Ramses II

By Aaron

October 11, 2004

Ramses II, the son of the Egyptian Pharaoh Seti I, was born in 1313 BC. Growing up he learned to fight boldly and fought on many campaigns against neighboring enemy territories. When Ramses was thirty-three years old his father died. So, he assumed the throne as the third ruler of the 19^th dynasty.

In order for Ramses II’s reign to be established as strong he had to show his power. So after four years as pharaoh, he started a long and hard war against the Syrians. In one of these many battles he almost lost his life. He and his men were heading toward a city when out of nowhere they were ambushed. All of Ramses’ men fled except his bodyguards. Charging straightforward he slashed left and right hoping that in the confusion he could escape through the flanks. After barely breaking though the enemy lines he rounded up his men and returned to battle. Another memorable time from this war was the famous Battle of Kadesh, which is inscribed on one of the walls in his many temples. But ironically, the military feat he is most known for is the peace treaty he made with the Syrians.

Ramses was a man of numbers. Besides his two hundred wives, ninety-six sons, and sixty daughters, he also had hundreds of monuments. One of these is the temple Abu Simbel, a colossus built for him and his wife Nifratari. In 1960 it was threatened by flooding from the Aswan High Dam. But, because of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization it was relocated, piece by piece, back out of the danger zone. There are more statues of Ramses II then any other pharaoh. One way he accomplished this feat was to find old statues and have the original name chiseled out and his name inscribed on it.

Although Ramses II did many great things, it is a common belief that he was bad for Egypt because of his immense focus on statues. He was one of the last kings of Egypt to rule before its fall. He died, at the age of ninety-six, in 1217 BC.