THE RAMESSEUM, MORTUARY TEMPLE OF RAMSES II
For the pharaohs, temple building was a way of thanking the
gods for military triumphs, demonstrating their greatness to their people and
ensuring their memory would be honoured in posterity.
Ramses II (19th Dynasty,
1304- 1237BC) was a prolific builder and the great temple at Abu Simbel was
amongst his most exceptional works. While the Ramesseum lies half in ruins, it
is nevertheless one of the loveliest sites in Egypt.The temple precinct is
scattered with shards of ancient pottery and fallen blocks, the most
sensational of which is a large sculpture of Ramses II’s muscular torso. His
monolith, carved into a single piece of Aswan granite, once stood almost 17
meters high, dominating the local countryside.
Even now the Ramesseum, with its
wind gnarled trees full of chirping birds has an ambience full of romance of a
great , but fallen, power.
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