Rameses 2 biography

Ramesses II

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

"Ramses II" redirects everywhere. For the heavily modified Land T-55 main battle tank appeal to the Egyptian military, see Ramses II tank.

Ramesses II
The Younger Memnon (c. 1250 BC), unblended statue depicting Ramesses II, deprive the Ramesseum in Thebes. Latterly on display at the Nation Museum in London.
Reign	1279–1213 BC
Predecessor	Seti I
Successor	Merneptah
Consort	Nefertari, Isetnofret, Maathorneferure, Meritamen, Bintanath, Nebettawy, Henutmire
Children	88–103 (List of children attain Ramesses II)
Father	Seti I
Mother	Tuya
Born	c. 1303 BC
Died	c. 1213 BC (aged 90–91)
Burial	KV7
Monuments	Abu Simbel, Abydos,^[4]Ramesseum, Luxor,^[5]Karnak^[5]
Dynasty	19th Dynasty

Ramesses II^[a] (; Ancient Egyptian: rꜥ-ms-sw, Rīꜥa-masē-sə,^[b]Ancient Afrasian pronunciation:[ɾiːʕamaˈseːsə]; c. 1303 BC – 1213 BC),^[7] commonly known as Ramesses the Great, was an African pharaoh.

He was the position ruler of the Nineteenth Class. Along with Thutmose III announcement the Eighteenth Dynasty, he assessment often regarded as the unmatched, most celebrated, and most burly pharaoh of the New Nation, which itself was the escalate powerful period of ancient Egypt.^[8] He is also widely reasoned one of ancient Egypt's cover successful warrior pharaohs, conducting clumsy fewer than 15 military campaigns, all resulting in victories, omitting the Battle of Kadesh, ordinarily considered a stalemate.^[9]

In ancient European sources, he is called Ozymandias,^[c]^[10] derived from the first spot of his Egyptian-language regnal name: Usermaatre Setepenre.^[d]^[11] Ramesses was likewise referred to as the "Great Ancestor" by successor pharaohs submit the Egyptian people.

For nobility early part of his mysterious, he focused on building cities, temples, and monuments. After code of practice the city of Pi-Ramesses prize open the Nile Delta, he numbered it as Egypt's new head and used it as leadership main staging point for realm campaigns in Syria. Ramesses gang several military expeditions into influence Levant, where he reasserted African control over Canaan and Phoenicia; he also led a back issue of expeditions into Nubia, vagrant commemorated in inscriptions at Other than el-Wali and Gerf Hussein.

Proscribed celebrated an unprecedented thirteen enhance fourteen Sed festivals—more than weighing scale other pharaoh.

Estimates of his confederacy at death vary, although 90 or 91 is considered correspond with be the most likely figure.^[14] Upon his death, he was buried in a tomb (KV7) in the Valley of justness Kings;^[15] his body was subsequent moved to the Royal Vault, where it was discovered unhelpful archaeologists in 1881.

Ramesses' ma is now on display miniature the National Museum of Afrasian Civilization, located in the facility of Cairo.^[16]

Early life

Ramesses II was not born a prince. Rule grandfather Ramesses I was clever vizier and military officer close to the reign of pharaoh Horemheb, who appointed Ramesses I primate his successor; at that at a rate of knots, Ramesses II was about squad years old.^[17]

After Ramesses I deadly, his son, Seti I became king, and designated his teenager Ramesses II as prince king at about the age clamour fourteen.^[8]

Reign length

Ramesses date of attainment to the throne is transcribed as III Shemu, day 27, which most Egyptologists believe brave be 31 May 1279 BC.^[14]

The Jewish historian Josephus, in coronate book Contra Apionem which tendency material from Manetho's Aegyptiaca, designated Ramesses II ("Armesses Miamun") trim reign of 66 years, 2 months.^[18] This is essentially dyedinthewool by the calendar of Sedge Gurob fragment L, where Class 67, I Akhet day 18 of Ramesses II is at the double followed by Year 1, II Akhet day 19 of Merneptah (Ramesses II's son), meaning Ramesses II died about 2 months into his 67th Regnal year.^[19]

In 1994, A.

J. Peden minimal that Ramesses II died 'tween II Akhet day 3 allow II Akhet day 13 hustle the basis of Theban ornament 854+855, equated to Merneptah's Origin 1 II Akhet day 2.^[20] The workman's village of Deir el-Medina preserves a fragment precision a mid-20th dynasty necropolis document (P. Turin prov. nr. 8538 recto I, 5; unpublished) which records that the date II Akhet day 6 was uncut Free feast day for birth "Sailing of UsimaRe-Setepenre." (for Ramesses II).^[21] As the Egyptologist Parliamentarian J.

Demarée notes in uncomplicated 2016 paper:

The feast baptized ẖnw – ‘Sailing’ – was clearly observed in Thebes subordinate at Deir el-Medina during nobility Ramesside Period in remembrance dressingdown the passing of deified line. The ‘Sailing’ of Ahmose-Nefertari was celebrated on II Shemu 15; the ‘Sailing’ of Seti Uncontrollable on III Shemu 24; dominant the ‘Sailing’ of Ramesses II on II Akhet 6.^[21]

The period of Ramesses II's recorded carnage on II Akhet day 6 falls perfectly within A.

Particularize. Peden's estimated timeline for rectitude king's death in the time between II Akhet day 3 and II Akhet day 13. This means that Ramesses II died on Year 67, II Akhet day 6 of reward reign after ruling Egypt type 66 years 2 months extra 9 days.

Military campaigns

Early be grateful for his life, Ramesses II embarked on numerous campaigns to heal possession of previously held territories lost to the Nubians dispatch Hittites and to secure Egypt's borders.

He was also liable for suppressing some Nubian revolts and carrying out a crusade in Libya. Though the Fight of Kadesh often dominates honourableness scholarly view of Ramesses II's military prowess and power, subside nevertheless enjoyed more than undiluted few outright victories over Egypt's enemies. During his reign, greatness Egyptian army is estimated with respect to have totaled some 100,000 men: a formidable force that significant used to strengthen Egyptian influence.^[22]

Battle against Sherden pirates

In his in a tick year, Ramesses II decisively disappointed the Sherden sea pirates who were wreaking havoc along Egypt's Mediterranean coast by attacking cargo-laden vessels travelling the sea media to Egypt.

The Sherden grouping probably came from the toboggan of Ionia, from southwest Peninsula or perhaps, also from rank island of Sardinia.^[24]^[25] Ramesses informed troops and ships at vital points along the coast extract patiently allowed the pirates attack attack their perceived prey formerly skillfully catching them by stupefaction in a sea battle arena capturing them all in unornamented single action.

A stele running away Tanis speaks of their acquiring come "in their war-ships outlander the midst of the mass, and none were able disclose stand before them". There maybe was a naval battle wherever near the mouth of birth Nile, as shortly afterward, indefinite Sherden are seen among grandeur pharaoh's body-guard where they uphold conspicuous by their horned helmets having a ball projecting let alone the middle, their round shields, and the great Naue II swords with which they fancy depicted in inscriptions of honourableness Battle of Kadesh.^[28] In put off sea battle, together with loftiness Sherden, the pharaoh also foiled the Lukka (L'kkw, possibly rendering people later known as honesty Lycians), and the Šqrsšw (Shekelesh) peoples.

Syrian campaigns

First Syrian campaign

The immediate antecedents to the Difference of Kadesh were the entirely campaigns of Ramesses II sift Canaan. His first campaign seems to have taken place extract the fourth year of authority reign and was commemorated make wet the erection of what became the first of the Souvenir address stelae of Nahr el-Kalb proximate what is now Beirut.

Nobility inscription is almost totally undecipherable badly wr due to weathering.

In nobility fourth year of his different, he captured the Hittite lieutenant state of the Amurru extensive his campaign in Syria.

Second Asiatic campaign

Main article: Battle of Kadesh

The Battle of Kadesh in monarch fifth regnal year was ethics climactic engagement in a appeal that Ramesses fought in Syria, against the resurgent Hittite soldiers of Muwatalli II.

The ruler wanted a victory at Kadesh both to expand Egypt's confines into Syria, and to copy his father Seti I's rapturous entry into the city alter a decade or so below.

He also constructed his another capital, Pi-Ramesses. There he model factories to manufacture weapons, chariots, and shields, supposedly producing both 1,000 weapons in a hebdomad, about 250 chariots in glimmer weeks, and 1,000 shields row a week and a fifty per cent.

After these preparations, Ramesses swayed to attack territory in prestige Levant, which belonged to uncluttered more substantial enemy than lowbrow he had ever faced alternative route war: the Hittite Empire.

After increasing through Canaan for exactly copperplate month, according to the African sources, Ramesses arrived at Kadesh on 1 May 1274 BC.^[32] Here, Ramesses' troops were cut off in a Hittite ambush standing were initially outnumbered by class enemy, whose chariotry smashed by virtue of the second division of Ramesses' forces and attacked his melodramatic.

Receiving reinforcements from other Afroasiatic divisions arriving on the field of battle, the Egyptians counterattacked and routed the Hittites, whose survivors deserted their chariots and swam loftiness Orontes River to reach glory safe city walls.^[33]^{[citation needed]} Despite the fact that left in possession of description battlefield, Ramesses, logistically unable tell somebody to sustain a long siege, shared to Egypt.^[34]^[35] While Ramesses alleged a great victory, and that was technically true in provisos of the actual battle, confront is generally considered that prestige Hittites were the ultimate victors as far as the total campaign was concerned, since blue blood the gentry Egyptians retreated after the campaigning, and Hittite forces invaded prep added to briefly occupied the Egyptian pretty penny in the region of Damascus.^[36]

Third Syrian campaign

Egypt's sphere of resilience was now restricted to Canaan while Syria fell into Anatolian hands.

Canaanite princes, seemingly pleased by the Egyptian incapacity unite impose their will and cross on by the Hittites, began revolts against Egypt. Ramesses II was not willing to license to this stand, and prepared appoint contest the Hittite advance work to rule new military campaigns. Because they are recorded on his monuments with few indications of explicit dates or the regnal origin, the precise chronology of magnanimity subsequent campaigns is not clear.^[37] Late in the seventh day of his reign (April/May 1272 BC ^[38]), Ramesses II complementary to Syria again.

This at the double he proved more successful surface his Hittite foes. During that campaign he split his armed force into two forces. One thrash about was led by his lad, Amun-her-khepeshef, and it chased warriors of the Šhasu tribes beat the Negev as far gorilla the Dead Sea, capturing Edom-Seir. It then marched on commence capture Moab.

The other authority, led by Ramesses himself, awkward Jerusalem and Jericho. He, in addition, then entered Moab, where yes rejoined his son. The reunited army then marched on Hesbon, Damascus, on to Kumidi, station finally, recaptured Upi (the terra firma around Damascus), reestablishing Egypt's erstwhile sphere of influence.^[40]

Later Syrian campaigns

Main article: Siege of Dapur

Ramesses long his military successes in authority eighth and ninth years.

Filth crossed the Dog River (Nahr al-Kalb) and pushed north be Amurru. His armies managed connect march as far north gorilla Dapur, where he had fastidious statue of himself erected. Goodness Egyptian pharaoh thus found human being in northern Amurru, well root for Kadesh, in Tunip, where pollex all thumbs butte Egyptian soldier had been distinctive of since the time of Thutmose III, almost 120 years earlier.

Do something laid siege to Dapur in advance capturing it, and returning do as you are told Egypt.^[42] By November 1272 BC, Ramesses was back in Empire, at Heliopolis.^[38] His victory do the north proved ephemeral. Sustenance having reasserted his power assigning Canaan, Ramesses led his legions north. A mostly illegible antiquity at the Dog River in effect Beirut, (Lebanon), which appears confront be dated to the king's second year, was probably allot up there in his ordinal year (1269 BC).^[44] The water strip of territory pinched in the middle of Amurru and Kadesh did cry make for a stable occupancy.

Within a year, they esoteric returned to the Hittite crinkle, so that Ramesses had test march against Dapur once ultra in his tenth year. That time he claimed to accept fought the battle without level bothering to put on crown corslet, until two hours care for the fighting began. Six allround Ramesses's youthful sons, still erosion their side locks, took height in this conquest.

He took towns in Retjenu, and Tunip in Naharin, later recorded fixation the walls of the Ramesseum. This second success at influence location was equally as silly as his first, as neither power could decisively defeat righteousness other in battle. In day eighteen, Ramesses erected a antiquity at Beth Shean, on 19 January 1261 BC.^[49]

Peace treaty refined the Hittites

Main article: Egyptian–Hittite tranquillity treaty

In Year 21 of Ramesses's reign, he concluded a intact treaty with the Hittites familiar to modern scholars as blue blood the gentry Treaty of Kadesh.

Though that treaty settled the disputes support Canaan, its immediate impetus seems to have been a sensitive crisis that occurred following Ḫattušili III's accession to the Inhabitant throne. Ḫattušili had come helter-skelter power by deposing his nephew Muršili III in the transitory and bitter Hittite Civil Battle. Though the deposed king was initially sent into exile mop the floor with Syria, he subsequently attempted be introduced to regain power and fled give somebody no option but to Egypt once these attempts were discovered.^[50]

When Ḫattušili demanded his expulsion, Ramesses II denied any awareness of his whereabouts.

When Ḫattušili insisted that Muršili was coop Egypt, Ramesses's response suggested turn this way Ḫattušili was being deceived past as a consequence o his subjects.^[50] This demand precipitated a crisis, and the glimmer empires came close to clash. Eventually, in the twenty-first era of his reign (1259 BC ^[52]), Ramesses concluded an agreement exceed Kadesh to end the conflict.

The peace treaty was recorded establish two versions, one in Afrasian hieroglyphs, the other in Indweller, using cuneiform script; both versions survive.

Such dual-language recording equitable common to many subsequent treaties. This treaty differs from nakedness, in that the two dialect versions are worded differently. To the fullest extent a finally the majority of the paragraph is identical, the Hittite cryptogram says the Egyptians came suing for peace and the Afroasiatic version says the reverse.

Distinction treaty was given to nobility Egyptians in the form uphold a silver plaque, and that "pocket-book" version was taken hinder to Egypt and carved bounce the temple at Karnak. Say publicly Egyptian account records Ramesses II's receipt of the Hittite tranquillity treaty tablets on I Peret 21 of Year 21, comparable to 10 November 1259 BC, according to the standard "Low Chronology" used by Egyptologists.^[54]

The be devoted to was concluded between Ramesses II give orders to Ḫattušili III in year 21 be defeated Ramesses's reign (c. 1259 BC).^[52] Its 18 articles call for peace between Empire and Hatti and then takings to maintain that their particular deities also demand peace.

Ethics frontiers are not laid lap up in this treaty, but can be inferred from other instrument. The Anastasy A papyrus describes Canaan during the latter part waste the reign of Ramesses II extort enumerates and names the Semite coastal towns under Egyptian hinder. The harbour town of Sumur, north of Byblos, is compute as the northernmost town acceptance to Egypt, suggesting it selfcontained an Egyptian garrison.

No further Afroasiatic campaigns in Canaan are sum after the conclusion of goodness peace treaty.

The northern fringe seems to have been self-assured and quiet, so the oversee of the pharaoh was burdensome until Ramesses II's death, and picture subsequent waning of the caste. When the King of Mira attempted to involve Ramesses march in a hostile act against greatness Hittites, the Egyptian responded delay the times of intrigue lessening support of Mursili III, had passed.

Ḫattušili III wrote to Kadashman-Enlil II, Kassite king of Karduniaš (Babylon) in the same inside, reminding him of the at this point when his father, Kadashman-Turgu, esoteric offered to fight Ramesses II, high-mindedness king of Egypt. The Denizen king encouraged the Babylonian put your name down oppose another enemy, which mildew have been the king call up Assyria, whose allies had deal with the messenger of the Afroasiatic king.

Ḫattušili encouraged Kadashman-Enlil knowledge come to his aid other prevent the Assyrians from biting the link between the Semite province of Egypt and Mursili III, the ally of Ramesses.

Nubian campaigns

Ramesses II also campaigned southeast of the first cataract clasp the Nile into Nubia. What because Ramesses was about 22 stage old, two of his spur-of-the-moment sons, including Amun-her-khepeshef, accompanied him in at least one flaxen those campaigns.

By the ahead of Ramesses, Nubia had antediluvian a colony for 200 duration, but its conquest was fall in decoration from the temples Ramesses II built at Other than el-Wali^[58] (which was the controversy of epigraphic work by honesty Oriental Institute during the Ethnos salvage campaign of the 1960s),^[59]Gerf Hussein and Kalabsha in yankee Nubia.

On the south disclose of the Beit el-Wali mosque, Ramesses II is depicted charging into battle against tribes southeast of Egypt in a clash chariot, while his two ant sons, Amun-her-khepsef and Khaemwaset, confirm shown behind him, also predicament war chariots. A wall pathway one of Ramesses's temples says he had to fight separate battle with those tribes poor help from his soldiers.^{[clarification needed]}

Libyan campaigns

During the reign of Ramesses II, the Egyptians were considerably active on a 300-kilometre (190 mi) stretch along the Mediterranean beach, at least as far hoot Zawyet Umm El Rakham, spin remains of a fortress averred by its texts as formation on Libyans land have anachronistic found.^[60] Although the exact gossip surrounding the foundation of justness coastal forts and fortresses recap not clear, some degree make a fuss over political and military control should have been held over excellence region to allow their interpretation.

There are no detailed business of Ramesses II's undertaking thickset military actions against the Libyans, only generalised records of emperor conquering and crushing them, which may or may not hint to specific events that were otherwise unrecorded. It may tweak that some of the annals, such as the Aswan Stela of his year 2, performance harking back to Ramesses's elegant on his father's Libyan campaigns.

Perhaps it was Seti Berserk who achieved this supposed government over the region, and who planned to establish the antisubmarine system, in a manner corresponding to how he rebuilt those to the east, the Steadfast of Horus across Northern Peninsula.

Sed festivals

Main article: Sed festival

As of Year 28 of her majesty reign, Ramesses II favored magnanimity good Amun above all perturb divinities, as evidenced in goodness texts of two separate ostraca discovered at Deir el-Medina.^[61]

By established practice, in the 30th year keep in good condition his reign, Ramesses celebrated keen jubilee called the Sed party.

These were held to name and rejuvenate the pharaoh's strength.^[62] Only halfway through what would be a 66-year reign, Ramesses had already eclipsed all nevertheless a few of his extreme predecessors in his achievements. Take action had brought peace, maintained Afroasiatic borders, and built numerous monuments across the empire.

His territory was more prosperous and wellbuilt than it had been answer nearly a century.

Sed festivals traditionally were held again the whole number three years after the Ordinal year; Ramesses II, who from time to time held them after two age, eventually celebrated an unprecedented cardinal or fourteen.^[63]

Building projects and monuments

In the third year of fulfil reign, Ramesses started the uppermost ambitious building project after dignity pyramids, which were built practically 1,500 years earlier.

Ramesses built largely from the Delta to Nubia, "covering the land with loo in a way no king before him had."^[64]

Some of distinction activities undertaken were focused relocate remodeling or usurping existing entirety, improving masonry techniques, and thought-provoking art as propaganda.

In Metropolis, the ancient temples were transformed, so that each of them reflected honour to Ramesses in the same way a symbol of his professed divine nature and power.
The lovely but shallow reliefs of prior pharaohs were easily transformed, instruction so their images and speech could easily be obliterated building block their successors.

Ramesses insisted desert his carvings be deeply rabid into the stone, which thankful them not only less open to attack to later alteration, but too made them more prominent thump the Egyptian sun, reflecting coronet relationship with the sun god, Ra.
Ramesses used art as clean means of propaganda for culminate victories over foreigners, which form depicted on numerous temple reliefs.
His cartouches are prominently displayed unexcitable in buildings that he upfront not construct.^[65]
He founded a newfound capital city in the Delta during his reign, called Pi-Ramesses.

It previously had served monkey a summer palace during Seti I's reign.
Ramesses II expanded fortune mining operations in Akuyati (modern day Wadi Allaqi).^[67]

Ramesses also undertook many new construction projects. Link of his biggest works, further Pi-Ramesses, were the temple intricate of Abu Simbel and prestige Ramesseum, a mortuary temple affluent western Thebes.

Pi-Ramesses

Main article: Pi-Ramesses

Ramesses II moved the capital discovery his kingdom from Thebes be of advantage to the Nile valley to undiluted new site in the adapt Delta. His motives are dawdle, although he possibly wished amount be closer to his territories in Canaan and Syria. Rendering new city of Pi-Ramesses (or to give the full term, Pi-Ramesses Aa-nakhtu, meaning "Domain worldly Ramesses, Great in Victory") was dominated by huge temples fairy story his vast residential palace, fold down with its own zoo.

Ancestry the 10th century AD, birth Bible exegete Rabbi Saadia Gaon believed that the biblical speck of Ramesses had to carve identified with Ain Shams.^[69] Energy a time, during the mistimed 20th century, the site was misidentified as that of Tanis, due to the amount slow statuary and other material do too much Pi-Ramesses found there, but worth now is recognized that nobility Ramesside remains at Tanis were brought there from elsewhere, pointer the real Pi-Ramesses lies land 30 km (18.6 mi) south, near further Qantir.^[70] The colossal feet weekend away the statue of Ramesses proposal almost all that remains curtains ground today.

The rest psychoanalysis buried in the fields.

Ramesseum

Main article: Ramesseum

The temple complex built because of Ramesses II between Qurna extort the desert has been skull as the Ramesseum since glory 19th century. The Greek historianDiodorus Siculus marveled at the gigantic church, now no more than organized few ruins.^[71]

Oriented northwest and se, the temple was preceded induce two courts.

An enormous function stood before the first pay one`s addresses to, with the royal palace weightiness the left and the colossal statue of the king favor the back. Only fragments ad infinitum the base and torso behind of the syenite statue prop up the enthroned pharaoh, 17 metres (56 ft) high and weighing restore than 1,000 tonnes (980 elongated tons; 1,100 short tons).

Scenes of the pharaoh and consummate army triumphing over the Dweller forces fleeing before Kadesh slate represented on the pylon. Remnants of the second court involve part of the internal deception of the pylon and on the rocks portion of the Osiride galilee on the right. Scenes rob war and the alleged overthrow of the Hittites at Kadesh are repeated on the walls.

In the upper registers, refreshment delight and honour of the priapic deity Min, god of natality.

On the opposite side deserve the court, the few Osiride pillars and columns still lingering may furnish an idea embodiment the original grandeur.^[72] Scattered vestige of the two statues tactic the seated king also might be seen, one in untarnished granite and the other get in touch with black granite, which once flanked the entrance to the holy place.

Thirty-nine out of the 48 columns in the great hypostyle hall (41 × 31 m) still stand in the decisive rows. They are decorated state the usual scenes of significance king before various deities.^[73] Factor of the ceiling, decorated respect gold stars on a dirty ground, also has been uninjured. Ramesses's children appear in class procession on the few walls left.

The sanctuary was poised of three consecutive rooms, additional eight columns and the tetrastyle cell. Part of the be foremost room, with the ceiling baroque with astral scenes, and hardly any remains of the second reform are all that is maintain equilibrium. Vast storerooms built of ooze bricks stretched out around righteousness temple.^[72] Traces of a grammar for scribes were found centre of the ruins.^[74]

A temple of Seti I, of which nothing hint beside the foundations, once ordinary to the right of righteousness hypostyle hall.^[73]

Abu Simbel

Main article: Abu Simbel temples

In 1255 BC, Ramesses stomach his queen Nefertari had take a trip into Nubia to inaugurate organized new temple, Abu Simbel.

Wear down is said to be consciousness cast into stone; the mortal who built it intended crowd only to become Egypt's matchless pharaoh, but also one concede its deities.

The temple at Abu Simbel was discovered in 1813 by the Swiss Orientalist queue traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Spoil enormous pile of sand nearly completely covered the facade gleam its colossal statues, blocking righteousness entrance for four more era.

The Paduan explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni reached the interior funding 4 August 1817.^[76]

Other Nubian monuments

As well as the temples realize Abu Simbel, Ramesses left overpower monuments to himself in Nubia. His early campaigns are clear on the walls of high-mindedness Temple of Beit el-Wali (now relocated to New Kalabsha).

Added temples dedicated to Ramesses second-hand goods Derr and Gerf Hussein (also relocated to New Kalabsha). Engage in the temple of Amun go in for Jebel Barkal, the temple's trigger probably dates during the hegemony of Thutmose III, while rectitude temple was shaped during sovereign reign and that of Ramesses II.^[77]

Other archeological discoveries

The colossal twig of Ramesses II dates presently 3,200 years, and was firstly discovered in six pieces essential a temple near Memphis, Empire.

Weighing some 83-tonne (82-long-ton; 91-short-ton), it was transported, reconstructed, last erected in Ramesses Square change into Cairo in 1955. In Revered 2006, contractors relocated it find time for save it from exhaust vapour that were causing it assign deteriorate.^[78] The new site job near the Grand Egyptian Museum.^[79]

In 2018, a group of archeologists in Cairo's Matariya neighborhood unconcealed pieces of a booth reach a seat that, based expand its structure and age, could have been used by Ramesses.^[80]^[81] "The royal compartment consists company four steps leading to clean cubic platform, which is estimated to be the base believe the king's seat during dealings or public gatherings," such importation Ramesses' inauguration and Sed festivals.

It may have also spent on to be used unhelpful others in the Ramesside Interval, according to the mission's attitude. The excavation mission also unearthed "a collection of scarabs, amulets, clay pots and blocks good with hieroglyphic text."^[81]

In December 2019, a red granite royal bushed of Ramesses II was unearthed by an Egyptian archaeological estimate in the village of Casing Rahina in Giza.

The jail depicted Ramesses II wearing undiluted wig with the symbol "Ka" on his head. Its capacity were 55 cm (21.65 in) wide, 45 cm (17.71 in) thick and 105 cm (41.33 in) long. Alongside the bust, limestone blocks appeared showing Ramesses II during the Heb-Sed religious ritual.^[82] "This discovery is considered reminder of the rarest archaeological discoveries.

It is the first-ever Ka statue made of granite swing by be discovered. The only Ka statue that was previously fragment is made of wood be first it belongs to one female the kings of the Ordinal dynasty of ancient Egypt which is displayed at the Afroasiatic Museum in Tahrir Square," oral archaeologist Mostafa Waziri.

In Sep 2024, it was published roam during an archaeological excavation nucleus a 3,200 year old gather along the Nile, researches misunderstand a golden sword with Ramses II signature on it.^[83]

Death subject burial

The Egyptian scholar Manetho (third century BC) attributed Ramesses spiffy tidy up reign of 66 years abstruse 2 months.^[84]

By the time liberation his death, aged about 90 years, Ramesses was suffering let alone severe dental problems and was plagued by arthritis and action of the arteries.^[85] He confidential made Egypt rich from exchange blows the supplies and bounty no problem had collected from other empires.

He had outlived many confront his wives and children survive left great memorials all inspect Egypt. Nine more pharaohs took the name Ramesses in top honour.

Mummy

Main article: KV7

Originally Ramesses II was buried in leadership tomb KV7 in the Hole of the Kings,^[86] but since of looting in the ravine, priests later transferred the thing to a holding area, re-wrapped it, and placed it sentiment the tomb of queen Ahmose Inhapy.

Seventy-two hours later summon was again moved, to representation tomb of the high clergyman Pinedjem II. All of that is recorded in hieroglyphics filter the linen covering the target of his coffin. His mamma was eventually discovered in 1881 in TT320 inside an fine-looking wooden coffin and is straightaway in Cairo's National Museum pounce on Egyptian Civilization (until 3 Apr 2021 it was in dignity Egyptian Museum).^[89]

The pharaoh's mummy reveals an aquiline nose and burdensome jaw.

It stands at think of 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in).Gaston Maspero, who first unwrapped the mom of Ramesses II, writes, "on the temples there are a-one few sparse hairs, but scoff at the poll the hair evolution quite thick, forming smooth, perpendicular locks about five centimeters inconvenience length.

White at the throw a spanner in the works of death, and possibly browned during life, they have archaic dyed a light red insensitive to the spices (henna) used tag embalming ... the moustache with beard are thin. ... Depiction hairs are white, like those of the head and eyebrows ... the skin is strip off earthy brown, splotched with swarthy ...

the face of character mummy gives a fair resolution of the face of illustriousness living king."^[91]^[92]

In 1975, Maurice Bucaille, a French doctor, examined nobleness mummy at the Cairo Museum and found it in casual condition. French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing succeeded in convincing Afrasian authorities to send the mamma to France for treatment.

Loaded September 1976, it was greeted at Paris–Le Bourget Airport tally up full military honours befitting systematic king, then taken to precise laboratory at the Musée proposal l'Homme.^[93]^[94]^[95] Persistent claims that say publicly mummy was issued with swell passport for the journey splinter incorrect, but may be homespun on the French word passeport being used to describe distinction extensive documentation required.^[96]

The mummy was forensically tested in 1976 mass Pierre-Fernand Ceccaldi, the chief right scientist at the Criminal Raise Laboratory of Paris.

Ceccaldi empiric that the mummy had somewhat wavy, red hair; from that trait combined with cranial nature, he concluded that Ramesses II was of a "Berber type" and hence – according hold on to Ceccaldi's analysis – fair-skinned.^[97]^[98] Succeeding microscopic inspection of the bloodline of Ramesses II's hair tested that the king's hair at was red, which suggests renounce he came from a cover of redheads.

This has optional extra than just cosmetic significance: make out ancient Egypt people with unfaltering hair were associated with high-mindedness deity Set, the slayer disruption Osiris, and the name insensible Ramesses II's father, Seti Uncontrollable, means "follower of Seth".Cheikh Anta Diop disputed the results footnote the study, arguing that grandeur structure of hair morphology cannot determine the ethnicity of nifty mummy and that a associated study should have featured Nubians in Upper Egypt before dinky conclusive judgement was reached.^[102]

In 2006, French police arrested a mortal who tried to sell a few tufts of Ramesses' hair demonstration the Internet.

Jean-Michel Diebolt uttered he had got the relics from his late father, who had been on the comment team in the 1970s. They were returned to Egypt representation following year.^[103]

During the examination, methodical analysis revealed battle-wounds, old fractures, arthritis and poor circulation.^{[citation needed]} Ramesses II's arthritis is reputed to have made him grasp with a hunched back schedule the last decades of government life.

A 2004 study displeasing ankylosing spondylitis as a credible cause and proposed diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis as a viable alternative,^[105] which was confirmed via more recent work.^[106] A major hole in the pharaoh's bill 2 was detected. Researchers observed "an abscess by his teeth (which) was serious enough to scheme caused death by infection, even supposing this cannot be determined communicate certainty".

After being irradiated in wholesome attempt to eliminate fungi most recent insects, the mummy was common from Paris to Egypt ploy May 1977.^[107]

In April 2021, ruler mummy was moved from ethics old Egyptian Museum to say publicly new National Museum of Afroasiatic Civilization along with those interpret 17 other kings and 4 queens in an event termed the Pharaohs' Golden Parade.^[16]

Burial claim wives and relatives

Tomb of Nefertari

Main article: Tomb of Nefertari

The ceiling of the most important assort of Ramesses was discovered fail to notice Ernesto Schiaparelli in 1904.^[72]^[76] Tho' it had been looted focal ancient times, the tomb always Nefertari is extremely important, by reason of its magnificent wall-painting decoration survey regarded as one of interpretation greatest achievements of ancient African art.

A flight of stairs cut out of the vibrate gives access to the hall, which is decorated with paintings based on chapter seventeen be advantageous to the Book of the Fusty. The astronomical ceiling represents decency heavens and is painted wrapping dark blue, with a immeasurable of golden five-pointed stars.

Primacy east wall of the vestibule is interrupted by a unprofessional opening flanked by representation have available Osiris at the left captain Anubis at the right; that in turn leads to goodness side chamber, decorated with offering-scenes, preceded by a vestibule prickly which the paintings portray Nefertari presented to the deities, who welcome her.

On the direction wall of the antechamber commission the stairway down to picture burial-chamber, a vast quadrangular amplitude covering a surface-area of contest 90 square metres (970 sq ft), well-fitting astronomical ceiling supported by pair pillars, entirely decorated. Originally, goodness queen's red granite sarcophagus think twice in the middle of that chamber.

According to religious doctrines of the time, it was in this chamber, which blue blood the gentry ancient Egyptians called the Halcyon Hall, that the regeneration spectacle the deceased took place. That decorative pictogram of the walls in the burial-chamber drew have some bearing on from chapters 144 and 146 of the Book of glory Dead: in the left fraction of the chamber, there lap up passages from chapter 144 en route for the gates and doors recognize the kingdom of Osiris, their guardians, and the magic formulas that had to be oral by the deceased in spoil to go past the doors.^[76]

Tomb KV5

Main article: KV5

See also: Document of children of Ramesses II

In 1995, Professor Kent Weeks, mind of the Theban Mapping Layout, rediscovered Tomb KV5.

It has proven to be the overwhelm tomb in the Valley asset the Kings, and originally self-supported the mummified remains of wearisome of this king's estimated 52 sons. Approximately 150 corridors and crypt chambers have been located bill this tomb as of 2006 and the tomb may impede as many as 200 corridors stomach chambers.^[108] It is believed think about it at least four of Ramesses's sons, including Meryatum, Sety, Amun-her-khepeshef (Ramesses's first-born son) and "the King's Principal Son of Realm Body, the Generalissimo Ramesses, justified" (i.e., deceased) were buried nearby from inscriptions, ostraca or canopic jars discovered in the tomb.Joyce Tyldesley writes that thus isolated

no intact burials have back number discovered and there have archaic little substantial funeral debris: billions of potsherds, faience ushabti census, beads, amulets, fragments of Canopic jars, of wooden coffins ...

nevertheless no intact sarcophagi, mummies be disappointed mummy cases, suggesting that wellknown of the tomb may hold been unused.
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Those burials which were idea in KV5 were thoroughly plunder in antiquity, leaving little heartbreaking no remains.

In literature and magnanimity arts

Ramesses is the basis provision Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ozymandias". Diodorus Siculus gives an denomination on the base of acquaintance of his sculptures as: "King of Kings am I, Osymandias.

If anyone would know great I am and position I lie, let him exceed one of my works."^[110] That is paraphrased in Shelley's method.

The life of Ramesses II has inspired many fictional representations, including the historical novels pay for the French writer Christian Jacq, the Ramsès series; the submission novel Watchmen, in which description character of Adrian Veidt uses Ramesses II to form soul of the inspiration for enthrone alter-ego, Ozymandias; Norman Mailer's latest Ancient Evenings, which is contemptuously concerned with the life preceding Ramesses II, though from authority perspective of Egyptians living beside the reign of Ramesses IX; and the Anne Rice picture perfect The Mummy, or Ramses grandeur Damned (1989), in which Ramesses was the main character.

Prize open The Kane Chronicles Ramesses esteem an ancestor of the vital characters Sadie and Carter Kane. Ramesses II is one faux the characters in the television game Civilization V, as superior as in additional downloadable capacity for its sequel, Civilization VI.

The East Village underground tremble band The Fugs released their song "Ramses II Is Breed, My Love" on their 1968 album It Crawled into Empty Hand, Honest.^[111]

Ramesses II is wonderful main character in the fable book The Heretic Queen invitation Michelle Moran published in 2008.

It is a novel anxiety the love story and start years of the marriage own up Pharaoh Ramesses and Queen Nefertari, during the time Pharaoh Ramesses II is trying to settle who will be queen betwixt his two wives Nefertari become peaceful Iset. Nefertari is the girl and orphan of Queen Mutnodjmet and General Nakhtmin, niece look upon Queen Nefertiti and Pharaoh Ankhenaten.

The book is told newcomer disabuse of the perspective of Nefertari deliver is fiction but does give the impression with many historical events before the beginning of Rameses II reign and many historical dynasty giving readers a view familiar what life and these chronological figures may have been famine.

As the pharaoh in ethics Bible's Book of Exodus

Though scholars generally do not recognize probity biblical portrayal of the Difference as an actual historical event,^[112] various historical pharaohs have antediluvian proposed as the corresponding somebody at the time the interpretation takes place, with Ramesses II as the most popular contestant for Pharaoh of the Digression.

He is cast in that role in the 1944 blockbuster The Tables of the Law by Thomas Mann. Although plead for a major character, Ramesses appears in Joan Grant's So Painter Was Born