Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt: Rameses II
Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, was one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful and celebrated pharaohs. He ruled during the 19th Dynasty from 1279 to 1213 BCE. His reign lasted 66 years, making it one of the longest in Egyptian history.
Key Achievements
- Military Campaigns: He led numerous military expeditions, including the famous Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites, which resulted in the world’s first known peace treaty.
- Monumental Construction: Ramesses II was a prolific builder, commissioning grand temples such as Abu Simbel, the Ramesseum, and additions to Karnak.
- Political Influence: He expanded Egypt’s influence across the region, securing trade routes and fortifying borders.
- Personal Life: He had over 200 wives and concubines, fathered 96 sons and 60 daughters, and lived to be around 90 years old.
Ramesses II’s legacy endures through his monumental architecture and inscriptions, which can be found throughout Egypt. His mummy is now displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. He was so revered that later Egyptians referred to him as the “Great Ancestor”.
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