Ramesses II

From ArchaeoWiki

Colossal granite bust of Ramesses II from the Ramesseum, now in the British Museum (the 'Younger Memnon')

Ramesses II (commonly known as "Ramesses the Great") was the third ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty in the New Kingdom period of Egypt and the second and best known Egyptian ruler to hold the name Ramesses. Ramesses II ruled Egypt for an unprecedented 67 years in the 13th century BCE, succeeded eventually by his thirteenth son, Merneptah.

Accession

Ramesses II acceded to the throne of Egypt with the death of his father Seti I, aged approximately 25 years. Amongst the new king's first duties was the overseeing of the mummification and burial of his father in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Family

Blood Relatives

The queen mother Tuya, wife of the deceased Seti I, was accorded a prominent place in the early reign of Ramesses II. Statues of Tuya in her role of queen mother were, for example, erected in the Ramesseum and at Piramesse—a fine example exists in the Vatican Museum in Rome. Tuya lived for some length of time into her son's reign, surviving to celebrate the Hittite Peace Treaty in Year 21 and sending official greetings to the court of Ḫatti. Ramesses had a large tomb prepared for his mother in the Valley of the Queens, which resting place she eventually filled sometime in his Year 22.

Wives

Ramesses II possessed two wives of principal importance: the chief consort Nefertari and her associate queen Istnofret.

Syrian Campaigns

"First Victorious Campaign"

"Second Victorious Campaign"

The Battle of Qadesh

Building Program

The colossi of Ramesses II at the entrance to the rock temple of Abu Simbel, as seen by David Roberts in 1839.

Ramesses II embarked upon an ambitious temple building program in Nubia, erecting or embellishing temples at Beit el-Wali, Gerf Hussein, el-Sebua, Amada, el-Derr, Aniba, Aksha and Amara West. Perhaps the most spectacular of Ramesses II's accomplishments in Nubia, however, was the double temple complex at Abu Simbel.

The interior of the Temple of Abu Simbel, as seen by David Roberts in 1839.

Death and Burial

Ramesses II was interred in his purpose-built tomb in the Valley of the Kings, designated KV 7.

Bibliography

• Brand, Peter J. [2007], “Ideological Imperatives: Irrational Factors in Egyptian-Hittite Relations under Ramesses II”, in Kousoulis, P. and Magliveras, K. (eds), Moving Across Borders: Foreign Relations, Religion and Cultural Interactions in the Ancient Mediterranean, [Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 159], Leuven: Peeters, 2007, 15-33. ISBN 9789042918719 pdf

• Edel, Elmar [1997], Der Vertrag zwischen Ramses II. von Ägypten und Hattušili III. von Hatti, [Wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichung der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft 95], Berlin: Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft, 1997. ISBN 3786119449

• Kitchen, Kenneth A. [1983], Pharaoh Triumphant: Life and Times of Ramesses II, King of Egypt, Warminster: Aris & Philips, 1983. ISBN 0856682152 (pbk)

• Klengel, H. [2002], Hattuschili und Ramses—Hethiter und Ägypter—ihr langer Weg zum Frieden, [Kulturgeschichte der antiken Welt 95], Mainz am Rhein: Philipp von Zabern, 2002. ISBN 3805329172

• Ockinga, Boyo G. [1987], “On the Interpretation of the Kadesh Record”, CdÉ 62 (1987), pp.38-48.

• Spalinger, A. [1979], "Traces of the Early Career of Ramesses II", JNES 38.4 (1979), pp.271-286.

• Yoyotte, "La stèle de Ramesses II à Keswe et sa signification historique", BSFE 144 (1999), pp.48-54.

External links

• KV 7 (Ramesses II) - Theban Mapping Project Online Atlas Valley of the Kings