Temple of Ramses II, Abu Simbel, Egypt. 1290 - 1224 BCE. New Kingdom. carved out of sandstone; rough
Temple of Ramses II, Abu Simbel, Egypt. 1290 - 1224 BCE. New Kingdom. carved out of sandstone; rough material, very weathered, and originally not refined. figures have no architectural purpose; simply colossal figures. all of Ramses II, the most famous pharaoh, was believed to have dealt with Moses in biblical canon. at base, family depicted between ankles. rediscovered in 1813 and reconstructed on higher ground. inside are depictions of military campaigns of the pharaoh. tiny figure of ramses in the middle; he is osiris, god of the dead. holds a crook, a curved staff: tool of the shepherd. pharaohs lead people and the god of the dead leads people through the afterlife. ramses reigned for a long time. didn’t die until he was around 80 or 90 years old, very unusual. tomb is in the valley of the kings. largest funerary monument in all of egypt. -- source link
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