A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
60th Anniversary of the Salvation of the Temples of Abu Simbel
In 2020 we mark 60 years since the beginning of international cooperation on salvation of the two temples of Abu Simbel – Great Temple dedicated to Ramses II and the Small temple dedicated to his wife Nefertari. It was one of most demanding and most famous heritage preservation action ever undertaken; therefore it became a reference for all large heritage projects aftermath.
In 1960 Egypt began to build huge Aswan High Dam on The River Nile, by far the biggest structure ever built in its history of state already worldwide famous for huge structures, and it was clear that artificial lake will endanger two temples of Abu Simbel located at the bank on Nile. Therefore state of Egypt asked UNESCO for help and three years later the two temples were re-erected at a site 64 m higher and 180 m further inland from the original location.
The temples had to be dissembled, transported and assembled again. Originally, temples were curved out the rocky hill, and to replace it, the artificial concrete dome was built over the top of each temple. A 55 m wide curved scaffold was created for the cylindrical part of the protective dome. The spherical part of the dome framework was formed by half-arches made of SL 15 girders with a span of approx. 19 m. The requirements of the clients for minimal deformations taking into account the influence of the bolt clearance and the assembly and displacement problems could be kept. The measured deformations showed a very good agreement with the calculated ones.
Recalling memory of this great venture, in this paper we describe why and how it was done, and argue the current state, emerging protection issues and its symbolic meaning.
60th Anniversary of the Salvation of the Temples of Abu Simbel
In 2020 we mark 60 years since the beginning of international cooperation on salvation of the two temples of Abu Simbel – Great Temple dedicated to Ramses II and the Small temple dedicated to his wife Nefertari. It was one of most demanding and most famous heritage preservation action ever undertaken; therefore it became a reference for all large heritage projects aftermath.
In 1960 Egypt began to build huge Aswan High Dam on The River Nile, by far the biggest structure ever built in its history of state already worldwide famous for huge structures, and it was clear that artificial lake will endanger two temples of Abu Simbel located at the bank on Nile. Therefore state of Egypt asked UNESCO for help and three years later the two temples were re-erected at a site 64 m higher and 180 m further inland from the original location.
The temples had to be dissembled, transported and assembled again. Originally, temples were curved out the rocky hill, and to replace it, the artificial concrete dome was built over the top of each temple. A 55 m wide curved scaffold was created for the cylindrical part of the protective dome. The spherical part of the dome framework was formed by half-arches made of SL 15 girders with a span of approx. 19 m. The requirements of the clients for minimal deformations taking into account the influence of the bolt clearance and the assembly and displacement problems could be kept. The measured deformations showed a very good agreement with the calculated ones.
Recalling memory of this great venture, in this paper we describe why and how it was done, and argue the current state, emerging protection issues and its symbolic meaning.
60th Anniversary of the Salvation of the Temples of Abu Simbel
Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
Vayas, Ioannis (editor) / Mazzolani, Federico M. (editor) / Zivaljevic-Luxor, Natasa (author) / Pasternak, Hartmut (author)
International Conference on Protection of Historical Constructions ; 2021 ; Athens, Greece
2021-12-04
10 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
60th Anniversary of the Salvation of the Temples of Abu Simbel
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Piece by piece, Abu Simbel temples move to high ground
Engineering Index Backfile | 1965
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Freitragende Bogenlehrgerueste in Abu Simbel
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