Marco Zecchi

I really liked this book. A quality production. I bought it at the same time that I bought a number of other "tourist" publications about the same region but this one stood out for the sheer quality of both the photographs and the text. Yes it seems designed for the tourist but is more than just a collection of post cards. There is some serious text there about the exploration of Nubia and the theological concept of Abu Simbel. With their construction, Ramesses II did not simply aim to show more emphasize the influence Egypt wielded over Nubia, from which it obtained gold, metal, livestock, and exotic products. In the great temple the pharaoh intended to cary out a complex plan of theological speculation on his own deification while he was still alive, while in the small temple, he tried to identify his beloved Queen Nefertari with the goddess Hathor of Ibshek.
The four colossal statues of the big temple's façade have a strong psychological impact since they take the exaltation of the figure of the pharaoh to an extreme level. However, Ramesses II did nothing other than to proceed with a plan prepared in advance by his predecessors of the Eighteenth Dynasty, who intended to raise their human qualities to the maximum level. These included, for example, the courage of Thutmosis Ill, the physical strength of Amenhotep II, and in the case of Amenhotep III, the exaltation of the figure of the pharaoh.
And Rameses II was not the last person in Egypt to look for deification. Even Alexander the Great left Egypt, assured that he was a god. (Hard to stay humble in such circumstances).
But it is ironic that the text is also illuminated with some of the wonderful lithographs of David Roberts who visited the area in 1838-39 and made these wonderful paintings/drawings which captured the imagination of Europeans.
I loved the photographs....many of them taken from the air showing the context of these temples alongside Lake Nasser which has swamped their previous locations.
There is also some really good coverage of the huge work of cutting up these temples and moving them to higher ground so that they could be preserved....along with some great photos, of the actual dismantling and reassembly.
The book also deals with a number of the minor temples in the area (most of whom seemed to have also been moved to high ground to prevent their loss through flooding. And, It leaves me with a nice feeling that a world wide collaboration could be borought to bear to actually achieve the relocation. It must have cost a fortune though this doesn't seem to be mentioned in the book.
Anyway, I really like it so five stars from me. show less