HIP-S-000236-8353 19th century travellers' graffiti, Temple of Rameses II, Abu Simbel, Egypt. The great rock-cut Temple of Abu Simbel was built during the reign of the pharaoh Rameses II (ruled 1279-1212 BC) and dedicated to the gods Amon-Re, Re-Horakhte and Ptah and the Rameses himself. It was built as a lasting monument to Rameses and his wife Queen Nefertari and to commemorate his victory at the battle of Kadesh. It served as a reminder to Egypt's Nubian neighbours of the prowess of the pharaoh. Rameses' reign was notable for a dramatic upsurge in the rate of temple building. The existence of the temple at Abu Simbel was unknown outside Egypt in modern times until 1813. It was explored in 1817 by the Italian explorer and antiquity seeker Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778-1823) Credit: Werner Forman Archive / Heritage Images /Alinari Archives, Florence WARNING: Permission must be required for non editorial use. Please contact Alinari Archives Collection: Heritage Images /Alinari Archives, Florence Technical info Image sizes (pixel): 4606 X 3063 Image sizes (cm at 300 dpi): 38 X 25 Image sizes (MB): 4.67 Color space: RGB