<P> The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples at Abu Simbel (Arabic: أبو سمبل ‎), a village in Nubia, southern Egypt, near the border with Sudan . They are situated on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 230 km southwest of Aswan (about 300 km by road). The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments", which run from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae (near Aswan). The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II . They serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari, and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh . Their huge external rock relief figures have become iconic . </P> <P> The complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968, on an artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir . The relocation of the temples was necessary or they would have been submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River . </P> <P> Construction of the temple complex started in approximately 1264 BC and lasted for about 20 years, until 1244 BC . Known as the "Temple of Ramesses, beloved by Amun" it was one of six rock temples erected in Nubia during the long reign of Ramesses II . Their purpose was to impress Egypt's southern neighbours, and also to reinforce the status of Egyptian religion in the region . </P> <P> With the passage of time, the temples fell into disuse and eventually became covered by sand . By the 6th century BC, the sand already covered the statues of the main temple up to their knees . The temple was forgotten until 1813, when Swiss orientalist Jean - Louis Burckhardt found the top frieze of the main temple . Burckhardt talked about his discovery with Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni, who travelled to the site, but was unable to dig out an entry to the temple . Belzoni returned in 1817, this time succeeding in his attempt to enter the complex . A detailed early description of the temples, together with contemporaneous line drawings, can be found in Edward William Lane's Description of Egypt (1825--1828). </P>

Who created abu simbel in his own image