Ramses II, one of Egypt's most celebrated pharaohs, was known for his vanity, military prowess, and monumental achievements. As a ruler for 67 years (1279–1213 BC), he fought battles, brokered peace, and left a legacy etched in stone.
Ramses ascended to the throne at 25, following his father Seti I. Early in his reign, he defended Egypt against the Libyans and Hittites, a formidable empire spanning modern Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. His most famous military campaign was the Battle of Kadesh, where 20,000 soldiers and 2,000 chariots clashed with Hittite forces. Despite nearly facing defeat, Ramses claimed a personal victory, immortalizing his triumph in inscriptions across Egypt—though later Hittite records revealed a more balanced outcome.
Sixteen years later, Ramses negotiated the world’s first recorded peace treaty with the Hittites, fostering stability that allowed Egypt to flourish culturally and economically. He directed these efforts toward massive construction projects, including Pi-Ramesses, his capital, and monumental temples like Abu Simbel, Karnak, and Luxor. His burial palace, the Ramesseum, featured a vast library and a colossal statue of the pharaoh.
Ramses fathered over 100 children with his eight wives, cementing his lineage and reputation. He declared, “He has surpassed everything,” and his 66-year reign is regarded as a pinnacle of Egyptian power.
After his death at 90, Ramses’ mummy was preserved and left Egypt only once, in 1976, for restoration in Paris. Today, it resides in Cairo's National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, while his cedar coffin features prominently in the traveling exhibition Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs. Curated by Zahi Hawass, the exhibit showcases treasures, including statues, jewelry, and animal mummies, and runs in Cologne until January 2025 before moving to Tokyo.
Proceeds support conservation efforts, ensuring Egypt’s unparalleled heritage endures. Hawass hopes the exhibition inspires visitors to explore Egypt themselves, while also advocating for the repatriation of the Nefertiti bust to Egypt.
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