Page 19 - Issue 63
P. 19
Vol.1 Issue 63 January 2024Vol.1 Issue 63, May 2024 ElITE
It was dug into a rocky cliff and the However, it is interesting to note that this
entrance had 4 colossal statues measuring 20 also came at a great cost to Egypt. But how?
m high representing king Ramses II. This Since the project involved a large number of
temple created for and by Ramses countries, each benefited its own interests,
showcases one of the traditional financing or technical and scientific
iconographic styles of his reign. His colossal cooperation had a cost. And this cost is also
statues legitimize and strengthen his reign our heritage. In fact, towards the end of the
given that he does not come from pure royal campaign the Egyptian authorities
origins. Abu Simbel is also a scientific abandoned some Nubian monuments
marvel. Because the sun rays illuminate intentionally (or not) with the publication of
Title
twice a year the statues of the <Holy of the Decree No. 4647 of 1966 which confirmed
Holies= or the naos of the temple. During the sending of 5 temples abroad. Notably
the 60s the UNESCO adopted the Swedish the Roman temple of Dandour in the
project, which involved cutting and United States (exhibited at the Met
reassembling the blocks, 65 m north of the Museum), the temple of Debod in Spain, the
original site. Just like a puzzle, the blocks temple of Tafa in the Netherlands, the
measuring tons finally reconstructed the temple of Ellessiya in Italy and the
new site in 1968. Ptolemaic gate of Kalabsha in Germany.
The campaign led to the replacement of
Amada, Kalabsha temples, in addition of
the <Egyptian pearl= the Greco-Roman
Philae temple dedicated to the goddess
Isis… The project was finally concluded in
1980, and it has helped establishing the base
and the mechanisms of protection and
preservations of the treasures of humanity, An example of the expatriated temples: Debod temple moved to
mainly after the publication of 1972 Spain after the Nubia Campaign
concerning the protection of cultural During Nasser’s period, the Egyptian
heritage by the UNESCO, the campaign has government didn’t have as much conscience
inspired many more campaigns of about the protection of ancient monuments,
preservation around the world. It is also just like we do now. However, to what
important to say that a similar project is a extent this action lead by the government
remarkable addition to Egyptian tourism forced us to take a step back by expatriating
sector, because temples like Abu Simbel or our own monuments? Whereas now we
Philae for example, attract millions of advocate for the return of monuments
visitors each year. The project war also a present in museums around the world for
great addition for international diplomacy example, the Rosetta stone, the bust of
in order to preserve world heritage despite Nefertiti, Dendara’s zodiac, and many
the tensions of the Cold War. others.
19
