1-153-228 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Sandstone statues of Rameses II outside the entrance to the main temple at Abu Simbel, Egypt, 13th Century BC. The temple was built during the reign of Rameses II (ruled 1279-1212 BC) and was dedicated to the sun gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte. Rameses' reign was notable for a dramatic upsurge in the rate of temple building. The existence of the great temple at Abu Simbel was unknown outside Egypt in modern times until 1813. It was explored in 1817 by the Italian explorer and antiquity seeker Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778-1823).