Self learning unit: Abu Simbel Temple

 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

The following module is the third part of a set and it si about the problem of the salvage and preservation of the artistic heritage of the "Low Nubia". The problem rose as a consequence of the submersion of the valley due to the construction of the High-dam, when the two temples of Abu Simbel were threatened. It was.thanks to the interest and the support of UNESCO the two temples have been rescued so that they could be handed down to posterity as a world heritage.

Before starting remember you’ better go through the two previous parts, or at least their entry and exit tests.

EQUIPMENT

TIME

This unit is designed to involve you in about two hours’ work, remember that you can work according to your needs and at your own speed.

LEVEL

Advanced

INSTRUCTIONS

This unit is divided in 3 parts:

• 2 activities to get the objectives
• An exit test to self-evaluate your work

As you have already be told there will be no entry test but you can go through the ones of the first and second part. Remember, each activity is provided with a worksheet and an answer sheet for self correction, but you can always ask the staff for any help.

Here are some suggestions you had better follow:

• Always read the instructions carefully before working.so that you can get an overall idea of what is expected from you.

• Work through the exercise.

• When you have finished the exercise, compare your work to the answer sheet.

We hope that you will enjoy the work and that you will succeed on it !!!!

ACTIVITY 1

PURPOSE OF THE ACTIVITY

This activity will allow you to know

EQUIPMENT

Pc and the "Internet"

INSTRUCTION

TASK 1

• Open " Netscape"
• Click on the web http://www.ccer.ggl.ruu.nl/abu_simbel/abu_simbel1.html
• Read carefully the documents and images
• Open the hot words and you will have the opportunity to get the information
• Fill in the following table

TASK 2

Now look at the images of the web-page and answer the following questions:

Picture n°1: Look at the front facade of the temple and answer the questions

1. How many statues dominate the front of the Great temple of Abu Simbel?
2. a) 1 b) 4 c) 8 d) 1
3. ) What was one of the statue damaged by?
4. ______________________________________________
5. ) How high are the statues?
6. a) 10metres b) 5 metres c) 35 metres d) 20 metres
7. What was the condition of the temples when they were discovered ?
8. ______________________________________________________
9. Who is the temple devoted to ?

• ______________________________________________________

Picture n° 2: Look at the frontal facade and answer the questions

1. Who is represented in the statue above the central entrance of the temple?
2. __________________________________________
1. What are its attributes?

• __________________________________________

Picture n° 3: Look at the frontal facade and answer the questions

1. Who is represented in the small statues placed between the colossuses’ legs?
2. __________________________________________
1. What’s the name of the woman next to the seat of the second image of the king from the right ?

• __________________________________________

Picture n° 4: Look at Ramses II’s headcloth and answer the questions

1. What symbolizes the double crown?

• __________________________________________

Picture n° 5: Look at innermost room of the temple.

1. What are the names of the statues that are illuminated twice a year?

__________________________________________

Picture n° 6: Look the first hall located right behind the entrance

1. What does the hall contain and how is the king represented?

• _________________________________________

  Now check your answers with the answer-sheet.

  ACTIVITY 1 ANSWER SHEET

Picture n°1: Look at the frontal facade and answer the questions

1. How many statues dominate the front of the Great temple of Abu Simbel?
2. a) 1 X b) 4 c) 8 d) 1
3. ) What was one of the statue damaged by?
4. By an earthquake.
5. ) How high are the statues?
6. a) 10metres b) 5 metres c) 35 metres Xd) 20 metres
7. What was the condition of the temples when they were discovered ?
8. They were deeply covered in sand.
9. Who is the temple dedicated to ?

• It is dedicated to Ramses II.

Picture n° 2: Look at the frontal facade and answer the questions

1. The goddess" Re-Horakhte" is represented.
1. The god is represented with the attributes of both Re,a sun-disk, and Horus,a falcon-head.

Picture n° 3: Look at the frontal facade and answer the questions

1. Some of Ramses’ wives, sons and daughters
1. Her name is "Queen Nefertari"

Picture n° 4: Look at Ramses II’s headcloth and answer the questions

1. What symbolizes the double crown?

• The double crown symbolizes Ramses II’s rule over Upper and Lower Egypt

Picture n° 5: Look at innermost room of the temple.

1. What are the names of the statues that are illuminated twice a year?

They are the four statues of the seated gods Ptah, Amun-Ra, Ramses II and Re- Horakhte.

Picture n° 6: Look the first hall located right behind the entrance

1. What does the hall contain and how is the king represented?

• The Hall contains 4 massive square pillars, each fronted by a 9 metres tall figure of the King in Osiride posture.

ACTIVITY 2

PURPOSE OF THE ACTIVITY

This activity will allow you to know the technical problems of the removal and reconstruction of the temple.

Tv set and the videocassette "Egitto Conquista dell’eternità" by the National Geographic Society"

Now you will have to watch some sections of the video. Before watching, read the instructions very carefully. There will not be many tasks because the video is short but you will be able to get further information.

TASK 1

• Watch the section of the video from 51.28 min. to the end.
• Open the internet http://interoz.com/egypt/abusimbel.htm
• Read carefully and answer the following questions:

1. Where is Nubia ? And why was it flooded by the waters?
2. __________________________________________________
1. Was the problem of protecting the artistic and cultural monuments taken in consideration in the project of the Dam?
2. Yes € No €
1. What’s the role of UNESCO in this enterprise ?
2. __________________________________________________
1. In the reconstruction of the temple the astronomical calculation have been respected.
2. Yes € No €
1. How were the great statues of the temple dismantelled?
2. __________________________________________________
1. What structure was created to shelter the temple?
2. __________________________________________________
1. How were they reassembled?
2. __________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________

1. What were the joins filled with?
2. __________________________________________________
1. Why has this enterprise aroused lively interest all over the world?
2. __________________________________________________
1. Why is this artistic monument a fundamental evidence of the continuity with the past and a solution for the future?

___________________________________________________

ACTITY 2 ANSWER SHEET

1. Where is Nubia ? And why was it flooded by the waters?
2. Nubia is in the southern part of Egypt, on Sudan border and was flooded when the dam was built.
1. Was the problem of protecting the artistic and cultural monuments taken in consideration in the project of the Dam?
2. Yes € No € X
1. What’s the role of UNESCO in this enterprise ?
2. They financed the salvation operation.
1. In the reconstruction of the temple the astronomical calculation have been respected.
2. Yes € X No €
1. How were the great statues of the temple dismantelled?
2. The statues were cut in blocks with handsaws.
1. What structure was created to shelter the temple?
2. An artificial mountain was created.
1. How were they reassembled?
2. The archeologists supervised the works respecting the original position approximately by 4-6 mm..
1. What were the joins filled with?
2. The joins were filled with a paste made from a mixture of resin and the powder collected during the stone cut.
1. Why has this enterprise aroused lively interest all over the world?
2. Because some of the most beautiful monuments of our history were threatened.
1. Why is this artistic monument a fundamental evidence of the continuity with the past and a solution for the future?

Because it is a sort of treaty of peace with the future generations.

ACTIVITY 3 exit test

In order to selfevaluate your results, try to answer the following questions and check them using the anwer-sheet

1. The High-Dam construction has involved the problem of the conservation and preservation of many monuments of historical and artistic interest. What are the two monuments that had to be removed?
2. _________________________________________________

   _________________________________________________

3. Who was the salvage operation financed by?
4. a) UNESCO b) The Soviet union c) OMS d) The Arabian league
5. How long did it take to finish the works?
6. a) 5 year b) 10 years c) 6 years d) 4 years
7. Where were the temples moved?
8. _________________________________________________________________
9. When were the two temples discovered?
10. a) b) 1813 c) 1901 d) 1797
11. Who were they discovered by?
12. a) Schlieman b) Evans c) Bucrkhardt d) Livingstone
13. Who were they built for?
14. a) Ramses II b) Tutankhamon c) Hatshepsut d) ..................
15. How many statues dominate the front of the Great temple of Abu Simbel?
16. a) 1 b) 4 c) 8 d) 1
17. ) What was one of the statue damaged by?
18. ______________________________________________
19. What was the condition of the temples when they were discovered ?
20. ______________________________________________
21. How high are the statues of "Abu Simbel temple"?
22. 10 metres b) 5 metres c) 20 metres d) 35 metres
23. How high are the statues of "Hathor temple"?
24. 10 metres b) 20 metres c) 5 metres d) 80 metres
25. When do the sun’s rays get into the temple and floodlight Ramses II’s statue?
26. _____________________________________________________________
27. Which stone was Abu Simbel monument cut out of?
28. marble b) granite c) sandstone d) tuff
29. List the four stages of the organization of the works:

1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________

And now prepare an appropriate legend for the temple map as far as the points A, B, C, F concern, you will find a map on the following sheet.

After that, check your answers with the key.

EXIT TEST ANSWER-SHEET

1. The High Dam construction has involved the problem of the conservation and preservation of many monuments of historical and artistic interest. What are the two monuments that had to be removed?
2. The temple of Abu Simbel

   The temple of Abu Hathor

1. Who was the salvage operation financed by?
2. Xa) UNESCO b) The Soviet union c) OMS d) The Arabian League
1. How long did it take to finish the works?
2. a)1 year b) 10 years c) 6 years d) 4 years
1. Where were the temples moved?
2. The two temples were raised over 60 metres up the sandstone cliff where an articial mountain had been built.
1. When were the two temples discovered?
2. a) 1927 b) 1813 c) 1901 d) 1797
1. Who were they discovered by?
2. a) Schlieman b) Evans Xc) Burckhardt d) Livingstone
1. Who were they built for?
2. Xa)Ramses II b) Tutankhamon c) Hatshepsut d) ..................
1. How many statues dominate the front of the Great temple of Abu Simbel?
2. a) 2 X b) 4 c) 8 d) 1
1. What was one of the statue damaged by?
2. By an earthquake
1. What was the condition of the temples when they were discovered ?
2. They were covered deeply in sand.
1. How high are the statues of "Abu Simbel temple"?
2. a) 10 metres b) 5 metres X c) 20 metres d) 35 metres
1. How high are the statues of "Hathor temple"?
2. X a) 10 metres b) 20 metres c) 5 metres d) 80 metres
1. When do the sun’s rays get into the temple and floodlight Ramses II’s statues?
2. Twice a year, on 22nd February and 22nd October, the earliest sun’s rays illuminate the statues of the four gods.
1. Which stone was Abu Simbel monument cut out of?
2. a) marble b) granite Xc) sandstone d) tuff
1. List the four stages of the organization of the works

• 1 Number the sections.

  2 Classify and describe them.

  3 Reassembling with an approximation of 3/4 millimetres.

  4 Closing and filling of the joins.

Here is the legend for the map:

A Four gigantic statues of the seated king Ramses II

B Entrance

C Large rock cut hall with eight massive pillars

f Sanctuary with 4 statues of the gods Ptah, Amun-Ra, Ramses II and Re-Horakhte.