Ramsses II, The greatest world king
by hamdyIf, today, at the end of the twentieth century, one were to ask the average person to name an Egyptian pharaoh, the reply would probably be, "Tutankhamon." This, of course, is due to the highly unusual discovery by Howard Carter in 1922 of the child-kings small but almost intact tomb. Tutankhamon died at age 17. Outside of the contents of his tomb, little is known of his reign, and he is not considered to be a pharaoh of major importance. Returning to our "name that pharaoh" question, if the average person were to be able to name a second pharaoh, it would almost surely be Ramses II. Even if little importance is currently placed on knowledge of ancient history, legends of this great ruler still live on. Many may remember him from Shellys famous, if historically inaccurate, poem, "Ozymandias." Some associate him with "Pharaoh" from the Biblical story of the Exodus. A series of best selling novels has recently been written based on the life of Ramses II. Finally, the astute history student will know that Ramses II, popularly known as "Ramses the Great," built more temples, statues and obelisks than any other pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
In an effort to handle the 3000 years of Egyptian history which includes 170 or so pharaohs, Egyptologists have divided Ancient Egypt into Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom, with intermediate periods in between. The system of dynasties dates back to the third century BC, when the High Priest of Heliopolis, Manetho, defined the basic Egyptian chronology still in use today. Ramses II ruled for 67 years during the 13th Century BC. He was a pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty, during the New Kingdom. When the young Ramses came to power, 1300 years had already passed since the time of the Fourth Dynasty, the dynasty which is traditionally associated with the famous pyramids and Sphinx of the Giza plateau (although much evidence suggests that they were constructed many years before even the first historical dynasty).
Great deeds by Ramses II
Ramses led army against old Egyptian enemies, the Hittites
nobody won battle, but Ramses claimed victory
negotiated fi rst-known peace treaty with Hittites
Built city called House of Ramses with four 66-foot statues of self
wanted to appear godlike
Reigned until age 90, 1213 B.C.
66-year reign was among history longest, stabilized government
Reign was time of peace—no enemies after Hittite treaty
Nile flooding was predictable during reign, crops were plentiful
Read in:
Ramses II (Family life and childhood of King Ramses II)
Egypt under King Ramses II
Ramses II (King Ramses II, Foreign affairs)
Ramses II (Death and Burial of King Ramses II)
Champollion
Rosetta Stone
Daily Life In Ancient Egypt
Valley of the Kings
Saqqara
Medinet Habu
Luxor
Karnak
Aswan
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