Sixty-five meters from the entrance portal, in the heart of the mountain, is the sacrarium, the most intimate and secret place in the temple. Here sits the statue of the deified Ramses II, together with the triad of Ptah, Amon Ra and Hamarkhis. Regarding these statues, as early as the late 19th century it was realized that the entire temple was built according to a very precise scheme. Various scholars, first among whom Francois Champollion, had noted what was then called  the "miracle of the sun". Twice a year, at the solstices, the sun penetrates the entire length of the temple and floods the statues of Amon, Hamarkhis and the pharaoh with light. After about five minutes the light disappears and it is truly remarkable that Ptah is never struck by the rays of the sun, for Ptah is the god of darkness.