The three-thousand-year-old rock-cut temples at Abu Simbel and the story of their rescue from the rising waters of Lake Nasser in the 1960s are almost as familiar worldwide as the tale of the gold funerary mask and brief life of the boy king Tutankhamun. Yet although they are among the most celebrated, visited, and photographed archaeological sites in the world, the two temples are among the least understood by the visitor. In this lucidly written, beautifully illustrated guide, Nigel Fletcher-Jones explains the main features of both temples, discusses what they teach us about ancient Egypt during the reign of Rameses II (1265–1200 BC), and illustrates which gods and goddesses were worshipped here. With over 50 new photographs, drawings, and diagrams, and packed with fascinating insights, Abu Simbel: A Short Guide to the Temples is an indispensable companion and souvenir to one of the world’s great archaeological sites.

"Impressively informed and informative, Abu Simbel: A Short Guide to the Temples is a pleasure to simply browse and will prove to be a welcome addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Egyptology, Egyptian History, and Travel collections."—Midwest Book Review

Nigel Fletcher-Jones, with a PhD in archaeological anthropology from Durham University, has been director of the American University in Cairo Press since 2012. He writes regularly on Egyptian archaeology and history, and is the author of Treasures of Ancient Egypt (2019).