
The Abu Simbel Sun Festival is a bi-annual event held at Ramses II‘s magnificent temple in the south of Egypt. The central chamber of the temple is illuminated by the sun twice a year. The sun aligns perfectly for a brief moment, illuminating the normally dark interior’s inner sanctum. The inner statues of Ra (the sun god) and Amun (the king of the gods) are illuminated thanks to clever architecture. Only Ptah, the god of darkness, remains in the shadow. This has been going on for more than 3,200 years.