Abu Simbel Temples

Hello. I feel the hot sun on my face. I feel the cool stone deep inside me. I sit next to a big, shiny river called the Nile. I used to be a big, sleepy mountain. Then, busy hands came and carved me. Carve, carve, carve. Now, I have four giant friends sitting outside my door. They are all the same king. They are very, very big and watch the water all day long. I am not just a mountain anymore. I am the Abu Simbel Temples, a special house made of rock from a long, long time ago.

A strong king made me. His name was Pharaoh Ramesses the Second. He wanted everyone to see how wonderful he was. A long, long time ago, around the year 1264 BCE, he told his helpers to start carving. It took them a very long time to finish. The king also loved his queen, Nefertari. So he made a smaller, beautiful temple just for her right next to me. We are two special houses together. I have a secret. Twice a year, on February 22nd and October 22nd, the sun peeks inside. A little ray of sunshine travels all the way down my long hall. It lights up the statues hiding in my darkest room. It’s like a sunny hello.

I sat by the river for many, many years. But one day, the water started to rise. Oh no. The river was turning into a big lake, and it was going to cover me all up. It was a little scary. But kind people from all over the world came to help. They decided to give me a new home. Between the years 1964 and 1968, they carefully cut me into big, big blocks, like a giant puzzle. Then they moved all my pieces up a tall hill. They put me back together again, perfectly. Now I am safe from the water. Children like you can visit me and see my giant statues and my sunny secret. I show everyone that when we work together, we can save beautiful things.