Who was Ramses II?

What makes a king truly powerful?

Ramses II (1303–1213 B.C.) knew power wasn’t just about military might but could be multiplied through diplomacy and PR. His massive building projects like the temples at Karnak and Abu Simbel were not just engineering feats; they were the embodiment of his vision for a big and united Egypt. Ramses II’s construction of monuments and statues combined with his record number of kids made him the “king of kings”. He left more behind in stone than any other pharaoh and is forever known as Ramses the Great. Under his 66 year reign Egypt was at its peak of power and glory, a period we now call the golden age of ancient Egypt and there are another landamrks in cairo you can book and visit it through Egypt Tours provide you with numerous suggestions

Ramses II’s rise to greatness was based on his family’s rise to power, starting with his grandfather Ramses I. A commoner by birth, Ramses I earned his place in the royal family through his military prowess. His son Seti I continued to build Egypt’s wealth, opened the mines and quarries, and fortified the northern border against the Hittites from modern day Turkey. When Ramses II ascended to the throne at 14 years old the Hittites saw their chance and tested the young king by invading and taking the strategic trading town of Kadesh in modern day syria and if you like the Ancient history and want to know more about it Egypt Travel Packages wll give many trips in many countries to book them

ramses II led the charge to retake Kadesh but was duped by Hittite spies who told him the hittite army was far from the egyptian camp In reality the hittites were hiding in ambush nearby and pounced the egyptians were about to be destroyed when reinforcements arrived just in time to turn the tables Ramses II claimed victory in the battle but lost the war

Who was Ramses II the Pharaoh?

Ramses II’s troops retreated from Kadesh but he wasn’t going to let the truth get in the way of his victory. He ordered murals on the temple walls of Egypt to show himself as the lone hero defeating the enemy. But the reality was far more complicated. After years of negotiations Ramses II and the Hittites signed the first peace treaty in history and the text still exists today. The treaty included the extradition of refugees and neither side would seek revenge when they returned. They would also support each other in case of foreign or domestic threats. One version of the treaty is inscribed on a stela in the temple of Karnak and another on a clay tablet in Akkadian was found in Turkey in 1906. The importance of this treaty is shown by the fact that a copy of the tablet is on display at the United Nations headquarters in New York and also you can visit another landmarks in luxor through Luxor Day Tours give you many suggestions to choose from and when you are in luxor you can visit Sound and Light through this trip Sound and Light show at Karnak Temple it only one day and it costs $45 , also if you want to travel with your family and send quality time with each other Egypt Family Tours provide you with many suggestions to choose from

LIVING UP TO HIS GREATNESS

As a peace offering to the Hittites, Ramses II married the king’s eldest daughter. She joined the pharaoh’s already large household, his beloved chief queen Nefertari and his many many children – Ramses had over 100 kids. They lived in his new capital Per Ramessu, a city named after him

ramses II’s wealth is shown through his massive building projects the biggest of any pharaoh. Among Egypt’s most famous monuments the temples at Karnak and Abu Simbel are a testament to his building skills His funerary temple the Ramesseum was not only a monument but also a library with around 10,000 papyrus scrolls. He also completed the temples at Abydos for himself and his father and there are also afforable trips Egypt Budget Tours give you many offers to choose from

despite all Ramses II’s attempts to make sure his legacy would last, one thing he never could have predicted would happen. After he died nine pharaohs in a row took his name when they became pharaoh. he became known as “the Great” among Egypt’s rulers for centuries to come

No one will ever question who built the temple at Abu Simbel. Four giant seated statues of Ramses himself stand guard at the entrance each over 60 feet tall. The temple dedicated to the sun gods goes 185 feet into the cliff through three big halls. The walls inside are filled with scenes of ramses II’s victory at Kadesh and Ramses and Nefertari presenting offerings to the sun gods. And as a bonus Ramses had a second smaller temple built nearby dedicated to nefertari you should plan your trip during your vacation in egypt Egypt Vacation Tours provide you with many recommendations to help you choose and enjoy during your stay in Egypt

abu Simbel was hidden away for centuries until 1813. In 1959 as the aswan High dam was about to flood the site UNESCO launched a major rescue mission over 20 years the temples of Abu simbel were taken apart and reassembled stone by stone 200 feet higher and further inland on the cliff This was to save one of Egypt’s most famous monuments for the future and we have trip to high dam you can book it with us Aswan Tour High Dam Philae Temple and obelisk this trip alsi for only one day and it costs $40 and you can not only visit the high dam but also Philae Temple and obelisk

Prince Khaemwaset

Of the over 100 children of Ramses II, Khaemwaset is a standout. As the high priest of Ptah, the god of Memphis, he was a big deal. Bas-reliefs show him tending the tombs of Ptah’s sacred Apis bulls in the underground complex of the Serapeum. Khaemwaset’s legacy goes far beyond his priestly duties. He’s one of the earliest known archaeologists. He was fascinated by the Old Kingdom monuments that surrounded Memphis and he restored several temples and pyramids. In a pioneering move, he inscribed the names and titles of the original builders on these monuments, along with his own and his father’s names, so he was honouring the past and his family. His scholarship and preservation of Egypt’s heritage earned him a lasting reputation. Even a thousand years after his death he was considered a learned man and the subject of stories about his achievements.