de YOUNG MUSEUM
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA--Ramses the Great's best known monument is the rock-cut temple of Abu Simbel in Nubia. Years ago, when the temple was threatened by the Aswan Dam, funds raised by UNESCO saved it from the rising Nile forming Lake Nasser. The entire temple was cut from the rock and raised on giant jacks 210 meters behind and 61 meters above it original site.
At the back of the temple, sitting on thrones, one can see four statues. The statues resembling Re-Horakty, who was a god with a human body and a falcon head who wears a crown in the form of a sun disk surrounded by a cobra, and in other representations, a crown made from ram's horns and ostrich feathers. Amun, better known as Amun Ra who was recognized in Egypt as the sun god, who not only created himself but was the creator of the whole universe. The God had so much power in Egyptian mythology, that some historians believe that some Egyptians were monotheistic and that Amun was for them similar to God is for the Christians. The other statue represent Ramses II also spelled Ramesess, the third Egyptian Pharaoh, a king and god called by the Egyptians userma'atre'setepenre which means Keeper of Harmony and Balance, Strong in Right, and elect of Rah. (the sun god). Ramses II was also known a Ramses the Great. The last statue represents Ptah who was their creator god. The maker of things, and the patron of craftsmen, specially of the sculptors..
The temple was designed to light up these figures on the Spring and Fall equinoxes when the sun perfectly aligns for 20 minutes to shine on the statues (see picture above) And those visitors who walk around the temple, can also have a chance to see the objects that once lay inside the royal tombs The exhibition also provides visitors the opportunity to have a closer look at the Abu Simbel temple. HOW?
At the exhibition, however, Nefertary, is not human, but it is the name given to a Magic electronic chair that allows guests to transport themselves across the expansive Sahara Desert in a state-of-the-art Virtual Reality experience using cinematic motion chairs. During ten minutes, and guided by the apparitions of both Ramses II and Nefertiti, visitors to the exhibit take a tour through Abu Simbel in a unique once-in-the-lifetime exhibition experience. Ramses & Nefertary Journey to Osiris, requires a separate timed ticket, from the exhibition ticket. In a glowing exhibition review, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that when "spectacle and immersion are given a subject with the depth of Ramses II; they can be truly in the service of greater understanding" To ensure your preferred time slot, please reserve your entry date and time in advance online at: https://tickets.famsf.org/events . |
