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Inside the Rameses Temple
at Abu Simbel
Abu Simble by G. Belzoni, 1820
Opening the Ramesses Temple
Clearing the fourty feet of accumulated sand above the entrance to the Ramesses temple was the work of several weeks and the cause of continual friction between Giovanni Belzoni and the local people he hired, who were far more interested in extracting the maximum amount of money from the Europeans than in the work of uncovering the temple. But Belzoni and the five men in his company determined to do the bulk of the digging themselves and succeeded in opening the temple. The below description was written by two companions of Belzoni soon after the entrance was opened.
Edited Excerpt from:
Travels in Egypt
and Nubia, Syria, and the Holy Land
by Charles Leonard Irby and James Mangles, 1823
Adapted for AscendingPassage.com, 2006
The Temple of Ramesses at Abu Simbel is situated on the West side of the Nile, between 200 and 300 yards from its' bank. It stands upon an elevation, and its base is considerably above the level of the river. It is excavated into the mountain, its front presents a flat surface, the width of which is 117 feet.
In front of the temple are four sitting colossal figures cut out of the solid mountain, chairs and all, each 69 feet (21 meters) tall. They are, however, brought out so fully that the backs do not touch the wall, but are fully eight feet from it; and were it not for a narrow ridge of the rock which joins them to the surface from the back part of the necks downwards, they would be wholly detached. One of the statues has been broken off by a fracture of the mountain from the waist upwards.
There were originally twenty-two monkeys above the frieze and cornice, of these there are only twelve undamaged. Under the arm of one of the great figures we discovered the remains of the stucco with which they were once covered, and traces of red paint are discernible in many places. I think it very probable the whole front of the temple was once covered with stucco as the Egyptians have used that material very liberally and skilfully in the decoration of the interior. Of the cornice over the door, which was once perfect, there is not at present more than a foot in width remaining, just over the corner where we entered.
The four colossal figures in front of the temple are all of men. They are in a sitting posture, above sixty feet high, and the two which we have partly uncovered are sculptured in the best style of Egyptian art, and are in a high state of preservation. They are uncovered at present only as far as the chest. Before the recent excavations one of the faces alone was partly visible, as was part of the head gear of the other remaining two.
The face of statue No. 2, whether taken in the front view or profile, is one of the most perfect specimens of beauty imaginable. It has so far resisted the effects of time, as not to have the least scratch or imperfection. There is that placid serenity which one admires in most of the Egyptian countenances. The face of statue No. 3 has a more serious aspect, the nose is not so aquiline, nor is the mouth so well turned. It is not, however, without its beauty, perhaps a connoisseur would say the features possess more character than the former.
Little space has been left between the figures on either side, and scarcely more in the center than sufficient for the door. The cornice above the door presents a very curious appearance. It has been broken by a fall of part of the rock above, and an attempt has been made to form the remaining part into some other shape, or to fashion it for the reception of a new cornice.
Abu Simbel Temple interior, Statues of Ramesses II,
by David Roberts, 1838
The interior of the temple is 154 feet long by 52 broad (exclusive of the side chambers). It is comprised of fourteen separate rooms. Eight standing figures of Pharaoh Ramesses, 30 feet high, ornament the outer hall. They are as well proportioned as they are highly finished. The drapery of these statues reaches nearly half-way down to their knees, and is striped like that of the figures outside. The features of the countenances are perfect, and they all have the hook and scourge (the usual emblems of Pharaoh) in their hands, which are crossed on the chest.
The interior of this temple is a work not inferior to any excavation in Egypt or Nubia, not even excepting the tombs of the kings at Thebes. Indeed, the effect produced on first entering it is more striking than any of those can afford. The loftiness of the ceiling, the imposing height of the square pillars and of the erect colossal statues attached to them, and the dimensions of the apartments, which are on a much larger scale than any of the other excavations, all contribute to render the interior of this temple no less admirable than its splendid exterior.
The sculpture on the walls is not so well finished, nor is the coloring so perfect, as in the tombs of the kings, but the composition and invention of the designs and their spirited execution may be considered as equal to anything in Egypt.
The extreme heat and closeness of the chambers caused by the lack of free circulation of air has injured the paint, but enough of the coloring still remains to enable the spectator to convince himself of the original beauty of the work. The most conspicuous groups represent the victories of Pharaoh Ramesses, the same as is depicted at Luxor, Karnac, and other parts of Egypt, together with triumphant processions and consequent offerings to the deities.
The prisoners seem to be of different nations from those represented in other places. It is a circumstance of no little interest to see here, thus accurately painted, the costumes of the various tribes of the interior of Africa, at a date so remote that nowhere else can we expect to find any description either of their manners or their custom.
from the Champollion expedition, published 1835-45.
Art from Rameses II's Temple, Abu Simbel (Aboo Simble)
by François Chrétien Gau, 1819
In one of the groups is represented the storming of a fortress, of very singular construction. On the top are seen women, among whom one is in a sitting posture, wholly divested of drapery, and of a light complexion, bearing no resemblance in character or attitude to those represented in other places by the Egyptians. The Pharaoh who directs the assault is of gigantic stature. On the plain below are seen the peasants driving their cattle away from the conqueror. The whole is designed with much spirited action, some of the besieged party are also kneeling and imploring clemency. The arrows are flying from all quarters among the defenders, and some are seen plucking them from their foreheads, arms, and other parts of their body.
In this temple we found several detached statues of calcareous stone. One of these, a little larger than life, is executed in a better style than is generally to be met with in Egyptian sculpture. The head and lower part of the legs are missing, as well as one of the arms, but the remaining parts sufficiently attest to the skill and good taste of the sculptor. The figure is an upright one, and seems to have represented Osiris, or Pharaoh Ramesses. The surface of what remains is scarcely injured but the substance of the stone is so decayed by time that any attempt to remove it would probably occasion its total destruction.
More art from Rameses II's Temple, Abu Simbel (Aboo Simble)
by Salvador Cherubini 1832 - 1844
from the Champollion expedition, published 1835-45.
from the Champollion expedition, published 1835-45.
A light black substance, which seemed to be decayed wood, was found in every room, in some places to the depth of 2 ft. Its substance, at the surface, was not unlike that of snow when it has been frozen over by one night’s frost. It cracked under the foot, leaving an impression. Many small pieces of wood were strewn about, apparently little injured by time, but which, on being touched, crumbled into dust. The wooden pivots on which the doors traversed still remain in the upper corner of all the entrances to the different chambers. We were, therefore, very careful in leaving what remained for the benefit of future travelers. A broken brass socket, for the pivot of a door to traverse on, was also found.
In the depths of the sanctuary is a bench with four sitting statues.
Edited excerpts from: Travels in Egypt and Nubia, Syria,
and the Holy Land by Charles Leonard Irby and James Mangles, 1823
The Sanctuary of Ramesses II,
two hundred feet deep in the rock,
is illuminated by the Sun twice a year.
Left to right: Ptah, Amun, Ramesses II, Re.
Abu Simbel Temple, by David Roberts, 1838
Floorplan of Rameses II's Temple, Abu Simbel (Aboo Simble)
by François Chrétien Gau, 1819
A small chapel of Thoth cut into the cliff on the left
and a free standing Sun chapel on the right
were still covered by sand and unknown to the artist.
The discovery of the Pharaoh's Temple,
with David Roberts' engravings:
Abu Simbel Temple of Pharaoh Rameses II
Countless beautiful 19th century images of ancient Egypt
and 75 pages of architecture, art and mystery
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