Final answer:
The Temple of Ramses II, located at Abu Simbel, is an example of New Kingdom monumental architecture with intricate design allowing sunlight to illuminate inner statues on specific days, highlighting the transition from pyramid construction to elaborate temples and statues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel
The Temple of Ramses II, located in Abu Simbel, is a monumental example of rock-cut funerary temples from the New Kingdom. Constructed around 1250 BCE under the rule of Ramses II, the temple is renowned for its gigantic architecture, including four massive seated statues of the pharaoh himself. The temple's interior is equally impressive; a passageway leads to chambers extending deep into the sandstone. Furthermore, its engineers skillfully designed the temple so that on two specific days of the year, sunlight bathes the inner statues in light while leaving the god of the underworld in shadow, displaying the architectural genius and astronomical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians.
While other significant examples of monumental architecture such as the temples at Karnak and the Luxor and the pyramids at Gizeh exist, the temples at Abu Simbel stand out for their location and unique features. The construction of these temples, especially the Great Temple at Abu Simbel, signifies the shift from pyramid building to the construction of elaborate temples and statues that characterized the New Kingdom period.