd and October 22nd, sunlight penetrates the temple’s inner sanctum to illuminate the statues of Ramses II and the gods, leaving the statue of Ptah, the god of the underworld, in shadow. These dates are believed to mark Ramses II’s coronation and birthday, showcasing the extraordinary engineering and astronomical knowledge of ancient Egyptians. In the 1960s, the temples were relocated to higher ground to protect them from flooding caused by the creation of Lake Nasser. Today, Abu Simbel stands as a testament to ancient ingenuity and remains a major tourist attraction.