Carved out of a mountainside, this site is one of the most dramatic of all the temples built in Egypt. It Consists of two temples, the smaller temple, dedicated to Hathor and Queen Nefertari, has been visited by travellers for centuries. The Great Temple has been hidden by sand for centuries, it was not rediscovered until 1813 by Jean Louis Burckhardt (a Swiss explorer), the first to enter the temple in modern times was Giovanni Belzoni on 1 August 1817.

Four colossal statues of Ramesses II wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, sit either side of the central doorway. The statues of Ramesses II (over 65 feet tall) dwarf the other statues found at the temple - above the doorway is Re-Herakhty, the others stand by the legs of the seated statues: Maat, and the more important members of the Royal family which are in groups of three:

Surrounding the entrance doorway to the temple are Ramesses II's cartouches, figures of gods and scenes of Ramesses II before Amun-Re, Mut, Re and Werthekau. Above the doorway is a figure of Re with a jackal headed staff (User) and a figure of Maat, above these figures are 22 baboons.