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Twice a year, a golden sunbeam illuminates a 3,000-year-old Egyptian temple
The 20-minute event draws tourists and locals to witness a beam of sunlight illuminate Ramesses II and two gods inside the temple.
- On Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, a beam of sunlight illuminated the Great Temple of Ramesses in Abu Simbel, Egypt, 870 kilometers south of Cairo. This 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony occurs twice yearly.
- Engineers preserved the temple's solar alignment during a 1960s relocation project that moved the structure away from rising waters created by the Aswan High Dam. The alignment marks dates believed to correspond to the pharaoh's birthday and ascension.
- Inside the temple, a beam of sunlight traveled about 60 meters to illuminate statues of Ramesses and two gods, according to the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics. The illumination lasts about 20 minutes.
- Hundreds of tourists and locals gathered at dawn, with some sleeping outside overnight to witness the event. "Today is an extraordinary day, everyone is keen," said Egyptian tour guide Yasser Fouad, noting visitors' enthusiasm.
- Ramesses, the third pharaoh of the 19th dynasty, is widely considered ancient Egypt's most powerful ruler. The Great Temple, dating back to the 13th century BC, remains one of the country's main archaeological attractions.
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Total News Sources27
Leaning Left15Leaning Right2Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Left
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Left
58% Left
L 58%
C 34%
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