A temple, preserved Nov 16, 2020

A temple, preserved

The temples at Abu Simbel, commissioned by Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II around 1264 BCE, would not be around for us to photograph if it weren"t for the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). A couple centuries after the Abu Simbel temples were completed, Ramesses" empire had collapsed and the sands of the Nubian region of North Africa began to consume them. European explorers "discovered" Abu Simbel in the early 1800s, leading to massive efforts to excavate and preserve the ruins of the great pharaoh"s monument to himself.

© George Steinmetz/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nov 16, 2018Ancient art in the Amazon
Nov 16, 2019Mountain mists over Bavaria
Nov 16, 2021Glenfinnan Viaduct
Nov 16, 202250 years of World Heritage Sites
Nov 16, 2023World Philosophy Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 16, 2021Unearthing a queen s lost tale
Aug 3, 2021A reflection of Europe s past
Jun 30, 2021An impactful day
Sep 25, 2019Chilling out in the Arctic
Sep 24, 2021The crossroads of empires
May 8, 2018Raise your hand for Teacher Appreciation Day
Oct 6, 2023Taughannock Falls State Park
Feb 20, 2019An unlikely friendship in the wild
Dec 9, 2023National Llama Day
Mar 19, 2019The smoke before the bonfire
Jan 11, 2024Eurasian lynx
Feb 24, 2018A red fox on the Swiss side of the Jura Mountain range
Nov 30, 2020A water loch-ed castle
May 2, 2018Mackerel forming a bait ball to avoid predators
Jan 21, 2021The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
Nov 14, 2018Monet still makes an impression
Jul 15, 2020Who left the tub running?
Jan 28, 2023The Bahamas as seen from the ISS
Apr 26, 2019Happy Arbor Day!
Apr 14, 2019A view fit for a queen
Mar 15, 2023Agüero, Huesca province, Spain
Aug 26, 2023Museum Night in Berlin
Nov 25, 2020A dying breed of tree thrives in an American park
Apr 16, 2020Bridges to the past
Sep 23, 2023Autumnal equinox
Jun 15, 2020Surfer s paradise
Sep 16, 2020It s Independence Day in Mexico
Sep 12, 2019Astrotourism at its finest
Sep 4, 2021Humming along
Oct 8, 2022World Octopus Day