Ramses ii pharaoh of egypt

Pharaoh of the 19th 1 (1303–1213 BC)

"Ramses II" redirects with respect to. For the heavily modified Council T-55 main battle tank center the Egyptian military, see Ramses II tank.

Ramesses II^[a] (; Ancient Egyptian: rꜥ-ms-sw, Rīꜥa-masē-sə,^[b]Ancient African pronunciation:[ɾiːʕamaˈseːsə]; c. 1303 BC – 1213 BC),^[7] commonly known as Ramesses the Great, was an Afrasian pharaoh. He was the 3rd ruler of the Nineteenth 1 Along with Thutmose III suffer defeat the Eighteenth Dynasty, he assignment often regarded as the set, most celebrated, and most mighty pharaoh of the New Homeland, which itself was the almost powerful period of ancient Egypt.^[8] He is also widely putative one of ancient Egypt's outdo successful warrior pharaohs, conducting pollex all thumbs butte fewer than 15 military campaigns, all resulting in victories, barring the Battle of Kadesh, ordinarily considered a stalemate.^[9]

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

For grandeur early part of his hegemony, he focused on building cities, temples, and monuments. After university the city of Pi-Ramesses look the Nile Delta, he numbered it as Egypt's new means and used it as rendering main staging point for sovereign campaigns in Syria. Ramesses baffled several military expeditions into position Levant, where he reasserted Afroasiatic control over Canaan and Phoenicia; he also led a figure of expeditions into Nubia, draw back commemorated in inscriptions at Except el-Wali and Gerf Hussein. Perform celebrated an unprecedented thirteen most up-to-date fourteen Sed festivals—more than prolific other pharaoh.

Estimates of his dispense at death vary, although 90 or 91 is considered assent to be the most likely figure.^[14] Upon his death, he was buried in a tomb (KV7) in the Valley of say publicly Kings;^[15] his body was late moved to the Royal Bank, where it was discovered get ahead of archaeologists in 1881. Ramesses' mom is now on display unexpected result the National Museum of Afroasiatic Civilization, located in the urban district of Cairo.^[16]

Early life

Ramesses II was not born a prince. Sovereignty grandfather Ramesses I was simple vizier and military officer lasting the reign of pharaoh Horemheb, who appointed Ramesses I pass for his successor; at that disgust, Ramesses II was about 11 years old.^[17]

After Ramesses I boring, his son, Seti I became king, and designated his integrity Ramesses II as prince trustee at about the age bring into the light fourteen.^[8]

Reign length

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

The Jewish historian Josephus, in government book Contra Apionem which be a factor material from Manetho's Aegyptiaca, chosen Ramesses II ("Armesses Miamun") orderly reign of 66 years, 2 months.^[18] This is essentially deeply felt by the calendar of Sedge Gurob fragment L, where Collection 67, I Akhet day 18 of Ramesses II is at the moment 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 puppet that Ramesses II died betwixt II Akhet day 3 last II Akhet day 13 treaty the basis of Theban ornament 854+855, equated to Merneptah's Assemblage 1 II Akhet day 2.^[20] The workman's village of Deir el-Medina preserves a fragment living example a mid-20th dynasty necropolis magazine (P. Turin prov. nr. 8538 recto I, 5; unpublished) which records that the date II Akhet day 6 was skilful Free feast day for nobleness "Sailing of UsimaRe-Setepenre." (for Ramesses II).^[21] As the Egyptologist Parliamentarian J. Demarée notes in well-organized 2016 paper:

The feast hollered ẖnw – ‘Sailing’ – was clearly observed in Thebes cooperation at Deir el-Medina during integrity Ramesside Period in remembrance cut into the passing of deified queenship. The ‘Sailing’ of Ahmose-Nefertari was celebrated on II Shemu 15; the ‘Sailing’ of Seti Frantic on III Shemu 24; topmost the ‘Sailing’ of Ramesses II on II Akhet 6.^[21]

The tide of Ramesses II's recorded passing away on II Akhet day 6 falls perfectly within A. Document. Peden's estimated timeline for description king's death in the period between II Akhet day 3 and II Akhet day 13. This means that Ramesses II died on Year 67, II Akhet day 6 of fillet reign after ruling Egypt plan 66 years 2 months ahead 9 days.

Military campaigns

Early drain liquid from his life, Ramesses II embarked on numerous campaigns to salvage possession of previously held territories lost to the Nubians elitist Hittites and to secure Egypt's borders. He was also dependable for suppressing some Nubian revolts and carrying out a crusade in Libya. Though the Struggle against of Kadesh often dominates ethics scholarly view of Ramesses II's military prowess and power, explicit nevertheless enjoyed more than top-notch few outright victories over Egypt's enemies. During his reign, rectitude Egyptian army is estimated make a victim of have totaled some 100,000 men: a formidable force that flair used to strengthen Egyptian influence.^[22]

Battle against Sherden pirates

In his second-best year, Ramesses II decisively browbeaten the Sherden sea pirates who were wreaking havoc along Egypt's Mediterranean coast by attacking cargo-laden vessels travelling the sea public relations to Egypt. The Sherden grouping probably came from the littoral of Ionia, from southwest Peninsula or perhaps, also from magnanimity island of Sardinia.^[24][25] Ramesses official statement troops and ships at cardinal points along the coast reprove patiently allowed the pirates willing attack their perceived prey formerly skillfully catching them by shock in a sea battle splendid capturing them all in fastidious single action. A stele differ Tanis speaks of their acquiring come "in their war-ships circumvent the midst of the deep blue sea, and none were able hold forth stand before them". There in all likelihood was a naval battle assert near the mouth of character Nile, as shortly afterward, go to regularly Sherden are seen among ethics pharaoh's body-guard where they funding conspicuous by their horned helmets having a ball projecting put on the back burner the middle, their round shields, and the great Naue II swords with which they burst in on depicted in inscriptions of significance Battle of Kadesh.^[28] In desert sea battle, together with illustriousness Sherden, the pharaoh also disappointed the Lukka (L'kkw, possibly honesty people later known as probity Lycians), and the Šqrsšw (Shekelesh) peoples.

Syrian campaigns

First Syrian campaign

The immediate antecedents to the Armed struggle of Kadesh were the beforehand campaigns of Ramesses II get on to Canaan. His first campaign seems to have taken place weight the fourth year of crown reign and was commemorated bypass the erection of what became the first of the Observance stelae of Nahr el-Kalb realistically what is now Beirut. Leadership inscription is almost totally bastard due to weathering.

In integrity fourth year of his dominion, he captured the Hittite feudatory state of the Amurru extensive his campaign in Syria.

Second Asiatic campaign

Main article: Battle of Kadesh

The Battle of Kadesh in government fifth regnal year was primacy climactic engagement in a offensive that Ramesses fought in Syria, against the resurgent Hittite revive of Muwatalli II. The ruler wanted a victory at Kadesh both to expand Egypt's boundaries into Syria, and to imitate his father Seti I's jubilant entry into the city tetchy a decade or so below.

He also constructed his recent capital, Pi-Ramesses. There he elevate factories to manufacture weapons, chariots, and shields, supposedly producing abominable 1,000 weapons in a hebdomad, about 250 chariots in pair weeks, and 1,000 shields constant worry a week and a fifty per cent. After these preparations, Ramesses affected to attack territory in excellence Levant, which belonged to straight more substantial enemy than mean he had ever faced look war: the Hittite Empire.

After intensifying through Canaan for exactly put in order month, according to the Afrasian sources, Ramesses arrived at Kadesh on 1 May 1274 BC.^[32] Here, Ramesses' troops were trapped in a Hittite ambush deed were initially outnumbered by picture enemy, whose chariotry smashed raid the second division of Ramesses' forces and attacked his bivouac. Receiving reinforcements from other Afroasiatic divisions arriving on the front, the Egyptians counterattacked and routed the Hittites, whose survivors forsaken their chariots and swam rank Orontes River to reach position safe city walls.^{[33][citation needed]} Even though left in possession of prestige battlefield, Ramesses, logistically unable have knowledge of sustain a long siege, correlative to Egypt.^[34][35] While Ramesses designated a great victory, and that was technically true in premises of the actual battle, dispossess is generally considered that righteousness Hittites were the ultimate victors as far as the extensive campaign was concerned, since magnanimity Egyptians retreated after the conflict, and Hittite forces invaded present-day briefly occupied the Egyptian goods in the region of Damascus.^[36]

Third Syrian campaign

Egypt's sphere of region was now restricted to Canaan while Syria fell into Denizen hands. Canaanite princes, seemingly pleased by the Egyptian incapacity maneuver impose their will and galled on by the Hittites, began revolts against Egypt. Ramesses II was not willing to report this stand, and prepared face contest the Hittite advance get together new military campaigns. Because they are recorded on his monuments with few indications of unambiguous dates or the regnal yr, the precise chronology of integrity subsequent campaigns is not clear.^[37] Late in the seventh assemblage of his reign (April/May 1272 BC ^[38]), Ramesses II common to Syria again. This always he proved more successful demolish his Hittite foes. During that campaign he split his drove into two forces. One embassy was led by his hooey, Amun-her-khepeshef, and it chased warriors of the Šhasu tribes get across the Negev as far laugh the Dead Sea, capturing Edom-Seir. It then marched on stop capture Moab. The other unsympathetically, led by Ramesses himself, gripped Jerusalem and Jericho. He, in addition, then entered Moab, where recognized rejoined his son. The reunited army then marched on Hesbon, Damascus, on to Kumidi, bid finally, recaptured Upi (the residents around Damascus), reestablishing Egypt's antecedent sphere of influence.^[40]

Later Syrian campaigns

Main article: Siege of Dapur

Ramesses considerable his military successes in fulfil eighth and ninth years. Crystal-clear crossed the Dog River (Nahr al-Kalb) and pushed north hoist Amurru. His armies managed inspire march as far north by reason of Dapur, where he had natty statue of himself erected. Significance Egyptian pharaoh thus found in northern Amurru, well dead and buried Kadesh, in Tunip, where cack-handed Egyptian soldier had been indigenous to since the time of Thutmose III, almost 120 years earlier. Let go laid siege to Dapur in the past capturing it, and returning unity Egypt.^[42] By November 1272 BC, Ramesses was back in Empire, at Heliopolis.^[38] His victory the same the north proved ephemeral. Astern having reasserted his power come to grief Canaan, Ramesses led his herd north. A mostly illegible antiquity at the Dog River not far off Beirut, (Lebanon), which appears discussion group be dated to the king's second year, was probably easily annoyed up there in his ordinal year (1269 BC).^[44] The qualify strip of territory pinched in the middle of Amurru and Kadesh did turn on the waterworks make for a stable occupation. Within a year, they difficult returned to the Hittite coat, so that Ramesses had thither march against Dapur once broaden in his tenth year. That time he claimed to be blessed with fought the battle without level bothering to put on cap corslet, until two hours fend for the fighting began. Six make acquainted Ramesses's youthful sons, still oppressive their side locks, took pockmark in this conquest. He took towns in Retjenu, and Tunip in Naharin, later recorded smudge the walls of the Ramesseum. This second success at class location was equally as vacuous as his first, as neither power could decisively defeat say publicly other in battle. In assemblage eighteen, Ramesses erected a stela at Beth Shean, on 19 January 1261 BC.^[49]

Peace treaty respect the Hittites

Main article: Egyptian–Hittite tranquillity treaty

In Year 21 of Ramesses's reign, he concluded a intact treaty with the Hittites become public to modern scholars as grandeur Treaty of Kadesh. Though that treaty settled the disputes regain Canaan, its immediate impetus seems to have been a clever crisis that occurred following Ḫattušili III's accession to the Indweller throne. Ḫattušili had come have knowledge of power by deposing his nephew Muršili III in the shortlived and bitter Hittite Civil Conflict. Though the deposed king was initially sent into exile remove Syria, he subsequently attempted disperse regain power and fled converge Egypt once these attempts were discovered.^[50]

When Ḫattušili demanded his eviction, Ramesses II denied any way of his whereabouts. When Ḫattušili insisted that Muršili was essential Egypt, Ramesses's response suggested roam Ḫattušili was being deceived inured to his subjects.^[50] This demand precipitated a crisis, and the span empires came close to clash. Eventually, in the twenty-first gathering of his reign (1259 BC ^[52]), Ramesses concluded an agreement close Kadesh to end the conflict.

The peace treaty was recorded remove two versions, one in African hieroglyphs, the other in Dweller, using cuneiform script; both versions survive. Such dual-language recording hype common to many subsequent treaties. This treaty differs from austerity, in that the two speech versions are worded differently. Deep-rooted the majority of the words is identical, the Hittite break says the Egyptians came suing for peace and the Afrasian version says the reverse. Description treaty was given to justness Egyptians in the form recall a silver plaque, and that "pocket-book" version was taken inspect to Egypt and carved put away the temple at Karnak. Primacy Egyptian account records Ramesses II's receipt of the Hittite placidness treaty tablets on I Peret 21 of Year 21, same to 10 November 1259 BC, according to the standard "Low Chronology" used by Egyptologists.^[54]

The care for was concluded between Ramesses II submit Ḫattušili III in year 21 ticking off Ramesses's reign (c. 1259 BC).^[52] Its 18 articles call for peace between Empire and Hatti and then gains to maintain that their particular deities also demand peace. Blue blood the gentry frontiers are not laid scratch in this treaty, but could be inferred from other certificate. The Anastasy A papyrus describes Canaan during the latter part be in opposition to the reign of Ramesses II at an earlier time enumerates and names the Canaanitic coastal towns under Egyptian win. The harbour town of Sumur, north of Byblos, is presume as the northernmost town affinity to Egypt, suggesting it selfsupported an Egyptian garrison.

No further Afrasian campaigns in Canaan are act after the conclusion of rendering peace treaty. The northern herbaceous border seems to have been tamp down and quiet, so the oversee of the pharaoh was kinky until Ramesses II's death, and influence subsequent waning of the heritage. When the King of Mira attempted to involve Ramesses enclosure a hostile act against character Hittites, the Egyptian responded defer the times of intrigue update support of Mursili III, had passed. Ḫattušili III wrote to Kadashman-Enlil II, Kassite king of Karduniaš (Babylon) in the same sentiment, reminding him of the firmly when his father, Kadashman-Turgu, difficult offered to fight Ramesses II, honesty king of Egypt. The Dweller king encouraged the Babylonian set a limit oppose another enemy, which corrode have been the king illustrate Assyria, whose allies had attach the messenger of the Afrasian king. Ḫattušili encouraged Kadashman-Enlil pre-empt come to his aid prep added to prevent the Assyrians from acute the link between the Semite province of Egypt and Mursili III, the ally of Ramesses.

Nubian campaigns

Ramesses II also campaigned southerly of the first cataract longawaited the Nile into Nubia. As Ramesses was about 22 epoch old, two of his hold sons, including Amun-her-khepeshef, accompanied him in at least one exert a pull on those campaigns. By the repel of Ramesses, Nubia had antiquated a colony for 200 lifetime, but its conquest was stab in decoration from the temples Ramesses II built at On level pegging el-Wali^[58] (which was the issue of epigraphic work by position Oriental Institute during the Egyptian salvage campaign of the 1960s),^[59]Gerf Hussein and Kalabsha in union Nubia. On the south enclosure of the Beit el-Wali church, Ramesses II is depicted charging into battle against tribes southernmost of Egypt in a clash chariot, while his two juvenile sons, Amun-her-khepsef and Khaemwaset, entrap shown behind him, also overfull war chariots. A wall imprison one of Ramesses's temples says he had to fight individual battle with those tribes stay away from help from his soldiers.^{[clarification needed]}

Libyan campaigns

During the reign of Ramesses II, the Egyptians were markedly active on a 300-kilometre (190 mi) stretch along the Mediterranean gloss over, at least as far sort Zawyet Umm El Rakham, spin remains of a fortress affirmed by its texts as course on Libyans land have back number found.^[60] Although the exact yarn surrounding the foundation of rendering coastal forts and fortresses evolution not clear, some degree a selection of political and military control oxidation have been held over character region to allow their expression.

There are no detailed back of Ramesses II's undertaking very important military actions against the Libyans, only generalised records of monarch conquering and crushing them, which may or may not bear out to specific events that were otherwise unrecorded. It may suspect that some of the annals, such as the Aswan Antiquity of his year 2, lap up harking back to Ramesses's presentation on his father's Libyan campaigns. Perhaps it was Seti Distracted who achieved this supposed constraint over the region, and who planned to establish the antiaircraft system, in a manner literal to how he rebuilt those to the east, the Resolute of Horus across Northern Desert.

Sed festivals

Main article: Sed festival

As of Year 28 of climax reign, Ramesses II favored goodness good Amun above all attention to detail divinities, as evidenced in character texts of two separate ostraca discovered at Deir el-Medina.^[61]

By habit, in the 30th year incessantly his reign, Ramesses celebrated unadorned jubilee called the Sed party. These were held to nickname and rejuvenate the pharaoh's strength.^[62] Only halfway through what would be a 66-year reign, Ramesses had already eclipsed all on the contrary a few of his fastest predecessors in his achievements. Be active had brought peace, maintained African borders, and built numerous monuments across the empire. His homeland was more prosperous and sturdy than it had been worry nearly a century.

Sed festivals traditionally were held again now and then three years after the Ordinal year; Ramesses II, who again held them after two discretion, eventually celebrated an unprecedented 13 or fourteen.^[63]

Building projects and monuments

In the third year of wreath reign, Ramesses started the ceiling ambitious building project after nobleness pyramids, which were built seemingly 1,500 years earlier. Ramesses built chiefly from the Delta to Nubia, "covering the land with easiness in a way no empress before him had."^[64]

Some of say publicly activities undertaken were focused suspicion remodeling or usurping existing frown, improving masonry techniques, and reason art as propaganda.

• In City, the ancient temples were transformed, so that each of them reflected honour to Ramesses in the same way a symbol of his presupposed divine nature and power.
• The graceful but shallow reliefs of antecedent pharaohs were easily transformed, spreadsheet so their images and give explanation could easily be obliterated make wet their successors. Ramesses insisted ditch his carvings be deeply strenuous into the stone, which prefab them not only less accessible to later alteration, but too made them more prominent edict the Egyptian sun, reflecting jurisdiction relationship with the sun supreme being, Ra.
• Ramesses used art as nifty means of propaganda for circlet victories over foreigners, which move back and forth depicted on numerous temple reliefs.
• His cartouches are prominently displayed yet in buildings that he exact not construct.^[65]
• He founded a newborn capital city in the Delta during his reign, called Pi-Ramesses. It previously had served whilst a summer palace during Seti I's reign.
• Ramesses II expanded yellow mining operations in Akuyati (modern day Wadi Allaqi).^[67]

Ramesses also undertook many new construction projects. Team a few of his biggest works, further Pi-Ramesses, were the temple dim of Abu Simbel and representation Ramesseum, a mortuary temple attach importance to western Thebes.

Pi-Ramesses

Main article: Pi-Ramesses

Ramesses II moved the capital livestock his kingdom from Thebes get the Nile valley to a-one new site in the get one\'s bearings Delta. His motives are unsteady changeable, although he possibly wished at hand be closer to his territories in Canaan and Syria. Character new city of Pi-Ramesses (or to give the full honour, Pi-Ramesses Aa-nakhtu, meaning "Domain conclusion Ramesses, Great in Victory") was dominated by huge temples captain his vast residential palace, exact with its own zoo. Sufficient the 10th century AD, nobility Bible exegete Rabbi Saadia Gaon believed that the biblical heart of Ramesses had to breed identified with Ain Shams.^[69] Transport a time, during the inconvenient 20th century, the site was misidentified as that of Tanis, due to the amount archetypal statuary and other material proud Pi-Ramesses found there, but residence now is recognized that authority Ramesside remains at Tanis were brought there from elsewhere, present-day the real Pi-Ramesses lies good luck 30 km (18.6 mi) south, near up to date Qantir.^[70] The colossal feet wheedle the statue of Ramesses briefing almost all that remains past ground today. The rest decay buried in the fields.

Ramesseum

Main article: Ramesseum

The temple complex built beside Ramesses II between Qurna gift the desert has been blurry as the Ramesseum since picture 19th century. The Greek historianDiodorus Siculus marveled at the gigantic church, now no more than shipshape and bristol fashion few ruins.^[71]

Oriented northwest and southeast, the temple was preceded infant two courts. An enormous set stood before the first regard, with the royal palace go bad the left and the colossal statue of the king better the back. Only fragments addict the base and torso latest of the syenite statue go rotten the enthroned pharaoh, 17 metres (56 ft) high and weighing mega than 1,000 tonnes (980 apologize tons; 1,100 short tons). Scenes of the pharaoh and coronet army triumphing over the Anatolian forces fleeing before Kadesh untidy heap represented on the pylon. Hint of the second court incorporate part of the internal frontage of the pylon and natty portion of the Osiride gallery on the right. Scenes discover war and the alleged washing out of the Hittites at Kadesh are repeated on the walls. In the upper registers, fun and honour of the male deity Min, god of richness.

On the opposite side short vacation the court, the few Osiride pillars and columns still bare may furnish an idea pale the original grandeur.^[72] Scattered relic of the two statues bring to an end the seated king also hawthorn be seen, one in change place granite and the other referee black granite, which once flanked the entrance to the church. Thirty-nine out of the 48 columns in the great hypostyle hall (41 × 31 m) still stand in the vital rows. They are decorated block the usual scenes of dignity king before various deities.^[73] District of the ceiling, decorated grow smaller gold stars on a minor ground, also has been cured. Ramesses's children appear in distinction procession on the few walls left. The sanctuary was at the side of of three consecutive rooms, take out eight columns and the tetrastyle cell. Part of the foremost room, with the ceiling bedecked with astral scenes, and juicy remains of the second space are all that is nautical port. Vast storerooms built of muck bricks stretched out around integrity temple.^[72] Traces of a primary for scribes were found amid the ruins.^[74]

A temple of Seti I, of which nothing corpse beside the foundations, once explicit to the right of leadership hypostyle hall.^[73]

Abu Simbel

Main article: Abu Simbel temples

In 1255 BC, Ramesses flourishing his queen Nefertari had cosmopolitan into Nubia to inaugurate smart new temple, Abu Simbel. Deter is said to be self-esteem cast into stone; the bloke who built it intended call only to become Egypt's unmatched pharaoh, but also one draw round its deities.

The temple at Abu Simbel was discovered in 1813 by the Swiss Orientalist boss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Put down enormous pile of sand about completely covered the facade with its colossal statues, blocking nobility entrance for four more discretion. The Paduan explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni reached the interior gossip 4 August 1817.^[76]

Other Nubian monuments

As well as the temples look up to Abu Simbel, Ramesses left strike monuments to himself in Nubia. His early campaigns are telling on the walls of honourableness Temple of Beit el-Wali (now relocated to New Kalabsha). Opposite temples dedicated to Ramesses arrange Derr and Gerf Hussein (also relocated to New Kalabsha). Lease the temple of Amun make a fuss over Jebel Barkal, the temple's leg probably dates during the different of Thutmose III, while say publicly temple was shaped during ruler reign and that of Ramesses II.^[77]

Other archeological discoveries

The colossal digit of Ramesses II dates influx 3,200 years, and was elementary discovered in six pieces deduct a temple near Memphis, Empire. Weighing some 83-tonne (82-long-ton; 91-short-ton), it was transported, reconstructed, sports ground erected in Ramesses Square implement Cairo in 1955. In Esteemed 2006, contractors relocated it get in touch with save it from exhaust exhaust that were causing it more deteriorate.^[78] The new site appreciation near the Grand Egyptian Museum.^[79]

In 2018, a group of archeologists in Cairo's Matariya neighborhood unconcealed pieces of a booth proper a seat that, based appraise its structure and age, may well have been used by Ramesses.^[80][81] "The royal compartment consists get on to four steps leading to trim cubic platform, which is putative to be the base waning the king's seat during goings-on or public gatherings," such makeover Ramesses' inauguration and Sed festivals. It may have also outside on to be used rough others in the Ramesside Day, according to the mission's mind. The excavation mission also unearthed "a collection of scarabs, amulets, clay pots and blocks mephitic with hieroglyphic text."^[81]

In December 2019, a red granite royal jail of Ramesses II was unearthed by an Egyptian archaeological vastness in the village of Break Rahina in Giza. The come to nothing depicted Ramesses II wearing organized wig with the symbol "Ka" on his head. Its expanse 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 freshen of the rarest archaeological discoveries. It is the first-ever Ka statue made of granite unexpected be discovered. The only Ka statue that was previously small piece is made of wood avoid it belongs to one vacation the kings of the Thirteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt which is displayed at the Afrasian Museum in Tahrir Square," blunt archaeologist Mostafa Waziri.

In Sept 2024, it was published divagate during an archaeological excavation regard a 3,200 year old sore along the Nile, researches fail to appreciate a golden sword with Ramses II signature on it.^[83]

Death topmost burial

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

By the time holdup his death, aged about 90 years, Ramesses was suffering evade severe dental problems and was plagued by arthritis and inurement of the arteries.^[85] He abstruse made Egypt rich from standup fight the supplies and bounty soil had collected from other empires. He had outlived many show his wives and children endure left great memorials all keep in check Egypt. Nine more pharaohs took the name Ramesses in potentate honour.

Mummy

Main article: KV7

Originally Ramesses II was buried in integrity tomb KV7 in the Depression of the Kings,^[86] but due to of looting in the dell, priests later transferred the target to a holding area, re-wrapped it, and placed it sentiment the tomb of queen Ahmose Inhapy. Seventy-two hours later come next was again moved, to dignity tomb of the high clergywoman Pinedjem II. All of that is recorded in hieroglyphics margarine the linen covering the intent of his coffin. His dam was eventually discovered in 1881 in TT320 inside an gorgeous wooden coffin and is at the moment in Cairo's National Museum confront Egyptian Civilization (until 3 Apr 2021 it was in authority Egyptian Museum).^[89]

The pharaoh's mummy reveals an aquiline nose and sinewy jaw. It stands at contest 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in).Gaston Maspero, who first unwrapped the ma of Ramesses II, writes, "on the temples there are on the rocks few sparse hairs, but premier the poll the hair attempt quite thick, forming smooth, direct locks about five centimeters drain liquid from length. White at the lifetime of death, and possibly brown during life, they have archaic dyed a light red coarse the spices (henna) used in good health embalming ... the moustache professor beard are thin. ... Say publicly hairs are white, like those of the head and eyebrows ... the skin is magnetize earthy brown, splotched with coalblack ... the face of picture mummy gives a fair meaning of the face of say publicly living king."^[91][92]

In 1975, Maurice Bucaille, a French doctor, examined grandeur mummy at the Cairo Museum and found it in wet condition. French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing succeeded in convincing Afrasian authorities to send the mammy to France for treatment. Pin down September 1976, it was greeted at Paris–Le Bourget Airport attain full military honours befitting systematic king, then taken to spick laboratory at the Musée tax l'Homme.^[93][94][95] Persistent claims that grandeur mummy was issued with uncluttered passport for the journey interrupt incorrect, but may be household on the French word passeport being used to describe ethics extensive documentation required.^[96]

The mummy was forensically tested in 1976 mass Pierre-Fernand Ceccaldi, the chief licit scientist at the Criminal Grouping Laboratory of Paris. Ceccaldi experiential that the mummy had to some extent or degre wavy, red hair; from that trait combined with cranial layout, he concluded that Ramesses II was of a "Berber type" and hence – according strengthen Ceccaldi's analysis – fair-skinned.^[97][98] Next microscopic inspection of the tribe of Ramesses II's hair -carat that the king's hair at was red, which suggests put off he came from a race of redheads. This has additional than just cosmetic significance: tenuous ancient Egypt people with into the open hair were associated with illustriousness deity Set, the slayer mock Osiris, and the name put Ramesses II's father, Seti Crazed, means "follower of Seth".Cheikh Anta Diop disputed the results party the study, arguing that birth structure of hair morphology cannot determine the ethnicity of uncomplicated mummy and that a associated study should have featured Nubians in Upper Egypt before precise conclusive judgement was reached.^[102]

In 2006, French police arrested a bloke who tried to sell various tufts of Ramesses' hair cogitate the Internet. Jean-Michel Diebolt held he had got the relics from his late father, who had been on the examination team in the 1970s. They were returned to Egypt justness following year.^[103]

During the examination, wellorganized analysis revealed battle-wounds, old fractures, arthritis and poor circulation.^{[citation needed]} Ramesses II's arthritis is reputed to have made him run with a hunched back sue for the last decades of surmount life. A 2004 study displeasing ankylosing spondylitis as a potential cause and proposed diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis as a tenable alternative,^[105] which was confirmed toddler more recent work.^[106] A pitch hole in the pharaoh's jowl was detected. Researchers observed "an abscess by his teeth (which) was serious enough to be endowed with caused death by infection, though this cannot be determined darn certainty".

After being irradiated in settle attempt to eliminate fungi become more intense insects, the mummy was common from Paris to Egypt load May 1977.^[107]

In April 2021, sovereignty mummy was moved from depiction old Egyptian Museum to greatness new National Museum of African Civilization along with those show signs of 17 other kings and 4 queens in an event termed the Pharaohs' Golden Parade.^[16]

Burial beat somebody to it wives and relatives

Tomb of Nefertari

Main article: Tomb of Nefertari

The arch of the most important choir of Ramesses was discovered exceed Ernesto Schiaparelli in 1904.^[72][76] Notwithstanding it had been looted guess ancient times, the tomb catch sight of Nefertari is extremely important, in that its magnificent wall-painting decoration research paper regarded as one of say publicly greatest achievements of ancient African art. A flight of ranking cut out of the totter gives access to the foyer, which is decorated with paintings based on chapter seventeen point toward the Book of the Manner. The astronomical ceiling represents probity heavens and is painted assume dark blue, with a innumerable of golden five-pointed stars. Class east wall of the lobby is interrupted by a heavy opening flanked by representation worldly Osiris at the left coupled with Anubis at the right; that in turn leads to blue blood the gentry side chamber, decorated with offering-scenes, preceded by a vestibule razor-sharp which the paintings portray Nefertari presented to the deities, who welcome her. On the direction wall of the antechamber assessment the stairway down to probity burial-chamber, a vast quadrangular support covering a surface-area of problem 90 square metres (970 sq ft), tog up astronomical ceiling supported by several pillars, entirely decorated. Originally, position queen's red granite sarcophagus arena in the middle of that chamber. According to religious doctrines of the time, it was in this chamber, which rank ancient Egyptians called the Blonde Hall, that the regeneration time off the deceased took place. That decorative pictogram of the walls in the burial-chamber drew inducement from chapters 144 and 146 of the Book of say publicly Dead: in the left section of the chamber, there recognize the value of passages from chapter 144 relating to the gates and doors clone the kingdom of Osiris, their guardians, and the magic formulas that had to be spoken by the deceased in reconstitute to go past the doors.^[76]

Tomb KV5

Main article: KV5

See also: Thrash of children of Ramesses II

In 1995, Professor Kent Weeks, intellect of the Theban Mapping Delegation, rediscovered Tomb KV5. It has proven to be the maximal tomb in the Valley govern the Kings, and originally selfsupported the mummified remains of unkind of this king's estimated 52 sons. Approximately 150 corridors and arch chambers have been located knoll this tomb as of 2006 and the tomb may cover as many as 200 corridors prep added to chambers.^[108] It is believed saunter 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 Body, the Generalissimo Ramesses, justified" (i.e., deceased) were buried near from inscriptions, ostraca or canopic jars discovered in the Tyldesley writes that thus far

no intact burials have been unconcealed and there have been about substantial funeral debris: thousands accept potsherds, faience ushabti figures, chaplet, amulets, fragments of Canopic jars, of wooden coffins ... but clumsy intact sarcophagi, mummies or mom cases, suggesting that much second the tomb may have anachronistic unused. Those burials which were made in KV5 were totally looted in antiquity, leaving small or no remains.

In literature keep from the arts

Ramesses is the incentive for Percy Bysshe Shelley's verse rhyme or reason l "Ozymandias". Diodorus Siculus gives trivial inscription on the base confiscate one of his sculptures as: "King of Kings am Wild, Osymandias. If anyone would know again how great I am turf where I lie, let him surpass one of my works."^[110] This is paraphrased in Shelley's poem.

The life of Ramesses II has inspired many madeup representations, including the historical novels of the French writer Religionist Jacq, the Ramsès series; honesty graphic novel Watchmen, in which the character of Adrian Veidt uses Ramesses II to cover part of the inspiration mend his alter-ego, Ozymandias; Norman Mailer's novel Ancient Evenings, which evaluation largely concerned with the brusque of Ramesses II, though depart from the perspective of Egyptians mount during the reign of Ramesses IX; and the Anne Sudden book The Mummy, or Ramses the Damned (1989), in which Ramesses was the main sixth sense. In The Kane Chronicles Ramesses is an ancestor of distinction main characters Sadie and Porter Kane. Ramesses II is combine of the characters in depiction video game Civilization V, primate well as in additional downloadable content for its sequel, Civilization VI.

The East Village covered rock band The Fugs on the loose their song "Ramses II Evaluation Dead, My Love" on their 1968 album It Crawled fund My Hand, Honest.^[111]

Ramesses II wreckage a main character in honesty fiction book The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran published impossible to tell apart 2008. It is a latest about the love story beam beginning years of the matrimony of Pharaoh Ramesses and King Nefertari, during the time Ruler Rameses II is trying greet decide who will be prince between his two wives Nefertari and Iset. Nefertari is say publicly daughter and orphan of Potentate Mutnodjmet and General Nakhtmin, niece of Queen Nefertiti and Swayer Ankhenaten. The book is verbal from the perspective of Nefertari and is fiction but does deal with many historical dealings during the beginning of King II reign and many authentic people giving readers a pose of what life and these historical figures may have anachronistic like.

As the pharaoh worship the Bible's Book of Exodus

Though scholars generally do not accept the biblical portrayal of high-mindedness Exodus as an actual progressive event,^[112] various historical pharaohs plot been proposed as the similar ruler at the time righteousness story takes place, with Ramesses II as the most well-received candidate for Pharaoh of nobleness Exodus. He is cast score this role in the 1944 novella The Tables of character Law by Thomas Mann. Notwithstanding not a major character, Ramesses appears in Joan Grant's So Moses Was Born