After his death, nine subsequent pharaohs took his name upon ascending the throne, solidifying his stature as “the great” among Egypt’s rulers. He honored both his father and himself by completing temples at Abydos.įor all of Ramses II’s efforts to ensure his legacy would live on, there was one testament to his power he could not have foreseen. His funerary temple, the Ramesseum, contained a massive library of some 10,000 papyrus scrolls. Ramses II was the third pharaoh of ancient Egypt’s 19th dynasty, reigning from 1279 to 1213 BCE. The temples at Karnak and Abu Simbel are among Egypt’s greatest wonders. The wealth of Ramses II’s reign is evident in his opulent building campaign, the largest undertaken by any pharaoh. ( See inside the wedding of Ramses II and the Hittite princess.) She joined him, Nefertari (his chief queen), and his enormous family-he sired more than a hundred children-at his new capital, Per Ramessu, aptly, though audaciously, named after himself.

LIVING UP TO HIS GREATNESSĪs a sign of diplomatic good faith, Ramses II married the eldest daughter of the Hittite king. How long did Ramses II rule He led several expeditions and focused on accomplishing his goals. King Seti I gave the crown to Prince Ramses who turned to Ramses II. He is the mightiest third pharaoh of the nineteenth dynasty of Egypt. The significance of this peace treaty is reflected in the fact that a replica of the tablet is on display at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Ramses II is one of the most powerful and influential Pharaohs’ to have ruled Egypt in its golden age. A second copy, written in Akkadian on a clay tablet, was discovered in Turkey in 1906. One copy of the treaty, in hieroglyphics, was carved on a stela in the temple of Karnak. Further, they agreed to aid one another if attacked by foreign or domestic enemies. Among its articles, both sides agreed to extradite refugees and not exact retribution after their return. It was the earliest peace accord whose text has survived. In reality, after years of negotiation, Ramses II eventually signed a peace treaty with the Hittites. On temple walls across Egypt, he ordered the creation of murals depicting him single-handedly defeating the aggressors. His battered troops withdrew from Kadesh, but Ramses wasn’t about to let a little truth tarnish his perceived triumph. But what was its lasting impact? Learn how Ancient Egypt contributed to society with its many cultural developments, particularly in language and mathematics. The Ancient Egyptian civilization, famous for its pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, and tombs, flourished for thousands of years.

Pharaoh ramses ii