🏺

Ramses II

✨ c. 1303–1213 BCE, Pharaoh of Egypt

Ramesses II was one of the most important pharaohs of ancient Egypt. He probably ruled from about 1279 to 1213 BCE, during the 19th Dynasty, and reigned for roughly 66 years. Known as Ramesses the Great, he came to the throne while still young and led military campaigns to strengthen Egypt’s influence in the eastern Mediterranean.

One of his best-known campaigns was the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittite king Muwatalli II, fought around 1274 BCE. Egyptian inscriptions presented the battle as a great victory, but the conflict appears to have ended without a decisive winner. Ramesses later reached a peace treaty with the Hittite kingdom, one of the earliest known international peace agreements preserved in written form.

Ramesses II also used architecture to display royal power and religious devotion. His reign saw major building projects, including the temples at Abu Simbel, the Ramesseum on the western bank of the Nile at Thebes, and additions to several existing temples. The smaller temple at Abu Simbel was dedicated mainly to the goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari, while the larger temple honored major gods and the king himself.

Ramesses had a large family and was succeeded by his son Merneptah. After his death, his mummy was eventually placed in a royal cache and was discovered in the 19th century. Today, Ramesses II is remembered not only for his long reign and military campaigns, but also for the monuments and inscriptions that provide valuable evidence about ancient Egyptian kingship, religion, and diplomacy.

💡 Did you know?

Do you know that Ramses II had over 100 children? He lived so long for his time (over 90 years!) that he saw several generations of his own family grow up. He loved his children so much that he had many of them sculpted on his temples' walls so they would be known forever.

The Abu Simbel temple is a pure wonder! It was built so that sunlight only lights up Ramses' statue at the back of the temple twice a year: on his birthday and on his coronation day. Ancient Egypt's architects were true calculation geniuses!

Do you know that even dead for over 3,000 years, Ramses II needed a passport? In 1974, his mummy had to travel by plane to France to be treated. The Egyptian government created a real passport for him with his photo and as profession: 'King (deceased)'. Upon arrival, he was even welcomed with military honors!