Ramesses II
Egyptian third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ramesses II was one of the greatest Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.[6] He was the third Pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. The pharaohs who came after him and later Egyptians called him the "Great Ancestor".[7]
Ramesses II | |
---|---|
"Ramesses the Great" | |
Pharaoh | |
Reign | 1279–1213 BC (19th Dynasty) |
Predecessor | Seti I |
Successor | Merneptah |
Consort | Nefertari, Isetnofret, Maathorneferure, Meritamen, Bintanath, Nebettawy, Henutmire |
Children | Amun-her-khepsef, Ramesses, Pareherwenemef, Khaemwaset, Merneptah, Meryatum, Bintanath, Meritamen, Nebettawy, Henuttawy (List of children of Ramesses II) |
Father | Seti I |
Mother | Tuya |
Born | c. 1303 BC |
Died | 1213 BC (aged approximately 90) |
Burial | KV7 |
Monuments | Abu Simbel, Abydos,[3] Ramesseum, Luxor,[4] Karnak[4] |
When he was 14, Ramesses was named as the next pharaoh by his father Seti I.[7] He ruled Egypt from 1279 BC to 1213 BC.[8]p165 This is a total of 66 years and 2 months. It is likely that he died in his 90th or 91st year. On his death, he was buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings;[9] his body was later moved to a royal cache (hidden wall slot) where it was discovered in 1881. It is now on display in the Cairo Museum.[8]
Ramesses II led several military attacks north into the lands east of the Mediterranean (the location of the modern Israel, Lebanon and Syria). He also led expeditions to the south, into Nubia.
The early part of his rule was focused on building cities, temples and monuments. He established the city of Pi-Ramesses in the Nile Delta as his new capital and main base for his military attacks on Syria.