Abu Simbel is named after Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egyptian president from 1954 to 1970. At the time of Ramses II. the southern border of the realm of the Pharaohs was located near the two cataracts. The construction of the Abu Simbel temple compound there was meant to demonstrate the power and eternal supremacy of Egypt with respect to the tributary Nubia. The new dam flooded all of Lower Nubia, the inhabitants became homeless and were mostly resettled in the areas of Aswan and Kom Ombo. Only in Abu Simbel, a new village developed with hotel and airport. Due to a lack of
Great and Small Temples of Abu Simbel Abu Simbel Great Temple, Ra-Horakhty is depicted striding forward out of the sandstone mound. This statue represents the king’s name “User-Ma’at-Re” because the Ra-Horakhty is shown carrying a user staff and a feather of Ma’at and with sun disk of Re on his head. As you go through the entrance, you enter a corridor decorated with Ramesses II presenting offerings to the god Re-Horakhty and the goddess Weret-Hekau. At the end of the corridor is the Great Pillared Hall. This hall contains eight pillars holding up the ceiling. Statues depicting the Ramesses II as Osiris are carved into the columns