The solar alignment
where the sun illuminates the face of the statue of Ramses II is considered a
major event in Pharaonic history and holds many secrets of the pharaohs.
This phenomenon occurs twice a
year in the Temple of Abu Simbel in the city of Aswan in Upper Egypt, a scene
that attracts the world’s attention.
Maj. Gen. Ashraf Attia,
governor of Aswan, said in a press statement Oct. 22 that preparations have been made by all
parties involved to receive tourists, both foreign and Egyptian, flocking in to
witness this phenomenon. He stressed that precautionary and preventive measures
against the coronavirus have been taken.
Attia added that it was agreed with
the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Culture
not to hold the celebration that usually takes place on the sidelines of the
biannual event, in a bid to prevent many people gathering.
King Ramses II is known as
Ramses the Great, the third pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt, who led many
military campaigns in the Levant.
At the age of 14, Ramses II took over the
reins of power from his father Seti I.
Twice a year, the sun
illuminates the face of Ramses II, passing over a 60-meter (197-feet) distance
until it reaches the Holy of Holies room, where the king lies. The sun also
passes over the Ramses II statue for 20-25 minutes at dawn of Oct. 22, which
coincides with the start of the flood and agricultural season in ancient Egypt.
On Feb. 22, the sun announces the start of the harvest season.
The Holy of Holies is a room
in the temple that is home to the statue of Ramses II and, sitting next to him,
the God of the Sun Ra, the gods Re Hor Achti and Amun, and Ptah, the god of
darkness.
According to Egyptologist
Wassim al-Sisi, ancient Egyptians were geniuses in astronomy and all sciences.
He told Al-Monitor that the world’s scientists acknowledged that the sun
phenomenon over the statue of Ramses II is a great miracle, as the sun passes
over the statue twice a year — on Ramses II’s birthday and the day of his
coronation.
Sisi added that at the same
time the sun also illuminates the statues of Re Hor Achti and Amun.
“The great surprise is that
the sun illuminate’s half of the face of the god Ptah, the fourth god in the
Holy of Holies room.
Ptah symbolizes the night and the day, or the light and
the darkness,” Sisi said.
He noted, “This phenomenon
embodies the gigantic efforts made by Egyptian pharaohs in the world of
astronomy to serve all humanity."
Sisi said that the pharaohs
were successful in creating a great astronomical phenomenon, while the rest of
the world struggled to come up with a calendar.
“Back then the lunar calendar was common.
We
had found an archaeological papyrus that read, ‘Save me, Amun. Summer and
winter are overlapping and intertwining,’” Sisi said.
“This solar phenomenon proves
that Egypt under the pharaohs revealed back in 4242 B.C.
that the earth was
part of the solar and not the lunar system. This is why we, Egyptians, have to
celebrate the fact that Egypt set for the world the correct solar calendar for
the year — with 366 days,” he said.
Sisi pointed out that
civilization begins with written records.
"Before civilization there was what
is called civilization quest.
Ancient Egyptians assured the world since 4241
B.C.
that a year is made up of 365 days. This indicates that nearly 500 years
of astronomical research had been done to pave the way for this [discovery],”
he said.
“For instance, the First
Dynasty began in 5619 B.C., and not 3003, as the British Museum claims.
This
was proved by recent studies,” Sisi said.
The British Museum had
previsouly confirmed that the First Dynasty comprised three kings, but nine
royal tombs of the First Dynasty were later found in 2016 in several areas in
Egypt.
Elhami al-Zayat, a tourist
expert and head of the Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels, told
Al-Monitor that the sun phenomenon on the statue of Ramses II is seen as one of
the greatest events in the world, which has a major positive impact on Egytian
tourism.
“The timing, however, of this
[biannual] event does not suit many tourists, especially students who are usually
caught up at schools or universities at these times of the year. But the Temple
of Abu Simbel, in general, is seen as one of the major tourist attractions in
the city of Aswan in Upper Egypt,” Zayat said.
He added, “This event is
occurring this year amid exceptional circumstances, namely the coronavirus
pandemic that has negatively affected the turnout of foreign tourists."
Zayat said that the pandemic
has dealt a blow to the tourism sector not only in Egypt but the entire world.
“Several major tourist companies laid off a large number of their workers, not
being able to pay salaries.
The tourism industry has been the hardest hit by
the coronavirus since its outbreak until now.
Zayat called on the world’s
governments to save the tourism sector from collapse, by offering tourism
companies financial aid, especially since the global movement of tourists has
drastically dwindled compared to previous years.
Sisi added that at the same
time the sun also illuminates the statues of Re Hor Achti and Amun.
“The great surprise is that
the sun illuminate’s half of the face of the god Ptah, the fourth god in the
Holy of Holies room. Ptah symbolizes the night and the day, or the light and
the darkness,” Sisi said.
He noted, “This phenomenon
embodies the gigantic efforts made by Egyptian pharaohs in the world of
astronomy to serve all humanity."
Sisi said that the pharaohs
were successful in creating a great astronomical phenomenon, while the rest of
the world struggled to come up with a calendar.
“Back then the lunar calendar
was common. We had found an archaeological papyrus that read, ‘Save me, Amun.
Summer and winter are overlapping and intertwining,’” Sisi said.
“This solar phenomenon proves
that Egypt under the pharaohs revealed back in 4242 B.C. that the earth was
part of the solar and not the lunar system. This is why we, Egyptians, have to
celebrate the fact that Egypt set for the world the correct solar calendar for
the year — with 366 days,” he said.
Sisi pointed out that
civilization begins with written records. “Before civilization there was what
is called civilization quest. Ancient Egyptians assured the world since 4241
B.C. that a year is made up of 365 days.
This indicates that nearly 500 years
of astronomical research had been done to pave the way for this [discovery],”
he said.
“For instance, the First
Dynasty began in 5619 B.C., and not 3003, as the British Museum claims.
This
was proved by recent studies,” Sisi said.
The British Museum had
previsouly confirmed that the First Dynasty comprised three kings, but nine
royal tombs of the First Dynasty were later found in 2016 in several areas in
Egypt.
Elhami al-Zayat, a tourist
expert and head of the Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels, told
Al-Monitor that the sun phenomenon on the statue of Ramses II is seen as one of
the greatest events in the world, which has a major positive impact on Egytian
tourism.
“The timing, however, of this
[biannual] event does not suit many tourists, especially students who are
usually caught up at schools or universities at these times of the year.
But
the Temple of Abu Simbel, in general, is seen as one of the major tourist
attractions in the city of Aswan in Upper Egypt,” Zayat said.
He added, “This event is
occurring this year amid exceptional circumstances, namely the coronavirus
pandemic that has negatively affected the turnout of foreign tourists."
Zayat said that the pandemic
has dealt a blow to the tourism sector not only in Egypt but the entire world.
“Several major tourist companies laid off a large number of their workers, not
being able to pay salaries. The tourism industry has been the hardest hit by
the coronavirus since its outbreak until now.”
Zayat called on the world’s
governments to save the tourism sector from collapse, by offering tourism
companies financial aid, especially since the global movement of tourists has
drastically dwindled compared to previous years.
Source:al-monitor
