description Pharaoh Ramesses II Overview
Ramesses II was a pharaoh of Egypt's Nineteenth Dynasty who reigned for more than six decades during the thirteenth century BCE. He fought the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh and later concluded a surviving Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty, one of the earliest such agreements known from written records. His extensive building program included the temples at Abu Simbel, additions at Karnak and Luxor, and the mortuary temple called the Ramesseum.
insights Ranking position
Pharaoh Ramesses II ranks #25 of 221 in the Monarch ranking, behind Tsar Peter I the Great, ahead of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
help Pharaoh Ramesses II FAQ
Who actually won the Battle of Kadesh under Ramesses II?
Ramesses II presented Kadesh as a personal triumph, while the Hittites retained control of the disputed city after the battle. Modern historians generally treat the clash with Muwatalli II as strategically inconclusive.
What did the peace treaty between Ramesses II and the Hittites contain?
The agreement between Ramesses II and Hattusili III promised peace, mutual assistance, and the return of fugitives. Egyptian and Akkadian versions survive, making it one of the earliest substantially preserved international peace treaties.
Why are there four statues of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel?
Four seated colossi of Ramesses dominate the facade of the Great Temple at Abu Simbel, projecting royal and divine power near Egypt's southern frontier. A neighboring temple honors the goddess Hathor and Ramesses' principal wife, Nefertari.
How was Ramesses II related to Seti I?
Ramesses II was the son and successor of Pharaoh Seti I of the Nineteenth Dynasty. He completed or enlarged monuments associated with his father, including work at Abydos and the great hypostyle hall at Karnak.
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