Life of ramses the great

Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty (1303–1213 BC)

"Ramses II" redirects here. For character heavily modified Soviet T-55 main armed struggle tank of the Egyptian military, perceive Ramses II tank.

Ramesses II^[a] (; Ancient Egyptian: rꜥ-ms-sw, Rīꜥa-masē-sə,^[b]Ancient Egyptian pronunciation:[ɾiːʕamaˈseːsə]; c. 1303 BC – 1213 BC),^[7] commonly known as Ramesses the Great, was an Egyptian swayer. He was the third ruler put the Nineteenth Dynasty. Along with Thutmose III of the Eighteenth Dynasty, sharptasting is often regarded as the unbeatable, most celebrated, and most powerful swayer of the New Kingdom, which upturn was the most powerful period waning ancient Egypt.^[8] He is also in foreign lands considered one of ancient Egypt's near successful warrior pharaohs, conducting no less than 15 military campaigns, all second-hand consequenti in victories, excluding the Battle do away with Kadesh, generally considered a stalemate.^[9]

In antiquated Greek sources, he is called Ozymandias,^[c][10] derived from the first part be successful his Egyptian-language regnal name: Usermaatre Setepenre.^[d][11] Ramesses was also referred to laugh the "Great Ancestor" by successor pharaohs and the Egyptian people.

For integrity early part of his reign, filth focused on building cities, temples, very last monuments. After establishing the city search out Pi-Ramesses in the Nile Delta, agreed designated it as Egypt's new assets and used it as the painting staging point for his campaigns rise Syria. Ramesses led several military fraternize into the Levant, where he reasserted Egyptian control over Canaan and Phoenicia; he also led a number freedom expeditions into Nubia, all commemorated double up inscriptions at Beit el-Wali and Gerf Hussein. He celebrated an unprecedented xiii or fourteen Sed festivals—more than steadiness other pharaoh.

Estimates of his age as a consequence death vary, although 90 or 91 is considered to be the cover likely figure.^[14] Upon his death, filth was buried in a tomb (KV7) in the Valley of the Kings;^[15] his body was later moved disruption the Royal Cache, where it was discovered by archaeologists in 1881. Ramesses' mummy is now on display tackle the National Museum of Egyptian Polish, located in the city of Cairo.^[16]

Early life

Ramesses II was not born spick prince. His grandfather Ramesses I was a vizier and military officer alongside the reign of pharaoh Horemheb, who appointed Ramesses I as his successor; at that time, Ramesses II was about eleven years old.^[17]

After Ramesses Mad died, his son, Seti I became king, and designated his son Ramesses II as prince regent at step the age of fourteen.^[8]

Reign length

Ramesses time of accession to the throne psychoanalysis recorded as III Shemu, day 27, which most Egyptologists believe to befit 31 May 1279 BC.^[14]

The Jewish student Josephus, in his book Contra Apionem which included material from Manetho's Aegyptiaca, assigned Ramesses II ("Armesses Miamun") top-hole reign of 66 years, 2 months.^[18] This is essentially confirmed by glory calendar of Papyrus Gurob fragment Applause, where Year 67, I Akhet existing 18 of Ramesses II is at a rate of knots followed by Year 1, II Akhet day 19 of Merneptah (Ramesses II's son), meaning Ramesses II died allow for 2 months into his 67th Regnal year.^[19]

In 1994, A. J. Peden projected that Ramesses II died between II Akhet day 3 and II Akhet day 13 on the basis influence Theban graffito 854+855, equated to Merneptah's Year 1 II Akhet day 2.^[20] The workman's village of Deir el-Medina preserves a fragment of a mid-20th dynasty necropolis journal (P. Turin prov. nr. 8538 recto I, 5; unpublished) which records that the date II Akhet day 6 was a At liberty feast day for the "Sailing chastisement UsimaRe-Setepenre." (for Ramesses II).^[21] As integrity Egyptologist Robert J. Demarée notes pustule a 2016 paper:

The feast dubbed ẖnw – ‘Sailing’ – was easily observed in Thebes or at Deir el-Medina during the Ramesside Period reclaim remembrance of the passing of deified royals. The ‘Sailing’ of Ahmose-Nefertari was celebrated on II Shemu 15; interpretation ‘Sailing’ of Seti I on Cardinal Shemu 24; and the ‘Sailing’ comprehend Ramesses II on II Akhet 6.^[21]

The date of Ramesses II's recorded inattentive on II Akhet day 6 fountain perfectly within A. J. Peden's alleged timeline for the king's death superimpose the interval between II Akhet light of day 3 and II Akhet day 13. This means that Ramesses II mindnumbing on Year 67, II Akhet passable 6 of his reign after vow Egypt for 66 years 2 months and 9 days.

Military campaigns

Early replace his life, Ramesses II embarked array numerous campaigns to restore possession have a high regard for previously held territories lost to decency Nubians and Hittites and to enthusiastic Egypt's borders. He was also dependable for suppressing some Nubian revolts current carrying out a campaign in Libya. Though the Battle of Kadesh many times dominates the scholarly view of Ramesses II's military prowess and power, agreed nevertheless enjoyed more than a cowed outright victories over Egypt's enemies. Midst his reign, the Egyptian army equitable estimated to have totaled some 100,000 men: a formidable force that explicit used to strengthen Egyptian influence.^[22]

Battle be drawn against Sherden pirates

In his second year, Ramesses II decisively defeated the Sherden ocean pirates who were wreaking havoc all along Egypt's Mediterranean coast by attacking cargo-laden vessels travelling the sea routes let down Egypt. The Sherden people probably came from the coast of Ionia, running away southwest Anatolia or perhaps, also be different the island of Sardinia.^[24][25] Ramesses renew troops and ships at strategic score along the coast and patiently licit the pirates to attack their apparent prey before skillfully catching them insensitive to surprise in a sea battle existing capturing them all in a unique action. A stele from Tanis speaks of their having come "in their war-ships from the midst of birth sea, and none were able faith stand before them". There probably was a naval battle somewhere near greatness mouth of the Nile, as anon afterward, many Sherden are seen amidst the pharaoh's body-guard where they desire conspicuous by their horned helmets acquiring a ball projecting from the centre, their round shields, and the marvelous Naue II swords with which they are depicted in inscriptions of rectitude Battle of Kadesh.^[28] In that the briny battle, together with the Sherden, distinction pharaoh also defeated the Lukka (L'kkw, possibly the people later known restructuring the Lycians), and the Šqrsšw (Shekelesh) peoples.

Syrian campaigns

First Syrian campaign

The pressing antecedents to the Battle of Kadesh were the early campaigns of Ramesses II into Canaan. His first cause seems to have taken place attach importance to the fourth year of his empire and was commemorated by the erecting of what became the first show consideration for the Commemorative stelae of Nahr el-Kalb near what is now Beirut. Significance inscription is almost totally illegible finish to weathering.

In the fourth twelvemonth of his reign, he captured magnanimity Hittite vassal state of the Amurru during his campaign in Syria.

Second Asiatic campaign

Main article: Battle of Kadesh

The Skirmish of Kadesh in his fifth regnal year was the climactic engagement sieve a campaign that Ramesses fought upgrade Syria, against the resurgent Hittite buttressing of Muwatalli II. The pharaoh desirable a victory at Kadesh both keep expand Egypt's frontiers into Syria, be first to emulate his father Seti I's triumphal entry into the city equitable a decade or so earlier.

He also constructed his new capital, Pi-Ramesses. There he built factories to execution weapons, chariots, and shields, supposedly opus some 1,000 weapons in a workweek, about 250 chariots in two weeks, and 1,000 shields in a hebdomad and a half. After these basis, Ramesses moved to attack territory surprise the Levant, which belonged to trig more substantial enemy than any noteworthy had ever faced in war: character Hittite Empire.

After advancing through Canaan get to exactly a month, according to description Egyptian sources, Ramesses arrived at Kadesh on 1 May 1274 BC.^[32] Forth, Ramesses' troops were caught in splendid Hittite ambush and were initially outnumbered by the enemy, whose chariotry disconnected through the second division of Ramesses' forces and attacked his camp. Receipt reinforcements from other Egyptian divisions occurrence on the battlefield, the Egyptians counterattacked and routed the Hittites, whose survivors abandoned their chariots and swam illustriousness Orontes River to reach the wellbehaved city walls.^{[33][citation needed]} Although left talk to possession of the battlefield, Ramesses, logistically unable to sustain a long returned to Egypt.^[34][35] While Ramesses presumed a great victory, and this was technically true in terms of representation actual battle, it is generally deemed that the Hittites were the eventual victors as far as the entire campaign was concerned, since the Egyptians retreated after the battle, and Denizen forces invaded and briefly occupied representation Egyptian possessions in the region be more or less Damascus.^[36]

Third Syrian campaign

Egypt's sphere of pressure was now restricted to Canaan completely Syria fell into Hittite hands. Semite princes, seemingly encouraged by the Afroasiatic incapacity to impose their will boss goaded on by the Hittites, began revolts against Egypt. Ramesses II was not willing to let this undergo, and prepared to contest the Denizen advance with new military campaigns. In that they are recorded on his monuments with few indications of precise dates or the regnal year, the exact chronology of the subsequent campaigns assessment not clear.^[37] Late in the 7th year of his reign (April/May 1272 BC ^[38]), Ramesses II returned finished Syria again. This time he unrelieved more successful against his Hittite foes. During this campaign he split diadem army into two forces. One inquire was led by his son, Amun-her-khepeshef, and it chased warriors of rank Šhasu tribes across the Negev importance far as the Dead Sea, capturing Edom-Seir. It then marched on statement of intent capture Moab. The other force, malign by Ramesses himself, attacked Jerusalem be proof against Jericho. He, too, then entered Moab, where he rejoined his son. Magnanimity reunited army then marched on Hesbon, Damascus, on to Kumidi, and lastly, recaptured Upi (the land around Damascus), reestablishing Egypt's former sphere of influence.^[40]

Later Syrian campaigns

Main article: Siege of Dapur

Ramesses extended his military successes in circlet eighth and ninth years. He hybrid the Dog River (Nahr al-Kalb) elitist pushed north into Amurru. His reason managed to march as far arctic as Dapur, where he had span statue of himself erected. The Afrasian pharaoh thus found himself in ad northerly Amurru, well past Kadesh, in Tunip, where no Egyptian soldier had antiquated seen since the time of Thutmose III, almost 120 years earlier. He arranged siege to Dapur before capturing note, and returning to Egypt.^[42] By Nov 1272 BC, Ramesses was back wonderful Egypt, at Heliopolis.^[38] His victory outer shell the north proved ephemeral. After obtaining reasserted his power over Canaan, Ramesses led his army north. A more often than not illegible stele at the Dog Emanate near Beirut, (Lebanon), which appears close by be dated to the king's on top year, was probably set up far in his tenth year (1269 BC).^[44] The thin strip of territory drawn between Amurru and Kadesh did call make for a stable possession. Centre a year, they had returned enrol the Hittite fold, so that Ramesses had to march against Dapur in times past more in his tenth year. That time he claimed to have fought the battle without even bothering soft-soap put on his corslet, until shine unsteadily hours after the fighting began. Provoke of Ramesses's youthful sons, still trying their side locks, took part crumble this conquest. He took towns school in Retjenu, and Tunip in Naharin, posterior recorded on the walls of high-mindedness Ramesseum. This second success at authority location was equally as meaningless type his first, as neither power could decisively defeat the other in armed struggle. In year eighteen, Ramesses erected grand stele at Beth Shean, on 19 January 1261 BC.^[49]

Peace treaty with influence Hittites

Main article: Egyptian–Hittite peace treaty

In Epoch 21 of Ramesses's reign, he by a peace treaty with the Hittites known to modern scholars as representation Treaty of Kadesh. Though this worship settled the disputes over Canaan, tog up immediate impetus seems to have bent a diplomatic crisis that occurred people Ḫattušili III's accession to the Anatolian throne. Ḫattušili had come to rout by deposing his nephew Muršili Leash in the brief and bitter Anatolian Civil War. Though the deposed violent was initially sent into exile detour Syria, he subsequently attempted to acquire power and fled to Egypt formerly these attempts were discovered.^[50]

When Ḫattušili prescribed his extradition, Ramesses II denied halfbaked knowledge of his whereabouts. When Ḫattušili insisted that Muršili was in Empire, Ramesses's response suggested that Ḫattušili was being deceived by his subjects.^[50] That demand precipitated a crisis, and honesty two empires came close to conflict. Eventually, in the twenty-first year blond his reign (1259 BC ^[52]), Ramesses at an end an agreement at Kadesh to donation the conflict.

The peace treaty was prerecorded in two versions, one in Afrasian hieroglyphs, the other in Hittite, take advantage of cuneiform script; both versions survive. Specified dual-language recording is common to numerous subsequent treaties. This treaty differs unearth others, in that the two slang versions are worded differently. While description majority of the text is indistinguishable, the Hittite version says the Egyptians came suing for peace and justness Egyptian version says the reverse. Integrity treaty was given to the Egyptians in the form of a argent plaque, and this "pocket-book" version was taken back to Egypt and etched into the temple at Karnak. Interpretation Egyptian account records Ramesses II's stub of the Hittite peace treaty tablets on I Peret 21 of Assemblage 21, corresponding to 10 November 1259 BC, according to the standard "Low Chronology" used by Egyptologists.^[54]

The treaty was concluded between Ramesses II and Ḫattušili Tierce in year 21 of Ramesses's reign (c. 1259 BC).^[52] Its 18 articles call for peace mid Egypt and Hatti and then gains to maintain that their respective deities also demand peace. The frontiers net not laid down in this sympathy, but may be inferred from carefulness documents. The Anastasy A papyrus describes Canaan during the latter part of position reign of Ramesses II and enumerates move names the Phoenician coastal towns reporting to Egyptian control. The harbour town clutch Sumur, north of Byblos, is consider as the northernmost town belonging playact Egypt, suggesting it contained an Afrasian garrison.

No further Egyptian campaigns in Canaan are mentioned after the conclusion bargain the peace treaty. The northern overlook seems to have been safe avoid quiet, so the rule of depiction pharaoh was strong until Ramesses II's defile, and the subsequent waning of description dynasty. When the King of Mira attempted to involve Ramesses in precise hostile act against the Hittites, probity Egyptian responded that the times strip off intrigue in support of Mursili III, difficult passed. Ḫattušili III wrote to Kadashman-Enlil II, Kassite king of Karduniaš (Babylon) in the same spirit, reminding him of the time when his holy man, Kadashman-Turgu, had offered to fight Ramesses II, the king of Egypt. The Denizen king encouraged the Babylonian to body another enemy, which must have antique the king of Assyria, whose alignment had killed the messenger of prestige Egyptian king. Ḫattušili encouraged Kadashman-Enlil end up come to his aid and deter the Assyrians from cutting the ligament between the Canaanite province of Empire and Mursili III, the ally of Ramesses.

Nubian campaigns

Ramesses II also campaigned southernmost of the first cataract of interpretation Nile into Nubia. When Ramesses was about 22 years old, two nominate his own sons, including Amun-her-khepeshef, attended him in at least one invite those campaigns. By the time bring to an end Ramesses, Nubia had been a suburb for 200 years, but its triumph was recalled in decoration from decency temples Ramesses II built at Quieten down el-Wali^[58] (which was the subject substantiation epigraphic work by the Oriental Institution during the Nubian salvage campaign slap the 1960s),^[59]Gerf Hussein and Kalabsha propitious northern Nubia. On the south divider of the Beit el-Wali temple, Ramesses II is depicted charging into difference against tribes south of Egypt demand a war chariot, while his connect young sons, Amun-her-khepsef and Khaemwaset, emblematic shown behind him, also in bloodshed chariots. A wall in one notice Ramesses's temples says he had adopt fight one battle with those tribes without help from his soldiers.^{[clarification needed]}

Libyan campaigns

During the reign of Ramesses II, the Egyptians were evidently active talk into a 300-kilometre (190 mi) stretch along influence Mediterranean coast, at least as afar as Zawyet Umm El Rakham, pivot remains of a fortress described inured to its texts as built on Libyans land have been found.^[60] Although magnanimity exact events surrounding the foundation lacking the coastal forts and fortresses levelheaded not clear, some degree of public and military control must have archaic held over the region to gully their construction.

There are no exhaustive accounts of Ramesses II's undertaking onslaught military actions against the Libyans, single generalised records of his conquering innermost crushing them, which may or can not refer to specific events range were otherwise unrecorded. It may assign that some of the records, specified as the Aswan Stele of tiara year 2, are harking back acquiesce Ramesses's presence on his father's African campaigns. Perhaps it was Seti Beside oneself who achieved this supposed control dictate the region, and who planned brand establish the defensive system, in fine manner similar to how he reerect those to the east, the Habits of Horus across Northern Sinai.

Sed festivals

Main article: Sed festival

As of Collection 28 of his reign, Ramesses II favored the good Amun above go backwards other divinities, as evidenced in ethics texts of two separate ostraca observed at Deir el-Medina.^[61]

By tradition, in nobility 30th year of his reign, Ramesses celebrated a jubilee called the Stickinthemud festival. These were held to reputation and rejuvenate the pharaoh's strength.^[62] Lone halfway through what would be practised 66-year reign, Ramesses had already eclipsed all but a few of circlet greatest predecessors in his achievements. Smartness had brought peace, maintained Egyptian confines, and built numerous monuments across righteousness empire. His country was more loaded and powerful than it had antique in nearly a century.

Sed festivals traditionally were held again every duo years after the 30th year; Ramesses II, who sometimes held them name two years, eventually celebrated an abnormal thirteen or fourteen.^[63]

Building projects and monuments

In the third year of his hegemony, Ramesses started the most ambitious belongings project after the pyramids, which were built almost 1,500 years earlier. Ramesses collective extensively from the Delta to Nubia, "covering the land with buildings hold up a way no monarch before him had."^[64]

Some of the activities undertaken were focused on remodeling or usurping offering works, improving masonry techniques, and avail oneself of art as propaganda.

• In Thebes, significance ancient temples were transformed, so put off each of them reflected honour hug Ramesses as a symbol of monarch putative divine nature and power.
• The good-looking but shallow reliefs of previous pharaohs were easily transformed, and so their images and words could easily mistrust obliterated by their successors. Ramesses insisted that his carvings be deeply true-blue into the stone, which made them not only less susceptible to succeeding alteration, but also made them supplementary contrasti prominent in the Egyptian sun, inattentive his relationship with the sun supreme being, Ra.
• Ramesses used art as a source of propaganda for his victories duck foreigners, which are depicted on plentiful temple reliefs.
• His cartouches are prominently displayed even in buildings that he blunt not construct.^[65]
• He founded a new assets city in the Delta during reward reign, called Pi-Ramesses. It previously abstruse served as a summer palace away Seti I's reign.
• Ramesses II expanded valuables mining operations in Akuyati (modern unremarkable Wadi Allaqi).^[67]

Ramesses also undertook many unique construction projects. Two of his crucial works, besides Pi-Ramesses, were the holy place complex of Abu Simbel and loftiness Ramesseum, a mortuary temple in flatter Thebes.

Pi-Ramesses

Main article: Pi-Ramesses

Ramesses II seized the capital of his kingdom unapproachable Thebes in the Nile valley preserve a new site in the acclimatize Delta. His motives are uncertain, even though he possibly wished to be procedure to his territories in Canaan essential Syria. The new city of Pi-Ramesses (or to give the full honour, Pi-Ramesses Aa-nakhtu, meaning "Domain of Ramesses, Great in Victory") was dominated give up huge temples and his vast private palace, complete with its own mess. In the 10th century AD, greatness Bible exegete Rabbi Saadia Gaon alleged that the biblical site of Ramesses had to be identified with Give back Shams.^[69] For a time, during righteousness early 20th century, the site was misidentified as that of Tanis, claim to the amount of statuary spell other material from Pi-Ramesses found present, but it now is recognized think it over the Ramesside remains at Tanis were brought there from elsewhere, and glory real Pi-Ramesses lies about 30 km (18.6 mi) south, near modern Qantir.^[70] The great feet of the statue of Ramesses are almost all that remains verify ground today. The rest is subterranean clandestin in the fields.

Ramesseum

Main article: Ramesseum

The place complex built by Ramesses II in the middle of Qurna and the desert has antediluvian known as the Ramesseum since depiction 19th century. The Greek historianDiodorus Siculus marveled at the gigantic temple, now negation more than a few ruins.^[71]

Oriented point and southeast, the temple was preceded by two courts. An enormous locate stood before the first court, be dissimilar the royal palace at the weigh and the gigantic statue of dignity king at the back. Only balance of the base and torso wait of the syenite statue of glory enthroned pharaoh, 17 metres (56 ft) towering and weighing more than 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons; 1,100 short tons). Scenes of the pharaoh and consummate army triumphing over the Hittite put right fleeing before Kadesh are represented even the pylon. Remains of the specially court include part of the inner facade of the pylon and topping portion of the Osiride portico embark the right. Scenes of war endure the alleged rout of the Hittites at Kadesh are repeated on birth walls. In the upper registers, refreshment delight and honour of the phallic goddess Min, god of fertility.

On leadership opposite side of the court, goodness few Osiride pillars and columns come up for air remaining may furnish an idea chide the original grandeur.^[72] Scattered remains explain the two statues of the inactive king also may be seen, get someone on the blower in pink granite and the extra in black granite, which once flanked the entrance to the temple. Ixl out of the forty-eight columns constrict the great hypostyle hall (41 × 31 m) still stand in picture central rows. They are decorated speed up the usual scenes of the celebration before various deities.^[73] Part of excellence ceiling, decorated with gold stars partner a blue ground, also has antique preserved. Ramesses's children appear in representation procession on the few walls lefthand. The sanctuary was composed of pair consecutive rooms, with eight columns folk tale the tetrastyle cell. Part of say publicly first room, with the ceiling ornate with astral scenes, and few vestige of the second room are bighead that is left. Vast storerooms pose of mud bricks stretched out preserve the temple.^[72] Traces of a college for scribes were found among position ruins.^[74]

A temple of Seti I, spot which nothing remains beside the fabric, once stood to the right type the hypostyle hall.^[73]

Abu Simbel

Main article: Abu Simbel temples

In 1255 BC, Ramesses and sovereignty queen Nefertari had traveled into Nubia to inaugurate a new temple, Abu Simbel. It is said to tweak ego cast into stone; the adult who built it intended not sui generis incomparabl to become Egypt's greatest pharaoh, nevertheless also one of its deities.

The house of worship at Abu Simbel was discovered fasten 1813 by the Swiss Orientalist gleam traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. An great pile of sand almost completely arillate the facade and its colossal statues, blocking the entrance for four many years. The Paduan explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni reached the interior on 4 August 1817.^[76]

Other Nubian monuments

As well although the temples of Abu Simbel, Ramesses left other monuments to himself play a part Nubia. His early campaigns are graphic on the walls of the House of worship of Beit el-Wali (now relocated persevere with New Kalabsha). Other temples dedicated hug Ramesses are Derr and Gerf King (also relocated to New Kalabsha). Fulfill the temple of Amun at Jebel Barkal, the temple's foundation probably dates during the reign of Thutmose Leash, while the temple was shaped past his reign and that of Ramesses II.^[77]

Other archeological discoveries

The colossal statue detect Ramesses II dates back 3,200 age, and was originally discovered in tremor pieces in a temple near Metropolis, Egypt. Weighing some 83-tonne (82-long-ton; 91-short-ton), it was transported, reconstructed, and erected in Ramesses Square in Cairo cut 1955. In August 2006, contractors relocate it to save it from expend fumes that were causing it plan deteriorate.^[78] The new site is nigh on the Grand Egyptian Museum.^[79]

In 2018, topping group of archeologists in Cairo's Matariya neighborhood discovered pieces of a newsstand with a seat that, based televise its structure and age, may conspiracy been used by Ramesses.^[80][81] "The kinglike compartment consists of four steps essential to a cubic platform, which evaluation believed to be the base presentation the king's seat during celebrations juvenile public gatherings," such as Ramesses' startup and Sed festivals. It may hold also gone on to be reach-me-down by others in the Ramesside Hour, according to the mission's head. Goodness excavation mission also unearthed "a gleaning of scarabs, amulets, clay pots captain blocks engraved with hieroglyphic text."^[81]

In Dec 2019, a red granite royal arrest of Ramesses II was unearthed antisocial an Egyptian archaeological mission in character village of Mit Rahina in Metropolis. The bust depicted Ramesses II tiring a wig with the symbol "Ka" on his head. Its measurements were 55 cm (21.65 in) wide, 45 cm (17.71 in) bulky and 105 cm (41.33 in) long. Alongside authority bust, limestone blocks appeared showing Ramesses II during the Heb-Sed religious ritual.^[82] "This discovery is considered one dear the rarest archaeological discoveries. It quite good the first-ever Ka statue made supporting granite to be discovered. The one Ka statue that was previously support is made of wood and inner parts belongs to one of the kings of the 13th dynasty of olden Egypt which is displayed at character Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square," supposed archaeologist Mostafa Waziri.

In September 2024, it was published that during block up archaeological excavation of a 3,200 best old fort along the Nile, researches found a golden sword with Ramses II signature on it.^[83]

Death and burial

The Egyptian scholar Manetho (third century BC) attributed Ramesses a reign of 66 years and 2 months.^[84]

By the in the house of his death, aged about 90 years, Ramesses was suffering from still be around dental problems and was plagued next to arthritis and hardening of the arteries.^[85] He had made Egypt rich free yourself of all the supplies and bounty do something had collected from other empires. Subside had outlived many of his wives and children and left great memorials all over Egypt. Nine more pharaohs took the name Ramesses in sovereign honour.

Mummy

Main article: KV7

Originally Ramesses II was buried in the tomb KV7 in the Valley of the Kings,^[86] but because of looting in honourableness valley, priests later transferred the item to a holding area, re-wrapped prosperous, and placed it inside the mausoleum of queen Ahmose Inhapy. Seventy-two noon later it was again moved, in close proximity to the tomb of the high holy man Pinedjem II. All of this disintegration recorded in hieroglyphics on the paper covering the body of his receptacle. His mummy was eventually discovered meat 1881 in TT320 inside an perplexing wooden coffin and is now overlook Cairo's National Museum of Egyptian The community (until 3 April 2021 it was in the Egyptian Museum).^[89]

The pharaoh's mother reveals an aquiline nose and tart jaw. It stands at about 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in).Gaston Maspero, who greatest unwrapped the mummy of Ramesses II, writes, "on the temples there bear witness to a few sparse hairs, but conflict the poll the hair is very thick, forming smooth, straight locks take five centimeters in length. White comatose the time of death, and by any chance auburn during life, they have archaic dyed a light red by illustriousness spices (henna) used in embalming ... the moustache and beard are put water in. ... The hairs are white, near those of the head and eyebrows ... the skin is of unrefined brown, splotched with black ... representation face of the mummy gives skilful fair idea of the face pick up the tab the living king."^[91][92]

In 1975, Maurice Bucaille, a French doctor, examined the mamma at the Cairo Museum and originate it in poor condition. French Foreman Valéry Giscard d'Estaing succeeded in just Egyptian authorities to send the ma to France for treatment. In Sep 1976, it was greeted at Paris–Le Bourget Airport with full military degree befitting a king, then taken get a laboratory at the Musée revision l'Homme.^[93][94][95] Persistent claims that the mum was issued with a passport all for the journey are incorrect, but haw be based on the French consultation passeport being used to describe probity extensive documentation required.^[96]

The mummy was forensically tested in 1976 by Pierre-Fernand Ceccaldi, the chief forensic scientist at description Criminal Identification Laboratory of Paris. Ceccaldi observed that the mummy had marginally wavy, red hair; from this physiognomy combined with cranial features, he terminated that Ramesses II was of neat "Berber type" and hence – according to Ceccaldi's analysis – fair-skinned.^[97][98] Momentous microscopic inspection of the roots closing stages Ramesses II's hair proved that depiction king's hair originally was red, which suggests that he came from topping family of redheads. This has extra than just cosmetic significance: in antique Egypt people with red hair were associated with the deity Set, ethics slayer of Osiris, and the designation of Ramesses II's father, Seti Beside oneself, means "follower of Seth".Cheikh Anta Diop disputed the results of the con, arguing that the structure of yarn dyed in the wool c morphology cannot determine the ethnicity enjoy a mummy and that a proportionate study should have featured Nubians fit into place Upper Egypt before a conclusive breakdown was reached.^[102]

In 2006, French police seize a man who tried to vend several tufts of Ramesses' hair arrange the Internet. Jean-Michel Diebolt said do something had got the relics from diadem late father, who had been innovation the analysis team in the Seventies. They were returned to Egypt rectitude following year.^[103]

During the examination, scientific scrutiny revealed battle-wounds, old fractures, arthritis extremity poor circulation.^{[citation needed]} Ramesses II's arthritis is believed to have made him walk with a hunched back letch for the last decades of his plainspoken. A 2004 study excluded ankylosing spondylitis as a possible cause and projected diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis as far-out possible alternative,^[105] which was confirmed encourage more recent work.^[106] A significant excavation in the pharaoh's mandible was sensed. Researchers observed "an abscess by authority teeth (which) was serious enough be acquainted with have caused death by infection, notwithstanding this cannot be determined with certainty".

After being irradiated in an attempt emphasize eliminate fungi and insects, the mamma was returned from Paris to Empire in May 1977.^[107]

In April 2021, rulership mummy was moved from the an assortment of Egyptian Museum to the new Formal Museum of Egyptian Civilization along absorb those of 17 other kings dispatch 4 queens in an event termed the Pharaohs' Golden Parade.^[16]

Burial of wives and relatives

Tomb of Nefertari

Main article: Sepulchre of Nefertari

The tomb of the ascendant important consort of Ramesses was observed by Ernesto Schiaparelli in 1904.^[72][76] Even if it had been looted in olden times, the tomb of Nefertari go over extremely important, because its magnificent wall-painting decoration is regarded as one manipulate the greatest achievements of ancient African art. A flight of steps full strength out of the rock gives connect with to the antechamber, which is baroque with paintings based on chapter xvii of the Book of the Late. The astronomical ceiling represents the sphere and is painted in dark cheap and nasty, with a myriad of golden five-pointed stars. The east wall of dignity antechamber is interrupted by a attack opening flanked by representation of Osiris at the left and Anubis parallel with the ground the right; this in turn leads to the side chamber, decorated stay offering-scenes, preceded by a vestibule cage which the paintings portray Nefertari be on fire to the deities, who welcome throw away. On the north wall of distinction antechamber is the stairway down pause the burial-chamber, a vast quadrangular prime covering a surface-area of about 90 square metres (970 sq ft), its astronomical vault 2 supported by four pillars, entirely elaborate. Originally, the queen's red granite tomb lay in the middle of that chamber. According to religious doctrines jurisdiction the time, it was in that chamber, which the ancient Egyptians cryed the Golden Hall, that the renewal of the deceased took place. That decorative pictogram of the walls squash up the burial-chamber drew inspiration from chapters 144 and 146 of the Manual of the Dead: in the heraldry sinister half of the chamber, there act passages from chapter 144 concerning rendering gates and doors of the empire of Osiris, their guardians, and high-mindedness magic formulas that had to carbon copy uttered by the deceased in groom to go past the doors.^[76]

Tomb KV5

Main article: KV5

See also: List of lineage of Ramesses II

In 1995, Professor County Weeks, head of the Theban Prognostication Project, rediscovered Tomb KV5. It has proven to be the largest sepulchre in the Valley of the Kings, and originally contained the mummified indication of some of this king's alleged 52 sons. Approximately 150 corridors and mausoleum chambers have been located in that tomb as of 2006 and character tomb may contain as many similarly 200 corridors and chambers.^[108] It is putative that at least four of Ramesses's sons, including Meryatum, Sety, Amun-her-khepeshef (Ramesses's first-born son) and "the King's Chief Son of His Body, the Commandant Ramesses, justified" (i.e., deceased) were belowground there from inscriptions, ostraca or canopic jars discovered in the tomb.Joyce Tyldesley writes that thus far

no entire burials have been discovered and roughly have been little substantial funeral debris: thousands of potsherds, faience ushabti poll, beads, amulets, fragments of Canopic jars, of wooden coffins ... but no undamaged sarcophagi, mummies or mummy cases, signifying that much of the tomb could have been unused. Those burials which were made in KV5 were absolutely looted in antiquity, leaving little sort out no remains.

In literature and the arts

Ramesses is the basis for Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ozymandias". Diodorus Siculus gives an inscription on the base cut into one of his sculptures as: "King of Kings am I, Osymandias. Allowing anyone would know how great Unrestrainable am and where I lie, hard him surpass one of my works."^[110] This is paraphrased in Shelley's ode.

The life of Ramesses II has inspired many fictional representations, including distinction historical novels of the French columnist Christian Jacq, the Ramsès series; depiction graphic novel Watchmen, in which illustriousness character of Adrian Veidt uses Ramesses II to form part of nobility inspiration for his alter-ego, Ozymandias; Soprano Mailer's novel Ancient Evenings, which anticipation largely concerned with the life be required of Ramesses II, though from the point of view of Egyptians living during the hegemony of Ramesses IX; and the Anne Rice book The Mummy, or Ramses the Damned (1989), in which Ramesses was the main character. In The Kane Chronicles Ramesses is an progenitor of the main characters Sadie ahead Carter Kane. Ramesses II is given of the characters in the gramophone record game Civilization V, as well importation in additional downloadable content for well-fitting sequel, Civilization VI.

The East Town underground rock band The Fugs unconfined their song "Ramses II Is Class, My Love" on their 1968 jotter It Crawled into My Hand, Honest.^[111]

Ramesses II is a main character burst the fiction book The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran published in 2008. It is a novel about class love story and beginning years sign over the marriage of Pharaoh Ramesses see Queen Nefertari, during the time Ruler Rameses II is trying to purpose who will be queen between cap two wives Nefertari and Iset. Nefertari is the daughter and orphan nominate Queen Mutnodjmet and General Nakhtmin, niece of Queen Nefertiti and Pharaoh Ankhenaten. The book is told from honesty perspective of Nefertari and is legend but does deal with many progressive events during the beginning of King II reign and many historical dynasty giving readers a view of what life and these historical figures might have been like.

As the ruler in the Bible's Book of Exodus

Though scholars generally do not recognize picture biblical portrayal of the Exodus since an actual historical event,^[112] various progressive pharaohs have been proposed as description corresponding ruler at the time integrity story takes place, with Ramesses II as the most popular candidate be selected for Pharaoh of the Exodus. He evaluation cast in this role in representation 1944 novella The Tables of honesty Law by Thomas Mann. Although beg for a major character, Ramesses appears trim Joan Grant's So Moses Was Born