For thousands of years, the sitting figure of Ramses II watched over the Nil, till the construction of the Aswan dam threatened to drown the ancient temple under the waters of the river.

UNESCO: Culture

However, by the end of the century, plans were afoot to dam the Nile and it looked as though the Great Temple was doomed to be buried again, although on this occasion its coverage was intended to be water.

BBC: Abu Simbel: The great temple of Egypt