Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel

We have to get up early in the morning, about 3 a.m. to head to Ramses II's beautiful temple at Abu Simbel. Located in Southern Egypt near the border with Nubia or the modern Sudan is this fantastic Egyptian Temple. Built by the Pharaoh Ramses II along the Nile, it consists of 2 temple complex's. The first with 4 large statues of Ramses II is dedicated to the gods and the greatness of his achievments. His version of the Battle of Kadesh is chronicled inside. The other Temple is dedicated to Nefotari his most favored wife and has statues of both of them on the outside. Many Historians believed this may have served a purpose other than as a Temple complex. They believed that by building such a grand temple complex near Nubia a longtime Egyptian foe he would prove to them his power. The Temple complex had to be saved when the dam at Aswan was built, otherwise it would be underwater in Lake Nasser. Teams from the United Nations took 20 years to move the Temple back from the waters edge. It was disassembled and then reassembled in an artificial mountain. It took these teams using modern equipment about the same time to move the Temple as it took the ancient Egyptians to build it. The Temple is a marvel to look at, from the majesic statues rising outside to the hiroglyphs and inscriptions inside. It also has an interesting picture, it pictures Ramses II, Annubis, Amon Ra and the Egyptian god of darkness Ptah. Twice a year on the equinoxes light shines through the Temple and illuminates all but Ptah. Despite the problem in getting to this temple it was one of the highlights of the tour. An utterly fantastic place. While on my tour in 1997 we drove down, all the tour buses went together convoy style, I have heard from people who have been their recently that the road is closed and Abu Simbel can only be reached by plane.

Ramses II smites his enemies

After getting back from Abu Simel our cruise boat set sail and we would visit 2 temples, Kom-Ombo and Edfu, along the Nile before docking in Luxor. The boat was quite fabulous with a swimming pool, bar and chairs to hang out with on the top level. There was also a nice bar and discothque where one night we had a show with an Egyptian belly dancer and whirling Dervish.

Temple of Kom-Ombo along the Nile

Kom Ombo This unusual temple along the Nile is actually the result of 2 temples side by side. One temple is dedicated to the Falcon God Horus while the other is dedicated Sobek who is associated with crocodiles. He is also a divinity who the creation of the world is attributed. The current temple was built by the Ptolemetic or Greek Pharaoh's on the site of an earlier temple which was detroyed. One of its most interesting sights is its mummified crocodile.

Temple of Edfu

Edfu Temple We left the cruise boat and got into horse drawn carts to visit this temple by tha banks of the Nile. Probably the best preserved temple in Egypt. This temple was built much later than many of the others. It was built in 327 B.C. by Ptolemy III on the site of an older temple. Work on the temple was continued through the reign of Cleopatra VII the last queen of Egypt. The temple was dedicated to Horus, the falcon god, the Avenger, son of Isis and Osiris. On the interior of the Temple the faces of all the gods have been hacked out by Christians.