Ramesses II, also known as “ Ramses the Great ” and Ozymandias (in Greek), was one of the most powerful and important pharaohs of Ancient Egypt . He reigned around the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty, in the period known as the New Kingdom .
The pharaoh was a notable military leader , famous for his campaigns against the Hittites, Libyans, Nubians and Syrians. He expanded Egypt’s borders northwards into Syria and southwards into Nubia.
In addition to being a great strategist, the pharaoh also stood out for ordering the construction of several grand temples and monuments , such as the Temple of Abu Simbel, the Ramesseum, the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak.
Ramesses II’s reign was long, lasting about 66 years. This period represented the final peak of the Egyptian kingdom’s power and prosperity. The pharaoh had several wives and children , and his line continued to rule Egypt for several generations after his death.
History of Ramses II
Grandson of General Ramses I and son of Pharaoh Seti I and Queen Tuya, Ramses II enjoyed a privileged education from an early age. At the age of ten, he was named heir to the throne, assuming the title of “Eldest Son of the King”. From an early age, he accompanied his father on military campaigns, learning the arts of war and leadership.
Wives and children
The pharaoh had several wives and many children (about 100). Nefertari , his most famous wife, bore him several children, including his firstborn, Amenhotep .
Another important wife was Iseteneferte, with whom he had children such as Ramesses (who shared his name) and the princes Kaemwaseth and Merneptah. The latter became his successor due to the premature death of other sons in the plague of the firstborns.
In addition, Ramesses II married his sister (or possibly his daughter) Henuthmir, and three of his daughters, Meritammon, Benthanath, and Nebethathui.
After peace with the Hittites, he also married a Hittite princess named Maatorneferure. Seven years later, he married another Hittite princess.
Death of Ramses II
Ramesses the Great died around the age of ninety , after a long reign. His death marked the end of a golden age for Egypt, which still managed to maintain control over Canaan and Sinai until the end of the 19th dynasty.
He was buried in the Valley of the Kings , the preferred resting place of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom. His tomb was grand, larger than that of his father. However, the decoration was not as rich, and today the tomb is in a state of disrepair. Most of the objects from the funerary treasure are scattered throughout museums around the world.
In 1881, the mummy of Ramses II was found in a mass grave at Deir Elbari. Four years later, it was transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where it remains to this day.
Ramses II and the Biblical Exodus
Ramesses II is commonly associated with the pharaoh of the Exodus, a biblical narrative in which the Israelites, led by Moses, escaped slavery in Egypt.
Although the biblical description aligns with the pharaoh’s reputation as a powerful and ruthless leader, his relationship to the Exodus is complex and widely debated by archaeologists, historians, and biblical scholars.
First, there is no evidence in Egyptian records that explicitly mentions the Exodus or Moses. This raises doubts about the historicity of the event or suggests that it may have been exaggerated or reinterpreted.
Another factor that raises debate is the dating of the Exodus . The traditional dates for the biblical event do not exactly coincide with the reign of Ramesses II. According to traditional calculations, the Exodus occurred around 1446 BC, while Ramesses II reigned from 1279 to 1213 BC. Some scholars propose other pharaohs as candidates, such as Thutmose III or Akhenaten.
