Abu simbel: The sun aligned on Sunday, February 22, 2026, on the face of the statue of King Ramses II at his Great Temple in the tourist city of Abu Simbel, south of Aswan, in a rare astronomical phenomenon that occurs twice a year, on Feb. 22 and Oct. 22. The phenomenon lasted for 22 minutes, beginning at 6:22 a.m. and ending at 6:44 a.m.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Fahmy el Amin, Director General of the Department of Egyptian, Greek and Roman Antiquities in Aswan, stated that this unique astronomical event began 33 centuries ago. The event was attended by several officials from Aswan City Hall and representatives from the ministries of antiquities, tourism, and culture. Officials from the Abu Simbel antiquities area, approximately 2,000 Egyptians and foreign tourists, as well as millions more via television and international satellite channels, also witnessed the event.

Ahmed Massoud, Director of the Abu Simbel antiquities area, highlighted that the solar alignment on the face of Ramses II's statue demonstrates the ancient Egyptians' ability to combine art, science, astronomy, and engineering within the temple built by Ramses II thousands of years ago. Massoud noted that this phenomenon is one of Egypt's most significant astronomical events, attracting tourists, photographers, and researchers from around the world. It showcases the architectural and astronomical precision of the Pharaonic temples and the ancients' skill in linking natural phenomena with agricultural and religious events.

Massoud further explained that the phenomenon occurs with the first rays of the sun at dawn, as sunlight penetrates the temple walls and halls, which rise more than 60 meters, reaching the sanctuary and casting a flood of light on the statue of the pharaoh. The sun's rays then illuminate the faces of other statues inside the sanctuary, including those of the gods Amun and Ra-Horakhty, while the light does not reach the statue of Ptah, the god of darkness. This phenomenon reflects the ancient Egyptians' belief in a connection between King Ramses II and Ra, the sun god.