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[[Image:Ram2cartouche.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Cartouche of Ramesses II's prenomen, wsr-m3't-r' stp-n-r', sits above a symbolic representation of the uniting of Upper and Lower Egypt. From a throne of the colossi of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel]]

[[Image:Ram2cartouche.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Cartouche of Ramesses II's prenomen, wsr-m3't-r' stp-n-r', sits above a symbolic representation of the uniting of Upper and Lower Egypt. From a throne of the colossi of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel]]

'''Ramses II''' (also referred to as '''Ramesses II'''), was a [[pharaoh]] of [[Egypt]] who died in 1213 [[BC]].  Ramesses II lived during the latter half of the [[New Kingdom]], and he became known as '''Ramesses The Great''' as the most prominant ruler of the 19th Dynasty.  At the time of his death, he had fathered at least 40 [[son]]s and 44 [[daughter]]s.  

'''Ramses II''' (also referred to as '''Ramesses II'''), was a [[pharaoh]] of [[Egypt]] who died in 1213 [[BC]].  Ramesses II lived during the latter half of the [[New Kingdom]], and he became known as '''Ramesses The Great''' as the most prominent ruler of the 19th Dynasty.  At the time of his death, he had fathered at least 40 [[son]]s and 44 [[daughter]]s.  

== Background ==

== Background ==

== Military Campaigns ==

== Military Campaigns ==

The [[Battle of Kadesh]] is the most well known military campaign of Ramesses II, and the most well documented. Although regarded as a personal triumph by Ramesses, and proudly displayed upon numerous monuments throughout Egypt and [[Nubia]], the battle itself ended in a stalemate, and the lands of [[Upe]] and [[Amurru]] were lost to the [[Hittites]]. The campaign was, however, only one of many conducted by Ramesses in his 67 year reign. The table below provides more complete detail of his major campaigns:  

The [[Battle of Kadesh]] is the most well known military campaign of Ramesses II, and the most well documented. Although regarded as a personal triumph by Ramesses, and proudly displayed upon numerous monuments throughout Egypt and [[Nubia]], the battle itself ended in a stalemate, and the lands of [[Upe]] and [[Amurru]] were lost to the [[Hittites]]. The campaign was, however, only one of many conducted by Ramesses in his 67-year reign. The table below provides more complete detail of his major campaigns:  

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

{{clear}}

{{clear}}

== Building Projects ==

== Building Projects ==

[[Image:Ramesseum.JPG|thumb|200px|left|The hypostyle hall of the Ramesseum, Ramesses II's mortuary temple. It was described as one of the finest monuments on the Theban west bank by early visitors.]][[Image:Ozymandias.JPG|thumb|200px|right|The fallen colossal statue of Ramesses at the Ramesseum, known as Ozymandias in classical times. Reports of it by travellers in the 1800's inspired the poem "Ozymandias", though the statue has a smile rather than the "sneer of cold command"]]

[[Image:Ramesseum.JPG|thumb|200px|left|The hypostyle hall of the Ramesseum, Ramesses II's mortuary temple. It was described as one of the finest monuments on the Theban west bank by early visitors.]][[Image:Ozymandias.JPG|thumb|200px|right|The fallen colossal statue of Ramesses at the Ramesseum, known as Ozymandias in classical times. Reports of it by travellers in the 1800s inspired the poem "Ozymandias", though the statue has a smile rather than the "sneer of cold command"]]

Ramesses built more extensively than any other Pharaoh. His major building projects spanned the length of Egypt and deep into Nubia, though he also erected stelae and statues in Asia. Many of his monuments survive today as some of the most famous images of Egypt, including the temples of [[Abu Simbel]] and the [[Ramesseum]]. He also completed the main pylon of [[Luxor Temple]] and the hypostyle hall of Karnak temple, begun by [[Seti I]], as well as completing the mortuary temple of the latter.  

Ramesses built more extensively than any other Pharaoh. His major building projects spanned the length of Egypt and deep into Nubia, though he also erected stelae and statues in Asia. Many of his monuments survive today as some of the most famous images of Egypt, including the temples of [[Abu Simbel]] and the [[Ramesseum]]. He also completed the main pylon of [[Luxor Temple]] and the hypostyle hall of Karnak temple, begun by [[Seti I]], as well as completing the mortuary temple of the latter.  

== Legacy ==

== Legacy ==

Ramesses legacy was a victim of his own success, for his longevity and large family meant that many of the more notable elder royal princes predeceased him, and his highly unusual style of bringing the royal prices out into the open, having them depicted in numerous scenes may well have fostered competition amongst hopefuls, further undermining an orderly succession and peaceful reign by his successors. Indeed, following Ramesses II were a string of ephemeral Pharoahs with short and insignificant reigns, and it was not until [[Ramesses III]] that another great Pharaoh emerged who could truly be said to be following in the footsteps of the Ramesses the Great.

Ramesses legacy was a victim of his own success, for his longevity and large family meant that many of the more notable elder royal princes predeceased him, and his highly unusual style of bringing the royal prices out into the open, having them depicted in numerous scenes may well have fostered competition amongst hopefuls, further undermining an orderly succession and peaceful reign by his successors. Indeed, following Ramesses II were a string of ephemeral Pharaohs with short and insignificant reigns, and it was not until [[Ramesses III]] that another great Pharaoh emerged who could truly be said to be following in the footsteps of the Ramesses the Great.

In some ways it could be said Ramesses reign was the high point of latter (post–[[Amarna]]) New Kingdom, and though Ramesses III and many others strove to defend the boundaries of the Empire and embellish the great temples, the battles post – Ramesses II became less a case of “extending the boundaries of Egypt” and increasingly defensive in nature. Despite this, the vigorous efforts of Ramesses II to rebuilt the “[[Golden Empire|New Kingdom]]” following the [[Amarna]] heresy would endure for more than 150 years, and his name became synonymous with Pharaonic greatness and power, with no less than nine Pharaohs adopting his name as their own in the 20th Dynasty, and the name remaining a popular [[Coptic]] name to this day.

In some ways it could be said Ramesses reign was the high point of latter (post–[[Amarna]]) New Kingdom, and though Ramesses III and many others strove to defend the boundaries of the Empire and embellish the great temples, the battles post – Ramesses II became less a case of “extending the boundaries of Egypt” and increasingly defensive in nature. Despite this, the vigorous efforts of Ramesses II to rebuilt the “[[Golden Empire|New Kingdom]]” following the [[Amarna]] heresy would endure for more than 150 years, and his name became synonymous with Pharaonic greatness and power, with no less than nine Pharaohs adopting his name as their own in the 20th Dynasty, and the name remaining a popular [[Coptic]] name to this day.

The piece was written in honor of the arrival in the [[British Museum]] of the upper portion of a colossal statue of the Pharaoh from the Ramesseum. However, in the statue itself, as with most Egyptian royal sculpture (see: Egyptian Art), Ramesses is shown with a serene composure, and a slight smile. It is one of the most well known pieces of Egyptian art, notable for it’s masterful use of polychromatic stone, which is seen elsewhere in sculpture of Ramesses II.  

The piece was written in honor of the arrival in the [[British Museum]] of the upper portion of a colossal statue of the Pharaoh from the Ramesseum. However, in the statue itself, as with most Egyptian royal sculpture (see: Egyptian Art), Ramesses is shown with a serene composure, and a slight smile. It is one of the most well known pieces of Egyptian art, notable for it’s masterful use of polychromatic stone, which is seen elsewhere in sculpture of Ramesses II.  

Other well known modern depictions of Ramesses include Hollywood movies, including the “epic” film production “The Ten Commandments”, where Ramesses is portrayed as a scheming megalomaniac and caricature of evil. An animated film following roughly the same biblical plot was produced in the 1990’s by SKG-Dreamworks, though in this Ramesses was portrayed as a brother divided by loyalties who wanted to regain a lost childhood friendship.

Other well known modern depictions of Ramesses include Hollywood movies, including the “epic” film production “The Ten Commandments”, where Ramesses is portrayed as a scheming megalomaniac and caricature of evil. An animated film following roughly the same biblical plot was produced in the 1990s by SKG-DreamWorks, though in this Ramesses was portrayed as a brother divided by loyalties who wanted to regain a lost childhood friendship.

The Egyptologist and writer [[Christian Jacq]] penned a series of five historical novels featuring Ramesses, one of which focuses on the Battle of Kadesh.

The Egyptologist and writer [[Christian Jacq]] penned a series of five historical novels featuring Ramesses, one of which focuses on the Battle of Kadesh.