Statue of Ramses

Statue of Ramses

Introduction: Ramses II (Ramessēs II, 1314 BC – 1237 BC), pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of ancient Egypt (reigned 1304 BC – 1237 BC), ruled during the final period of prosperity in the New Kingdom of Egypt. He was the son of Pharaoh Seti I. Ramses II launched a series of military campaigns to restore Egyptian control over Palestine. He came into conflict with the Hittites, another powerful empire of the time, in Syria. The two sides fought the famous Battle of Kadesh in 1286 BC, where Ramses II was at a disadvantage but ordered it to be portrayed as a great victory. The war with the Hittites continued until 1270 BC, ultimately ending with Ramses II signing a peace treaty with Hittite King Hattusili III. This document is considered one of the earliest known international agreements in history, with both the Egyptian and Hittite versions preserved and discovered by modern scholars. Possibly out of concern for the military strength of the Hittites, Ramses II ordered the construction of a new city in the northeastern Nile Delta as the capital, naming it Pi-Ramesses (meaning "House of Ramses"). Ramses II is perhaps the most famous pharaoh of Egypt. His passion for grand construction projects left his mark all over Egypt: he built numerous temples in Abydos and Ramsesium, added new structures to the temples of Karnak and Luxor, and constructed the magnificent Temple of Abu Simbel. Many structures built by earlier pharaohs were also inscribed with his name. Ramses II had an equally large family: he had about half a dozen wives, over ninety concubines, and several of his sons were given important roles. Ramses II is undoubtedly one of the most significant pharaohs in Egyptian history. However, his reign marked the eve of Egypt’s decline, and the enormous national expenditures accelerated the weakening of the state. After Ramses II’s death, Egypt began its decline.

Cairo, Egypt