King Ramses II

King Ramses II

King Ramses II

King Ramses II: An Introduction

King Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, was one of the most well known and powerful pharaohs in ancient Egypt. His remarkable 66-year reign, from 1279 to 1213 BCE, represents extraordinary length of time, might, architectural majesty, and legacy. As the 3rd-pharaoh of Egypt’s 19th Dynasty, Ramses II’s legacy can be seen in Egypt today.

Although Ramses II is typically remembered for his role as the warrior, builder, and as an image-maker, he was also an astute leader and propagandist. His name and likeness can be found on temples, statues, and inscriptions all over Egypt, reinforcing the notion of him as a god-king to his people.

Early Development and Rise to the Throne

Ramses, who was likely born in 1303 BCE as the son of the Pharaoh Seti I and Queen Tuya, had been raised for leadership since birth, and was made co-regent with his father before he was twenty. By the time Seti I died, Ramses II inherited a strong and stable kingdom, further expanding it and glorifying his dynasty with war efforts.

Seti I had a tradition of temple building as well as war efforts, and Ramses II took part of that tradition and made it his own by starting his own projects while continuing the campaigns initiated by Seti, in the Levant region and into Nubia.

Military Campaigns and the Battle of Kadesh

Ramses II is likely most recognized for his military campaigns; in particular the Battle of Kadesh, which took place against the Hittite Empire c. 1274 BCE and it is one of the best-preserved battles from the ancient world, and was later celebrated in inscriptions commissioned by Ramses.

While the battle did not end in a decisive military victory, Ramses, in the tradition of royal propaganda, proclaimed it to have been a great victory, while emphasizing his personal bravery and divine protection. The heroic imagery at temples like Abu Simbel and Luxor shows him single-handedly charging into battle, slaughtering the enemy dozens at a time—a magnificent piece of royal propaganda.

Later in Ramses II’s reign, he signed a peace treaty with the Hittites; the peace treaty is one of the earliest known instances of the intention of two parties to coexist peacefully. This ended years of hostilities and ushered in a long period of cooperation and stability between the two empires.

Monumental Architecture

Few rulers in history have erected as much or as drastically as Ramses II. The architectural legacy of Ramses II is enormous and still visible throughout Egypt today. Some of his most famous constructions include:

  • The Temples of Abu Simbel: These rock-cut temples in Nubia (modern-day Southern Egypt) were carved out of a bluff and aligned to allow sunlight to enter twice a year illuminating the inner sanctuary. They served as an exhibition of Egyptian power and respect towards the gods.
  • The Ramesseum: Located in Thebes (modern-day Luxor), the Ramesseum was a mortuary temple built for Ramses II. It originally had colossal statues, which circled units for inscriptions and storerooms for offerings, and anything else that would have belonged to the daily workings of the temple.
  • His additions to Karnak and Luxor temples: Ramses II expanded many temples, and either he personally expanded them or he left his name and what he did carved wherever he could.

Ramses II was engaged in monumental architecture, not just for religious devotion, but as a way to immortalize his reign for future generations.

Family and Personal Life

Ramses II had an extensive royal family—with estimates claiming he had more than 100 children plus several main wives, including his most famous queen, Nefertari, who he built a magnificently decorated tomb for in the Valley of the Queens, featuring elaborate bright scenes of the afterlife.

In fact, Ramses seemed to hold Nefertari in as much esteem as for her accomplishments, by that he built her a temple at Abu Simbel of equal splendor and size to his own, which is an almost unheard of honor for a pharaoh.

Death and Legacy

Ramses II passed away in 1213 BCE at approximately 90 years of age—an astounding age for the era. His extended reign brought Egypt a sense of stability and continuity, prompting his successors to try to replicate his achievements.

Upon his passing, Ramses II was laid to rest in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The tomb was ultimately discovered, and the remains are currently held at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo.

Egyptians throughout history, and even today, have conceived Ramses II to be the model of the great pharaoh. It has been suggested that Ramses II himself may have provided the inspiration for the biblical figure of the Pharaoh in the story of Exodus, though this remains a point of scholarly debate.

Why Learn About Ramses II?

To understand Ramses II is to understand the apex of ancient Egypt's power and ambition. Ramses II brought military might, religious devotion, and a heightened sense of royal image-making to his reign. He associated 'longevity' and 'immortality' with a strong propaganda campaign–from massive temple complexes to everlasting peace treaties, he defined the Egypt we still appreciate.

We are fortunate to have the evidence of his monuments–particularly Abu Simbel, Luxor, or Karnak–to give us a remarkable insight into the worldview of a leader who operated under the self-perception of being not only kingly but divine. 

Ramses II is a testament to what one man can achieve when power, vision and legacy are unified.

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