Egypt's Twice-Annual Sun Phenomenon Wows Crowds
Tourists at the 3,000-year-old Abu Simble temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
Tourists wait at Abu Simbel temple to see the phenomenon that takes place two times per year, Feb. 22 and Oct. 22, at Abu Simbel temple, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
In light of Egypt's recent history of terrorist attacks at sites frequented by international tourists, security was tight at Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
Tourists pose for a group portrait at Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, after the rituals of the sun festival ended, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
A beam from the rising sun hits the innermost sanctuary to illuminate the statues of King Rameses II, his wife Nefertari, and god Amun Re, leaving Ptah the God of the underworld in darkness. This phenomenon happens on the same two dates — Rameses’s II birth, Oct. 22, and his coronation day, Feb. 22 — each year in Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
Tourists gaze at the illuminated statues at the entrance of the holy of the holiness sanctuary in Abu Simbel temple during the rituals of the sun festival in Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
“I was worried before I come because we hear in the Japanese news that Egypt is dangerous and it's a dictatorship," said a visitor from Japan. "But when I came all my worries has vanished, it's a nice and safe country and Egyptian people are so friendly and nice.” In Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
It is a day of bounty for Ehab Saad, a souvenir vendor. "I’m that I’m able to make some money which I didn’t make for sometime,” he said. Egyptian tourism has suffered in the years of turmoil following the 2011 revolution at Tahrir Square. In Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
Egyptian Fady Abadir and his American wife, Melis Bursin, who marveled at the experience. “It’s the first time for me here in Egypt," Bursin said. "It’s like a dream for me.” In Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
For some the day brought a thrill, for others disappointment. “It’s my branch of education at the university, and I have been eager to come here for this event," said Sherif Hany, 22, a student of Egyptian antiquities from the port city of Alexandria, "but unfortunately I came late so I couldn’t catch the exact moment.” In Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
Some tourists collapsed as a result of the high temperatures at Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
A tour guide tells a group of Japanese the story of how the temple was moved from its original location to a new spot to avoid being submerged at the time of the construction of the Aswan dam. The phenomenon used to take place on Feb. 21 and Oct. 21, but after shifting the location, it shifted to one day later, to Feb. 22 and Oct. 22 because of the re-positioning. At Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
Some tourists spent the night at the temple to be the first in line to watch the phenomena of a beam from the rising sun illuminating the statues of King Rameses II, his wife Nefertari, and God Amun Re, leaving Ptah the God of underworld in darkness. At Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)
Tourists, in traditional dress, wait for the beam of the rising sun to illuminate the Holy of the Holiness sanctuary in Abu Simbel temple. In Abu Simbel temple in Aswan, southern Egypt, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. (H. Elrasam/VOA)