Hundreds of tourists and residents gathered before sunrise Thursday at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple complex to witness a rare solar event that occurs twice a year. Some visitors spent the night outside the temple to secure a place for the spectacle.
As the sun rose on Oct. 22, its rays entered the Great Temple of Ramses II and traveled deep into its inner sanctuary. The sunlight illuminated statues of the pharaoh and two Egyptian gods for about 20 minutes. The phenomenon highlights the careful design of a temple built more than 3,000 years ago.
How sunlight reaches the ancient Egyptian temple
The solar alignment at Abu Simbel occurs around Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 each year. The dates are traditionally associated with Ramses II’s birthday and accession to the throne, although historians have not confirmed these connections.
According to Egypt’s National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, sunlight travels about 200 feet (60 meters) into the temple before reaching the statues of Ramses II and the gods Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty. A fourth statue, representing the god Ptah, remains in darkness.
Twice a year, sunlight travels 200 feet into Egypt’s 3,000-year-old Abu Simbel temple, illuminating statues of Ramses II and two ancient gods for just 20 minutes.
Hundreds gathered at dawn to witness the remarkable solar phenomenon. pic.twitter.com/mAONtnC0cT
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) October 23, 2026
The temple’s alignment allows sunlight to reach the sanctuary on these particular days. The design reflects the ancient Egyptians’ knowledge of astronomy and architecture. Ramses II ruled Egypt during the 13th century B.C. and commissioned several major monuments, including the Great Temple at Abu Simbel.
The temple also preserves evidence of later visitors. Ancient Greek inscriptions carved into its statues record the presence of Greek soldiers in Egypt during the sixth century B.C.
Tourists gather to witness the solar phenomenon
Visitors formed long lines outside the temple before dawn, carrying phones and selfie sticks to record the event. Inside, crowds stood close together in near-total darkness as they waited for sunlight to reach the statues. Hisham Khela, a local guide accompanying Italian tourists, described the occasion as a historic celebration. “Today is a very special day, as you can see. It’s a celebration and a historic holiday,” Khela explained.
Outside the temple, performers in colorful costumes danced to traditional music played on drums and wind instruments, including the mizmar. Janice Souudi, who traveled from Atlanta, Georgia, said she was especially impressed by the temple’s preserved carvings, hieroglyphics, and artwork. “Beautiful, stunning, worth it!” she said. Souudi, visiting Egypt for the first time, said she hoped to return.
Ancient temple relocation preserved solar alignment
The temple’s solar phenomenon survived a major archaeological rescue project in the 1960s. Engineers and archaeologists dismantled and relocated Abu Simbel to protect it from rising waters caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Workers moved the monument to higher ground and reconstructed it while preserving its general orientation toward the sun.
The dam’s construction also submerged other archaeological sites in the region. Some remains could not be relocated, and researchers have since discovered ancient Egyptian carvings beneath the Nile’s waters. The relocation shifted the dates of the temple’s solar alignment by about one day. However, sunlight continues to reach the inner sanctuary more than 3,000 years after the temple’s construction.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
