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The Temple of Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel. The temple was moved to this location in the 1960s because of the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

The Temple of Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel. The temple was moved to this location in the 1960s because of the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

The Temple of Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel. The temple was dedicated to the god, Hathor. The temple stands 100 m (328 ft) to the right of the Temple of Ramses II. It is fronted by six colossal 10-meter (33-foot) statues of Ramses II and Nefertari. It was unusual that the two statues of the queen were the same height as the four statues of the king. It also was unusual that a temple was dedicated to a queen.

The Temple of Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel. The temple was dedicated to the god, Hathor. The temple stands 100 m (328 ft) to the right of the Temple of Ramses II. It is fronted by six colossal 10-meter (33-foot) statues of Ramses II and Nefertari. It was unusual that the two statues of the queen were the same height as the four statues of the king. It also was unusual that a temple was dedicated to a queen.

Left pylon of the Temple or Ramses II at Abu Simbel. It was decided not to place the fallen head in its original position during the reconstruction.

Left pylon of the Temple or Ramses II at Abu Simbel. It was decided not to place the fallen head in its original position during the reconstruction.

A closer view of one of the statues of Ramses at Abu Simbel shows Nefertari, his wife, at his knee.

A closer view of one of the statues of Ramses at Abu Simbel shows Nefertari, his wife, at his knee.

Right pylon of the Temple or Ramses II at Abu Simbel. The figures at the base of the colossi are the mother, wife and children of Ramses II. The figure above the entrance is the god, Ra-Harakhte (Ra and Horus).

Right pylon of the Temple or Ramses II at Abu Simbel. The figures at the base of the colossi are the mother, wife and children of Ramses II. The figure above the entrance is the god, Ra-Harakhte (Ra and Horus).

The temples at Abu Simbel were moved to higher ground in the 1960s to save them from the flooding caused by the completion of the Aswan Dam. The carvings on the Great Temple shown here (completed about 1265 B.C.) dwarf mere humans.

The temples at Abu Simbel were moved to higher ground in the 1960s to save them from the flooding caused by the completion of the Aswan Dam. The carvings on the Great Temple shown here (completed about 1265 B.C.) dwarf mere humans.

Statues of the Pharaoh Ramses II at Abu Simbel, a twin temple to the Temple of Queen Nefertari in Nubia (southern Egypt) that was carved out of a mountainside in the 13th century B.C. The temple complex was meant to proclaim the might of Egypt to its southern neighbors and to reinforce the status of Egypt's religion in the region. Considered to be one of the most beautiful sites in Egypt, it is a popular tourist destination.

Statues of the Pharaoh Ramses II at Abu Simbel, a twin temple to the Temple of Queen Nefertari in Nubia (southern Egypt) that was carved out of a mountainside in the 13th century B.C. The temple complex was meant to proclaim the might of Egypt to its southern neighbors and to reinforce the status of Egypt's religion in the region. Considered to be one of the most beautiful sites in Egypt, it is a popular tourist destination.

Ruins of a Byzantine church at Kasr Ibrim in Lake Nasser. Kasr Ibrim originally was a major city perched on a cliff above the Nile River but the flooding of Lake Nasser transformed it into an island. Kasr Ibrim was the site of military fortifications from the times of the pharaohs.

Ruins of a Byzantine church at Kasr Ibrim in Lake Nasser. Kasr Ibrim originally was a major city perched on a cliff above the Nile River but the flooding of Lake Nasser transformed it into an island. Kasr Ibrim was the site of military fortifications from the times of the pharaohs.

Tomb of the Penut, the viceroy of Kush (Nubia) dug into a hill. Moved to this location in the 1960s because of the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

Tomb of the Penut, the viceroy of Kush (Nubia) dug into a hill. Moved to this location in the 1960s because of the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

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