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Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is a temple built by Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.E.) in ancient Nubia, where he wished to demonstrate his power and his divine nature. Four colossal (65 feet/20 meters high) statues of him sit in pairs flanking the entrance. The head and torso of the statue to the left of the entrance fell during ancient times, probably the result of an earthquake. This temple faces the east, and Re-Horakhty, one manifestation of the sun god, is shown inside the niche directly above the entrance. The alignment of the temple is such that twice a year the sun’s rays reach into the innermost sanctuary to illuminate the seated statues of Ptah, Amun-Re, Ramesses II, and Re- Horakhty. |
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Sunk Relief of the God Hapy
At Abu Simbel, below the seat of one of the colossal statues of Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.E.), is this sunk relief of the god Hapy, the personification of the Nile flood. The figure of Hapy appears twice, tying stems of plants around the hieroglyph for "unite." The extended foot of each Hapy figure rests on the hieroglyph which is a lung from which a windpipe projects straight up from the center, forming a "T" at the top. On the left Hapy holds stems of the lotus (symbol of Upper Egypt); on the right he holds stems of the papyrus (Lower Egypt). Hapy’s crowns also display these plants. Hapy is androgynous (both male and female characteristics), suggesting the fertility of the land which results from the Nile flood. This androgyny explains his pendant breasts and swollen belly. The centralized image of the lung and windpipe flanked by the two figures of Hapy illustrate the Egyptian concern for balance and order. The cartouche of Ramesses II sits directly above the lung and windpipe
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The Temple of Hathor
The Temple of Hathor at Abu Simbel was built by Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.E.) to honor both Hathor as the goddess of love/music and his wife Nefertari as the deified queen. The facade, resembling a pylon, has six standing colossal (over 33 feet/10 meters high) statues. On each side of the entrance, two statues of Ramesses flank one of Nefertari dressed as Hathor. The colossal statues are, in turn, flanked by smaller statues of their children |
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The Sphinx
The Sphinx, with its monumental proportions, lion’s body, and human facial features, provides an unexpected naturalistic contrast to the geometric shapes of the pyramids. The recumbent lion stretches 241 feet/73.5 meters in length and reaches 65 feet/20 meters in height. The Sphinx was carved out of a natural outcropping of rock around the time of the construction of the Pyramid of Khafre [Chephren; c.2555-2532 B.C.E.] (to the left of the Sphinx). The features are thought to be those of King Khafre wearing the royal nemes headdress. The uraeus (rearing cobra) which originally sat on the king’s forehead is now lost, but fragments of his beard, which was added during the New Kingdom, are in the Cairo Museum
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Luxor Temple
Like Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple is an accretion of structures erected by succeeding kings. The principal entrance today is the Pylon of Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.E.), which is flanked by two seated statues of the king (one is behind the obelisk) and one standing statue (of an original four). The remaining obelisk of pink granite is situated in front of the easternmost seated statue. The western obelisk has stood in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since 1836. The vertical niches held flag staffs |
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Court of Ramesses II
Beyond the entrance pylon of Luxor Temple is the Court of Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.E.). The colonnade of closed papyrus-bud columns, which originally lined the court on all four sides, today is interrupted in the northeast corner by the presence of the Mosque of Abu el-Haggag. Standing statues of Ramesses II punctuate most of the spaces between the columns. The crowns of several of these figures sit on the ground beside them because they were carved separately and have fallen off.
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The Step Pyramid of King Djoser of the Old Kingdom
The Step Pyramid was designed for King Djoser (Dynasty 3) by his vizier Imhotep. The pyramid is located in Saqqara, the main necropolis of Memphis. The multiple uraei (plural of uraeus, a rearing cobra with a spread hood), on the left in the foreground, are divine protectors of the king. The view is across the South Court.
The Step Pyramid is the first known monumental structure made of stone anywhere in the world. As its name suggests, it is a series of six levels of stone decreasing in size as they ascend to about 200 feet/60 meters in height. Until this time, mastabas had been the principal form of tomb architecture. A mastaba (Arabic for "bench") is a low rectangular structure which was built over a shaft which descended to the burial location. The Step Pyramid originally began as a mastaba, and it may have been visualized as a series of mastaba shapes, decreasing in size, stacked one on top of another. Whatever the origin, it creates an impressive geometrical form rising from the floor of the desert.
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