Abu Simbel Temples

Abu Simbel comprises two massive rock-cut temples carved into a mountainside in the 13th century BC during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II [1]. The Great Temple features four colossal seated statues of Ramesses, while the smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor [1]. When the Aswan High Dam threatened to submerge the site, a UNESCO-led international effort relocated the entire complex between 1964-1968 at a cost of $80 million, cutting them into over 1,000 blocks [2]. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site [2].