http://www.egyptraveluxe.com/the_sun_ceremony.php Sun to Illuminate Inner Sanctuary of Pharaoh's Temple (October 22, 2011) For most of the year, the inner sanctum of the main temple at Abu Simbel is shrouded in darkness. On two days, traditionally the anniversary of the birthday and coronation of pharaoh Ramses II, a shaft of sunlight pierces the gloom, illuminating statues of gods and the king in the temple's inner sanctum. On February 22, a day celebrating the king's birthday and again on October 22, a day celebrating his coronation, sunlight illuminates seated statues of the sun gods Re-Horakhte and Amon-Re, as well as a statue of king Ramses II. The statues sit in the company of the Theban god of darkness, Ptah (who remains in the shadows all year). Seated between Amen-Re to his left and Re-Harkhti to his right, the statue of Ramses II has greeted the rising sun twice a year for the past 3,200 years at Abu Simbel. Oceans Pulse of the Planet The spectacle—which has endur...