Abu Simbel in Egypt, the lights of the Gods

A report by Margaret Kohl

Twice a year the sun shines 65 meters deep into the heart of the temple of Abu Simbel and illuminates the statues of gods - the god of darkness only stays in the dark. Another miracle occurred on the other hand every day.

I wonder if he sings a note for her? Lady Ridgeway looks intimidated up to one of the statues of Ramses II in Abu Simbel - a famous scene from the film adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile." This betrays a fellow traveler of the rich heiress Ridgeway, that the eastern figure of Ramses II at sunset, a high, desperate tone bring forth.

 "Nonsense," Mohamed El Bialy crying in the cafeteria of Abu Simbel. He is Director General of the ancient sites of Nubia, including Abu Simbel is one. His features petrified like that of an irate Pharaoh , as he teaches you that there is no singer in the said act to the Ramses statue, but the Colossus of Memnon in Luxor.

For his singing was a jump in the rock have been responsible, by the whistling of the wind. So no singing at sunset. And at sunrise - one experiences as a big surprise, perhaps even more sun instead of the announced miracle?

"No," says El Bialy, "the Egyptian astronomical geniuses and have been calculated exactly." Accordingly, the sun reached only twice in the optimum position - each about 22 October and 22 Around February. Then the rays pass through the narrow entrance directly 65 meters deep into the heart of the temple . There, they illuminate about a quarter of an hour the deities in the sanctum.

Then watch the sun god Re, Ramesses II and fertility god Amun together in the sun. Only Ptah, the god of darkness remains, even in the dark, after all he needs no light.

That for the days of sun miracle of childbirth and the coronation of Ramses II was elected, as some archaeologists, including El Bialy is not convinced: "The Egyptians were dependent on the Nile, which placed the country under water again and again and by the entrained sludge was fruitful. sowing and harvest time highlight important sections, which were celebrated in the Temple ritual on the days of sun miracle. "

But once the field work was done and came back to the Nile overflowed its banks, leaving Ramses II his subjects as construction workers toil for his temple. Abu Simbel was to become the symbol of his power, for here the Pharaoh ordered the 13th century BC for the first time represented as a god-like ruler who takes in the most holy place between all the other gods.

The exterior shows Ramses II was a 20 meter high colossal statues, and four times for the development of Nubia particular interest to them, because the country had large deposits of gold and copper. By Abu Simbel should the Nubians tributary on the southern border will remember who was in charge.

With a view to Egypt today one may well wonder how long the road from the Pharaoh to the modern dictator. More than 3000 years after Pharaoh Ramses II, the term has become a dirty word for the former head of state Hosni Mubarak. That has plunged him and his people, he now makes the process, is also a miracle, but one of the Egyptian revolution. But their output is still on shaky ground.

The faith of many rulers time and again is the idea that monumental buildings are the best way to own immortality.