Ramesses II /ˈræməsiːz, ˈræmsiːz, ˈræmziːz/[5] (variously also spelt Rameses[6] or Ramses (Ancient

Egyptian: rꜥ -ms-sw "Ra is the one who bore him" > Koinē
Greek: Ῥαμέσσης, romanized: Rhaméssēs); c. 1303 BC – July or August 1213; reigned 1279–1213
BC[7]), also known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of
Egypt. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the New
Kingdom.[8] His successors and later Egyptians called him the "Great Ancestor".
He is known as Ozymandias in Greek sources (Koinē Greek: Οσυμανδύας Osymandýas),[9] from the
first part of Ramesses' regnal name, Usermaatre Setepenre, "The Maat of Ra is powerful, Chosen of
Ra".[10]
Ramesses II led several military expeditions into the Levant, reasserting Egyptian control
over Canaan. He also led expeditions to the south, into Nubia, commemorated in inscriptions at Beit
el-Wali and Gerf Hussein. The early part of his reign was focused on building cities, temples, and
monuments. He established the city of Pi-Ramesses in the Nile Delta as his new capital and used it
as the main base for his campaigns in Syria. At fourteen, he was appointed prince regent by his
father, Seti I.[8] He is believed to have taken the throne in his late teens and is known to have ruled
Egypt from 1279 to 1213 BC.[11] Manetho attributes Ramesses II a reign of 66 years and 2 months;
most Egyptologists today believe he assumed the throne on May 31, 1279 BC, based on his known
accession date of III Season of the Harvest, day 27.[12][13] Estimates of his age at death vary; 90 or 91
is considered most likely.[14][15] Ramesses II celebrated an unprecedented thirteen or fourteen Sed
festivals (the first held after 30 years of a pharaoh's reign, and then, every three years) during his
reign—more than any other pharaoh.[16] On his death, he was buried in a tomb in the Valley of the
Kings;[17] his body was later moved to a royal cache where it was discovered in 1881, and is now on
display in the
Early in his life, Ramesses II embarked on numerous campaigns to restore possession of previously
held territories lost to the Nubians and Hittites and to secure Egypt's borders. He was also
responsible for suppressing some Nubian revolts and carrying out a campaign in Libya. Though
the Battle of Kadesh often dominates the scholarly view of Ramses II's military prowess and power,
he nevertheless enjoyed more than a few outright victories over Egypt's enemies. During his reign,
the Egyptian army is estimated to have totaled some 100,000 men: a formidable force that he used
to strengthen Egyptian influence.[19]