Great and Small Temples of Abu Simbel Great and Small Temples of Abu Simbel The Great and Small Temples in Abu Simbel are massive rock-cut temples built by Pharaoh Ramesses II during Dynasty 19 of the New Kingdom. They were originally built in Nubia next to the Second Cataract, but since the construction of the Aswan High Dam, they have been moved to their present location in the Aswan Governorate. They were built both to show Egypt’s influence over rich Nubia and to show Ramesses II as a god. Today they are preserved as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site's "Nubian monuments". Ramesses II was
Lotfy El Tanbouli resident archaeologist during the transferring of the two temples of Abu Simbel to higher ground (1964–1968). He organized the first Negro festival in Dakar, the African art festival in Lagos, the exhibition of Ramses II in Paris (1976) and the ancient Egyptian Queens and Kings exhibition in Japan (1978). The Egyptian section of the military museum in Cairo and Port Said was organized by Tanbouli. Publications: The complete scientific publication collection: The small temple of Abu Simbel (two parts). The scientific collection of the temples: Garf Hussein Temple, the second, the third and the fourth parts. The scientific booklets collection: