Abou-Sembil, Petit Spéos - Partie Gauche de la Façade 1851 - 1852

This 1851-1852 photograph by Félix Teynard depicts the colossal statues of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel in Egypt. This salt print, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures the scale and detail of the ancient Egyptian architecture, showcasing the pharaoh Ramses II and other deities carved into the sandstone cliff face. The photographic composition emphasizes the grandeur of the temple and the intricate hieroglyphs adorning its walls. Teynard's photograph offers a glimpse into the enduring legacy of ancient Egypt through the lens of 19th-century photography.