Ramses the Great Queen Nefertari Her Temple at Abu Simbel

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the smaller but equally magnificent temple at Abu Simbel that Ramses II built for his Great Royal Wife, Nefertari. Dedicated to the goddess Hathor and to Nefertari herself, the temple is a unique monument to a queen's divine status. They discuss the temple's facade with its six colossal statues, the inner chambers where Nefertari appears as a priestess before Hathor and Mut, and the significance of the temple's location on the Nile at the southern gateway to Egypt. Lucas explains how Nefertari, whose name means 'Beautiful Companion,' was not just a royal consort but a diplomatic partner, as seen in her correspondence with the Hittite queen Puduhepa. The episode also touches on the rediscovery of Abu Simbel by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1813 and the incredible UNESCO relocation project in the 1960s that saved both temples from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Finally, Lucas and Luna reflect on what Nefertari's temple tells us about her role and Ramses' enduring love, which he immortalized in stone. #Nefertari #AbuSimbel #RamsesII #Hathor #AncientEgypt #Egyptology #QueenNefertari #GreatRoyalWife #UNESCO #LakeNasser #Nubia #Temple #Hieroglyphs #19thDynasty #NewKingdom #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo