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Abu Simbel is a historic site located on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 280 kilometres southwest of Aswan. The site includes the largest rock-cut temples in Egypt, built by Ramses II. The word Abu Simbel is probably derived from the ancient Egyptian name of the site, Ibshek. After the Aswan High Dam's construction, the temples of Ramses II and those in lower Nubia were threatened by Nile water. The Egyptian government and UNESCO launched a campaign to save the Nubian monuments. After studying many projects, they decided to dismantle the temples and reconstruct them on safer sites away from the Aswan High Dam and Nasser Lake. The two temples of Abu Simbel were relocated on an artificial hill made from a domed structure high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir.
The site comprises two temples: the Great Temple, dedicated to Amun, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and the deified Ramesses II; and the Small Temple, dedicated to his chief wife, Queen Nefertari. The Great Temple was discovered in 1813 by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Its facade is carved in rock and has four seated colossi of Ramses II, with a total height of about 21 m. The temple has military scenes of Ramses II fighting the Hittites in the Battle of Kadesh in Syria. As a result of the battle, the oldest peace treaty in history was concluded between the two parties. An annual natural phenomenon takes place on the 22nd of February and the 22nd of October. In this event, the first rays of the morning sun penetrate the temple to illuminate the four seated statues in the sanctuary. The Small Temple has some religious scenes on the wall and pillars showing Queen Nefertari with different goddesses, such as Hathor, Mut, and Isis.