All eyes turn to Aswan as preparations are underway at the Abu Simbel Temples for the sun alignment phenomenon, set to take place on the morning of Wednesday, the 22nd of October when the sun&rsquo;s rays will illuminate the face of King Ramses II inside the Great Temple.
Held twice a year, on the 22nd of October and the 22nd of February, this extraordinary celestial event attracts thousands of Egyptians, Arabs, and global visitors eager to witness one of ancient Egypt&rsquo;s most remarkable spectacles.
The Great Temple of Abu Simbel, one of ancient Egypt&rsquo;s most impressive monuments, stands in Nubia near Egypt&rsquo;s southern border. Built by King Ramses II of the 19th Dynasty and carved entirely into the mountainside around 1264 BC, the temple reflects the artistic mastery and astronomical precision of ancient Egyptian civilization.
The phenomenon occurs in the temple&rsquo;s sanctuary, known as the Holy of Holies, which houses a niche containing four seated statues: Amun, the principal deity of Thebes; Ramses II, depicted as a deified pharaoh; Ra-Horakhty, the sun god of Heliopolis; and Ptah, the god of darkness and patron of Memphis.
During the alignment, the sun&rsquo;s rays illuminate three of the statues, Ra-Horakhty, Ramses II, and Amun, while Ptah remains in shadow, symbolizing his association with darkness in ancient Egyptian mythology.
Photo Credit: Diego Delso, via Wikimedia Commons

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