Sun Rays Light Up the Face of Ramses II at Abu Simbel
20:17 22.10.2026 (Updated: 20:24 22.10.2026)
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Sun Rays Light Up the Face of Ramses II at Abu Simbel
A breathtaking sight unfolded at Egypt’s Abu Simbel Temple in Aswan on Thursday morning, as the rising sun illuminated the face of Pharaoh Ramses II.
Around 7,000 tourists and visitors from around the world gathered at dawn to witness this remarkable feat of ancient Egyptian engineering, which occurs just twice a year, on October 22 and February 22.
The secret behind the spectacle:
The first rays of sunlight travel 60 meters through the temple’s great hall to reach its inner sanctuary. For nearly 20 minutes, they illuminate the statues of Ramses II and the gods seated beside him, while Ptah, the god associated with darkness, remains in shadow.
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