History

Ramesses II was the third pharaoh of Egypt’s 19th Dynasty, after his father, Seti I, and grandfather Ramesses I. He is sometimes referred to as “Ramesses the Great” (or just “The Great”). At age 14, he began joining his father on military campaigns; by 22, he was leading his own campaigns as co-ruler with his father. When Seti I died, Ramesses II assumed full authority.

Ramesses II is known for his architectural achievements, including large statues, the temples at Abu Simbel, and his own temple. The city of Rameses is named after him (Gen 47:11; Exod 1:11; Num 33:3, 5).

During his fifth year as pharaoh, Ramesses II fought the Hittites, led by Muwatalli II, in the battle of Kadesh, which ended with heavy casualties on both sides. Although Ramesses II wrote of his victory in the “Poem of Pentaur” (Gardiner, The Kadesh Inscriptions of Ramesses II, 2–4), this account of the battle appears to be biased in Egypt’s favor. Scholarly assessments of the outcome range from an Egyptian win, to a draw, to an Egyptian defeat (Hasel, “Domination and Resistance,” 155).

Ramesses II reigned in “godlike splendor” after making peace with the Hittites (Kitchen, Pharaoh Triumphant, 206). Toward the end of his reign, he compared himself with the Egyptian sun god Re and even went so far as to consider himself the manifestation of Re. In his later years, Ramesses II sought to renew his kingly powers through magical rites performed every three years (Kitchen, Pharaoh Triumphant, 206). He also began living at different palaces across Egypt in order to remain in a climate favorable to his health.

Ramesses II died in 1213 bc after ruling 67 years as pharaoh (or 75 years, when his princely reign is included). His body was submitted to a 70-day ritual of embalming for mummification and was buried at Thebes, in the Valley of the Kings.