Great Temple of Ramses II: The larger of the two temples, dedicated to Ramses II himself and the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah. The facade of the Great Temple features four colossal statues of Ramses II, each about 20 meters (66 feet) high. Inside, the temple consists of halls and rooms adorned with detailed carvings and statues depicting the pharaoh's victories and his divine status.
Temple of Hathor and Nefertari: The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. The facade features six statues—four of Ramses II and two of Nefertari. This temple is unique because it is one of the few in ancient Egypt dedicated to a queen.
Relocation: In the 1960s, the temples were relocated from their original location to higher ground to avoid being submerged by the rising waters of the Nile River caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. This relocation was a massive international effort, funded by UNESCO and involved cutting the temples into large blocks and reassembling them at the new site.
Sun Alignment Phenomenon: Twice a year, the inner sanctum of the Great Temple is illuminated by the rising sun, illuminating the statues of Ramses II and two of the gods, but leaving the statue of Ptah, the god of the underworld, in darkness. This phenomenon occurs on February 22 and October 22, thought to correspond to Ramses II’s birthday and coronation day.