Ramesses II 335TAUR(or Pentauret) on the walls of KARNAKand in the
SALLIER PAPYRUS III.
That particular campaign provided a temporary truce
but then continued in a series of three phases. After
pushing the Egyptian domain to Beirut, (modern
Lebanon), Ramesses II met the enemy at Kadesh. Later he
battled to recover Palestine, which had been encouraged
to revolt. Lastly, Ramesses II conquered Hittite lands far
from Egypt and deep inside the enemy’s empire, bringing
the Hittites to the treaty table.
At Per-Ramesses, the new capital of Egypt, Ramesses
II enlarged the royal residence, adding doorways, bal-
conies, throne rooms, and chambers. These new areas
were decorated with faience tiles and statues. He also
built ABU SIMBEL, south of ASWAN, and temples in DERRin
NUBIA(modern Sudan), and in ABYDOS. In his 21st regnal
year, he formed an alliance to repel the SEA PEOPLESand
the Assyrians. Karnak and the RAMESSEUMbenefited from
his generosity and sense of style.
Ramesses II’s wives and consorts were many, number-
ing 200 in some periods of his reign. His “Great Wife,”
his favorite, was NEFERTARI-Merymut, who probably mar-
ried him before he became a royal prince. She bore him
children and was honored in a temple at ABU SIMBEL.
When she retired to the harem villa at MI-WERin the
FAIYUM, ISETNOFRET(1) became the leading queen. When
she died or retired, her daughter, BINT-ANATH, and Nefer-
tari’s daughter, MERYT AMUN(1), became queens. Other
favorites were MA’AT-HORNEFRURÉ, probably a Hittite
princess, and NEBT-TAW Y(1).
Ramesses had more than 100 sons and numerous
daughters. His sons were named individually as the heir
to the throne and then predeceased their father, resulting
in MERENPTAH’s succession as the thirteenth offspring des-
ignated as crown prince. Some of the sons who have been
identified over the centuries were Montuhirkhopshef
(or Montuhirwenemuf), Neben-Kharru, Mery-Amun,
Amun-wia, Seti, Setep-en-Ré, Mery-ré, Hor-her-wenemuf,
Amenhotep, Itamun, Mery-Atum-Ramesses and KHA’EM-
WESET(1).
A unique megatomb, the largest and most intriguing
burial site in the VALLEY OF THE KINGSat Thebes, was
erected as the grave of Ramesses II’s royal sons. Recently
uncovered, this tomb has pillared halls, T-shaped corri-
dors, and separate chambers. Some 67 chambers with
wall paintings have been discovered thus far, leading to
another level of the structure that promises additional
chambers.
He was possibly deified at the celebration of his first
heb-sed, or at the commemoration of his coronation.
Ramesses II married a daughter of the Hittite ruler HAT-
TUSILIS III, probably MA’AT HORNEFRURÉ, in 1257 B.C.E.
Statues and other monuments continued to honor him
throughout Egypt. When he died, MERENPTAH, his thir-
teenth son and heir, placed him in a tomb in the Valley of
the Kings at Thebes. This large tomb was long and highly
decorated. The end chambers are at an angle to the
entrance corridors. His mummified remains, however,
had to be removed to keep them safe from robbers. His
original tomb was possibly flooded before he died, as two
such monuments bear his name in the Valley of the
Kings.
Discovered in the mummy cache in DEIR EL-BAHRIin
1881, Ramesses II’s remains were wrapped in floral gar-
lands. He had red hair, possibly the result of the mummi-
fication process, and his body was beautifully wrapped in
a cedarwood coffin. The mummy shows that he suffered
from smallpox at one time. He had a patrician nose and
was six feet in height. His face had jutting eyebrows,
thick lashes, a strong jaw, and round ears. His genital
organs had been removed and placed in a statue of the
god OSIRIS, probably as an act of reverence for the deity
SET, the patron of his family’s original home. His muscles
were atrophied from age, and he suffered from arte-
riosclerosis.Suggested Readings:Healy, Mark. The Warrior Pharaoh:
Ramesses II and the Battle of Quadesh.London: OspreyRamesses II depicted in a colossal statue in Luxor temple
(Courtesy Steve Beikirch.)