The sanctuary of Abu simbel

Today we continue our tour of Abu Simbel.  If you look at yesterday’s picture you can see a golden glow at the end of the temple.  That is the sactuary, carved deep into the mountain.

Inside the sanctuary of an egyptian temple you would normally find a statue of the god to whom the temple is dedicated.  Here there are four statues – these are from left to right, Ptah, Amun-Ra, Rameses II and Ra-Horakhy.  This show that Rameses clearly thought himself to be a god.

Twice a year in February and October the rising sun illuminates three out of four of the statues.  The one left in darkness is Ptah – the god of the underworld.