This morning, the sun rose at the Temple of Abu Simbel in the southern Aswan region, attracting hundreds of tourists from various corners of the world, who gathered to witness the celestial phenomenon, occurring twice a year: on October 22 and February 22.
Tourists aimed to capture the moment when the sun's rays illuminated the inner sanctum, lighting up the face of Pharaoh Ramses II, who built the temple in the thirteenth century BC. The event also saw the presence of the Governor of Aswan, Ismail Kamal, President of the Egyptian Cultural Heritage Fund Mohamed Nasif, and around 1500 guests.
Tourists, witnessing the events at Abu Simbel, enjoyed folkloric performances presented by 9 ensembles of Egyptian national arts.
The celebration of this astronomical phenomenon at the Temple of Abu Simbel was attended by the local authorities, emphasizing that this 33-year event plays a significant role in attracting tourists to the region.
An Egyptian scientific team, led by Dr. Ahmed Awad, has studied and documented over 22 astronomical events within ancient Egyptian temples and pyramids of various Egyptian governors. This project, which has continued for three years, was approved by the Permanent Committee of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. Archaeological sites in different governorates, such as Giza, Luxor, New Valley, Qena, and also Aswan, witness the outstanding achievements of ancient Egyptians in the field of astronomy and engineering thousands of years ago.