Why Ramses II Ruled Supreme: The Mightiest Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt

Though he passed away 3,000 years ago, Ramses II remains a familiar figure worldwide. Today, many of his artifacts and sarcophagus are on display for visitors in Cologne.

Ramses II was believed to have been extremely conceited. However, being a pharaoh allowed for such vanity; as the leader and guardian of Egypt, he served as the bridge between humanity and divinity.

Once he passed away, he was mummified and kept intact forever — however, this wasn’t the sole factor that etched his impact deeply into the consciousness of coming ages.

"Ramses was an illustrious monarch known for his martial prowess. He engaged in numerous battles and became the first to establish a peace treaty," he elucidates. Zahi Hawass , a distinguished archaeologist and ex-minister of Antiquities in Egypt. "Moreover, he is a constructor—traces can be found wherever he has been involved."

Hawass is the curator of the temporary exhibition "Ramses and Gold of the Pharaohs," which recently arrived in the western German city of Cologne following stops in Sydney and Paris "Our contemporary world is vastly distinct from ancient Egypt. This exhibit enables guests to explore Ramses’ realm and uncover an entirely different lifestyle," he explains.

Ramses the warlord

For nearly 67 years, from 1279 to 1213 BC, Ramses II governed the Egyptian Empire along the Nile River. Early in his rule, similar to his predecessor Seti I, he found himself defending against invasions by Libyans in the northwest and facing off against the powerful Hittite Empire, which now encompasses parts of modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon.

As a child, he started mastering the skills of combat and joined forces with his father to engage in battles against nearby tribes, fighting from a chariot equipped with a bow.

When he became pharaoh, he was only 25 years old.

During his rule, one of his most notable military endeavors was the campaign for control over the crucial trade hub of Kadesh. Leading an immense force comprising approximately 20,000 soldiers supported by around 2,000 chariots, he potentially marshaled the biggest army a pharaoh had ever gathered. Despite this formidable strength, he narrowly avoided a catastrophic loss. Confident in his triumph, Ramses fell victim to deceptive intelligence provided by spies claiming the Hittite troops were distant when, in fact, they lay hidden awaiting their chance. Relief only came just before the end as additional Egyptian support arrived, resulting in a stalemate rather than a decisive win.

Ancient World’s Public Relations Tactics

However, such an outcome was unacceptable to the pharaoh; thus, he ordered his artisans to engrave temple writings across Egypt declaring his triumph. “All foreign lands were vanquished by me alone, despite having been forsaken by both my army and cavalry,” he directed his chroniclers to record verbatim. In modern terms, this might be described as "fabricated information." The actual events only surfaced much later due to a Hittite inscription revealing the true account.

However, Ramses was not just skilled in self-promotion; 16 years later, he also secured the signing of the first known peace treaty in human history with the Hittites. These former adversaries pledged never to engage in conflict against one another again and agreed to support each other mutually. A replica of this agreement can be seen at the United Nations building in New York City.

The pharaoh was an ambitious construction manager.

As a result of this alliance, Egypt could concentrate on fostering cultural and economic growth—allowing Ramesses II to dedicate all his efforts to his grandiose architectural endeavors. It’s likely that no other pharaoh oversaw as much new development, which included establishing an entire new capital city known as Pi-Ramesses (House of Ramesses).

His enormous burial palace, the Ramesseum in western Egypt. Thebes , near the modern city of Luxor, home to a collection of over 10,000 books papyrus scrolls He similarly ensured his immortality there through a colossal stone sculpture weighing 1,000 tons and reaching a height of 17 meters.

Some of Ramses' most renowned creations encompass the temples at Karnak, Luxor, and Abu Simbel, with the latter being intricately carved into stone.

The pharaoh was revered by his populace due to his grand architectural achievements and swiftly earned the title of "Ramses the Great."

He wedded eight spouses and sired a combined total of one hundred offspring. During his 66-year rule in the 19th dynasty, the zenith of imperial splendor and strength was reached. The pharaoh boasted about himself saying, “I have outdone all.”

Ramses' remains have traveled overseas just one time.

In 1213 BC, Ramses II passed away at the age of 90, entering the afterlife. His mummified body remains intact even today.

The mummy Only once did it leave its native land: In 1976, his remains were transported to Paris for conservation as they were at risk of deterioration. On this occasion, Ramesses II was accorded the honors befitting a prominent state dignitary, with cannon salvos echoing overhead in welcome.

Today, his remains are housed in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo.

During the traveling exhibit, visitors have the opportunity to view his cedar sarcophagus adorned with hieroglyphics honoring the pharaoh. Throughout history, this sarcophagus has been relocated multiple times to shield it from tomb raiders, though these efforts were largely ineffective.

Imagine a Pharaoh such as Ramses—can you fathom just how wealthy he must have been and what treasures might lie within? His tomb likely brimming with gold and silver," Hawass stated. Moreover, statues portraying him or his relatives, exquisite pieces of jewelry, animal mummies, and elaborate death masks serve as testaments to an era long past.

Was John Norman, the managing director of World Heritage Exhibitions—the organization behind the event—alarmed about potential damage to the authentic relics during their transit to Cologne? He assures them saying, “No,” explaining, “The level of care we provide for these items, along with how they’re handled and shipped, resembles a military operation in terms of security.”

Proceeds from the exhibition benefit archaeological heritage.

It's highly unlikely that Ramses II ever envisioned that his riches would one day be displayed for ordinary folks 3,000 years following his demise.

The burial items were intended to be with him in the afterworld, whereas precious artworks were exclusive to the elite. There is also a belief that disrupting the tranquility of the tomb would invoke a curse.

Why is Egypt sharing these artifacts globally? The answer is straightforward: “Money is needed for preservation,” explains Zahi Hawass. He adds, “No civilization possesses what Egypt does with its Pharaonic monuments—not even those from Greco-Roman times, as well as the Judaic-Christian and Islamic periods require substantial funds—millions to billions—to maintain their heritage.”

He adds that the exhibit aims not only to inspire future visits to Egypt but also to boost government revenues through increased tourism spending.

The Egyptologist likewise seized the chance in Cologne to reaffirm a sincere plea: "Our aim is Nefertiti Back. My interest doesn’t extend to other Egyptian artifacts; feel free to leave them in Munich or Berlin. However, we have our sights set on one that isn’t rightfully located here: Nefertiti.

The exhibit titled "Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs" continues through January 6, 2025, at the Odysseum located in Cologne. Following this, it is set to launch in Tokyo during the spring season of 2025.

The article was initially published in German.

Author: Suzanne Cords