On two days of the year the sun's rays reach these once gold-covered statues. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

Relief of God Hapy, who is the personification of the Nile Flood. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

Statues of goddess Hathor alternate with Ramses II on the facade of Queen Nefertari's Temple. [Temple of Hathor - Abu Simbel -

Temple of Hathor was built by Ramses II to honor his favorite wife, Nefertari. [Temple of Hathor - Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The 33m high facade is breathtaking. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The Ankh that locks the gate to the Temple. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The Ankh was a symbol of eternal life for the ancient Egyptians [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The colossi on the southern pillars wear the Upper Egypt crown, [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The facade was discovered by Swiss explorer Jean-Louis Burckhardt in 1813. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The four colossi signify a unified Egypt. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel was built in the 13th century to honor Ramses II. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The inner sanctuary holds a statue of Hathor in the form of a cow. [Temple of Hathor - Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The Temple facade was buried in sand for centuries. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]

The temple is decorated with scenes of Ramses slaying Egypt's enemies, watched upon by Nefertari. [Temple of Hathor - Abu Simbe

Whereas the northern ones wear the double crown of Upper & Lower Egypt. [Great Temple of Abu Simbel - Egypt]