Richard AmmonAbu Simbel is an archaeological site comprising two massive rock temples in southern Egypt
on the western bank of Lake Nasser about 290 km southwest of Aswan.
The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II
in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari,
to commemorate his alleged victory at the Battle of Kadesh, and to intimidate his Nubian neighbors.
The temples were moved to higher elevation 1964-1968 to avoid being
submerged in Lake Nasser formed by the Aswan High Dam (built 1960-71)
