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Deirdre · Joined:Fri Mar 11, 2005 6:29 pm Posts:1

Hi!

I'm a student in architecture and I'm making a research on Abou Simbel temple.

Why this name for the temple? Someone know?

This is an amazing monument! I'm lucky to get this subject! That's really impressive!

If you have interesting website on this subject, I would be happy to take a look at it!

Thanks
Have a good day!

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Osiris II · **Posted:** Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:06 pm

Check out this site, Deirdre. It should give you quite a bit of information concerning the temples.
http://www.touregypt.net/abusimbel.htm

Neb-Ma'at-Re · Joined:Tue Dec 09, 2003 12:21 pm Posts:690

Deirdre,

That is a very good question. In fact, I have searched for this answer for quite some time and have yet to find the Ancient Egyptian name for Ramses mortuary temple at Abu Simbel.

The Arabic name Abu Simbel which has been associated with this temple is perhaps due to its proximity to the town Abu Simbel, which judging from its name, may have come much later than the temple. I have read that word Abu in arabic means "Father, holy man, or saint ". I have heard of a number of meanings for this town including "Father of Fear", and "Father of the Ear of Corn". I have also seen this name as Ipsambul. I have wondered if the arabic Abu Simbel was derived from the word Ipsambul or vice versa or was this temple given the name Abu Simbel when first seen by the Arabs considering these colossal statues of Ramsess II to be the "Father of Fear". Unfortunately I have yet to find the origin of the word Ipsambul and whether it is of Kemetian or Nubian origin.

Still searching!

Neb

maatkara · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:10 am

Ciao!
Maybe some good news for you!

I'v ebeen asking to my hieroglyphs teacher and this is what he told me:
The name of Abu Simbel appears in the inscriptions of the small temple with the generic name of Nubia "t3 sty"..the complete inscription sounds like this: His Majesty ordered to built a temple in "t3 sty". They have never built anything like that before!". However, in other sources the montain of Abu Simbel is called "the pure montain"- "djw w'b". It must be noted that both Gebel Barkal, in Sudan, and Gebel Ahmar, near Cairo, are indicated with the same name

Franco Brussino
Egittologia.net

Hope it can help! :wink:

ciao!