The inner sanctum of Abu Simbel: detail of Ramesses II
The temple sanctuary is located behind the apparition hall and offering chamber. It contains four seated statues, three representing the main New Kingdom deities to whom the temple is dedicated, from the left Ptah, whose head has been lost, Amun-Ra with two feathers above his head and Ra-Horakhty with a hawk's head and sun disc, together with the statue of deified Ramesses placed in the centre (between Amun and Ra) wearing the Khepresh, the blue crown generally worn in battle and during New Kingdom ceremonies. Due to the orientation of the temple at the equinoxes (in February and October), the rays of the rising sun illuminate the entire statuary group starting from the pharaoh's face, with the exception of Ptah as he is connected with the Underworld and darkness. The moving of the temple for its rescue from the waters of Lake Nasser inevitably shifted the solar phenomenon by one day. In front of the statues there is still a block on which the solar boat was to be placed.
