Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Themes
  • Videos
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Themes
Videos
App & Extension
  • United States
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United States
  3. 2020
  4. February 22
  5. The interior of the Great Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel, Egypt
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios The interior of the Great Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel, Egypt

February 22, 2020

The interior of the Great Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel, Egypt

© Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Image

It's not always sunny in Abu Simbel…

…but when it is, it's pretty spectacular. This tiny lakeside settlement's Great Temple of Ramesses II was positioned on the orders of that powerful pharaoh so the inner sanctum (in this picture, that's the small room at the very back) is lit by the sun only twice a year. On February 22 and October 22 (thought to be Ramesses' coronation and birth dates, respectively), the first light of dawn illuminates the sanctuary and three statues within: one of Ramesses, one of the sun god Ra, and one of the chief god Amun. A fourth statue depicting the underworld figure Ptah is permanently shrouded in shadow.

The temple is one of a pair resting on the man-made Lake Nasser's shores, the other honoring the pharaoh's wife Nefertari. When the Nile was dammed to create the lake in the 1960s, the whole complex was painstakingly moved to higher ground. While it's unclear if the relocation slightly altered the original timing of the Great Temple's solar alignment, tourists still descend in droves on the site every six months to witness the luminous event.

temple abandoned cave ancient ruin

Related Images

Old general store of Bents, Saskatchewan, CanadaOld general store of Bents, Saskatchewan, Canada
For World Braille Day, a tactile map of Landshut, GermanyFor World Braille Day, a tactile map of Landshut, Germany
Lobster buoys in Rockport, MassachusettsLobster buoys in Rockport, Massachusetts

Today on Bing

Two Bactrian camels in Kazakhstan for Twosday

Two Bactrian camels in Kazakhstan for Twosday

Feb 22, 2022
'Invisible Man,' a memorial to Ralph Ellison in Riverside Park, New York City

'Invisible Man,' a memorial to Ralph Ellison in Riverside Park, New York City

Feb 22, 2021
Sandhill cranes taking flight over the Platte River near Kearney, Nebraska

Sandhill cranes taking flight over the Platte River near Kearney, Nebraska

Feb 22, 2019
Roman theater of Cartagena, Spain

Roman theater of Cartagena, Spain

Feb 22, 2018
Ice in a crater of the Vastitas Borealis region of Mars

Ice in a crater of the Vastitas Borealis region of Mars

Feb 22, 2017
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand

Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand

Feb 22, 2016

Related Tags

abandoned building grass outdoor cloud sky house castle old decay tree grassy stone temple cave ancient ruin bedclothes placeofworship several
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2022 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.