Which Ramses Are You Talking About
There are eleven Ramses in Ancient Egyptian history, but this article is just about one out of the many, my favorite. One of the most famous Ancient Egyptian pharaohs is Ramses II (sometimes spelt Ramesses), next to King Tut. When I was in the 7th grade, I had a computer class where my teacher assigned us a paper-project to do a four page paper on a Black or African person for Black History Month. In honor of one of my favorite subjects, Ancient Egypt, I did my paper-project on the Pharaoh Ramses II of the nineteenth Dynasty.
Childhood and Teenage Years
Ramses was born around the year 1304 B.C. Ramses came to the throne at an early age and severed as coregent (co-ruler) with his father Seti I. As a boy, Ramses participated with his father, Seti I, in the wars against the Hittites. He also learned from his father how to govern successfully. At age 22, Ramses went on a campaign in Nubia with his own two sons. Seti I and Ramses build palaces in Avaris where Ramses I (Ramses II’s grandfather) had started a new capital.
Adulthood
When Seti I died in 1290 B.C., Ramses assumed the throne at age 25, in 1279 or 1290 B.C., and began a series of wars against the Syrians. The famous Battle of Kadesh is inscribed in the walls of Ramses’s tomb. Early in his reign, about in his fifth year, he fought an indecisive battle against the Hittites. The battle was his most famous one at Kadesh, turning imminent defeat into victory.
Ramses and his four army divisions, the Amum, Ra, Ptah, and Set units, moved north toward their enemy. On the way they captured two men that claimed to be on the Pharaoh’s side. The Egyptians told that the Hittites were still far north, but in truth they were lying. Shortly after two Hittites were captured, confused that their forces were much closer and going to surprise attack. The enemy appeared, Ramses boarded his chariot, but two divisions fled the Pharaoh. There was war between these two nations for another 15 years. After a while in the year 1269 B.C. both rulers decided on a contract, sealed with Ramses marrying a Hittite princess, the Hittite king’s daughter Manefrure (Maathhronefurure).
Ramses’s family life was mostly around women, Ramses had as many women as his heart desired. The women did everything for Ramses, including dancing for him. Ramses II was the most powerful king of all of Ancient Egypt, and his Queens were his greatest supporters. Ramses had about 200 wives and concubines, but his favorite and first wife-queen was Nefertari. Her tomb is one of the finest in the Valley of Kings. Ramses had eight principle wives, first being Nefertari, second was Istnofret, third was Bint-Anath (daughter of Istnofret), fourth was Meryetamun (daughter of Nefertari), fifth was Nebettawy, sixth was humutmire (Ramses’s sister or daughter), seventh was Maathorneferure (1st Hittite Princess), and the eight is unknown (2nd Hittite Princess).
Ramses had many children by his many wives, from what is known Ramses had 100 to 150 or more children, about 96 sons and 60 daughters, but only the important children are known. By Nefertari; Nefertari II, Parahirwenemef, Henutawi, Amenhirkhops, Amum-her-khepsehef, Baketmut, and Meryetamun (married Ramses II, her father). There is also by Istnofret; Isntrofret II, Khaenmwa, Bint-Anath (married Ramses II, her father), Ramses, and Merneptah, Ramses’s successor. There is Tahkae, Hentmire, and Isis, who’s mother or mothers are unknown. And finally by Maathorneferure is Seknakhat, who became King of Egypt. Since Ramses married a couple of his daughters, there might have been more children that are unknown as well.
Ramses is also known for his building achievements and accomplishments for Egypt. His temple in Thebes (Karnak) was the greatest temple in size ever built. His passion for building cost Egypt a lot of money. The most beautiful monuments build by Ramses is the temple of Abu-Simbel in Nubia, above the entrance is an inscription ‘The Living Horus, the Mighty Bull who loves Truth, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Strong in Truth, Chosen One of the Sun God, the Beloved of the King of Gods’.
Ramses build many temples and monuments in Karnak, Luxor, and Nubia. Also Ramses added to the great temples at Karnak and Luxor, completed his father’s mortuary temple at Gourna (Thebes) and his temple at Abydos, and then built his own temple at Abydos. On the West bank at Thebes, Ramses constructed a giant temple known as the Ramesseum. In Nubia, he built mortuary temples at beit el-Wali, gerf Hussein, Wadi es-Suba, Derr, and Napata. The greatest achievement was a miracle of engineering and it orientation was so precise that the rising sun on the Spring and vernal equinox would flood to illuminate the gods of the Sanctuary, over 200 ft/60m inside the mountain.
Ramses reigned for 66 or 67 years, longer than the average life span during the period of Ancient Egypt, which was only 20 to 30 years. Ramses ruled from 1279 B. C., or 1290 B.C., to 1212 B.C., or 1213 B.C. No other pharaoh constructed so many temples, erected so many colossal statues or sired so many children. He managed to father an astonishing number of children during his lifetime, that so many of them where not counted. Not only is he known as Egypt’s greatest warrior, but is also a peacemaker and for the monuments he left behind all over Egypt. He was the first king in history to sign a peace treaty with his enemies, ending long years of wars and hostility. The great treaty can be still considered a conclusive model, even when applying today’s standards.
Old Age
In his 66, or 67, year reign at around 92 years of age, Ramses was called to join the gods. In the year 1212 B.C. Ramses’s 13th son succeeded him, the Pharaoh Merneptah, he was middle aged by the time he came to power.
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