The revival of the country's military power, victories in bloody battles, the construction of majestic architectural monuments… These events mark the era of the Ramessides, which is considered the brightest page in the history of Ancient Egypt. Its chronological framework is XIII-XI centuries. BC e. During this era, 18 pharaohs were replaced on the Egyptian throne. The most powerful ruler was Ramses the Great. He made a significant contribution to the history of the state.
Ancestors of the great pharaoh
The Ramesside era begins with the accession to the Egyptian throne of Ramses I. This event occurred around 1292 BC. e. Pharaoh did not leave a bright trace in history. This is due to the fact that the period of his reign was very short. Power in the hands of the pharaoh was only a few years.
About 1290 B. C. e. the son of Ramesses I, Seti I, entered the Egyptian throne. His coming to power marked the beginning of a period of rebirth of the country after a temporary decline. Pharaoh managed to create the preconditions for the future prosperity of the state. Seti I ruled Egypt for about 11 years. Around 1279 BC. e. power passed into the hands of RamsesII. He was the son of Seti I.
New ruler
Ramses, whose biography contains many interesting facts, was very young at the time of accession to the throne. It is impossible to name the specific individual qualities that he possessed. In Egypt, all pharaohs were considered messengers of the gods, so in all sources they, like Ramses II, were described according to a standard pattern. However, the actions of the new ruler indicate that he was an ambitious, strong and determined person.
Pharaoh Ramses II, having ascended the throne, immediately ordered his subjects to cover up the names of their predecessors on the monuments. The ruler wanted the Egyptian people to remember only him. Ramses II also ordered everyone to call themselves the chosen one of Amon, the benefactor of the Egyptian state and the invincible hero.
First trip to Asia
The Hittites were considered the main enemies of Egypt. For several decades, the pharaohs waged a stubborn struggle with this people, who lived in Asia Minor. Ramses II, having ascended the throne, continued the work of his predecessors. In the 4th year of his reign, the young pharaoh decided to fight the Hittites.
The first campaign was successful. The Egyptians defeated the opponents and captured the city of Berit. The Egyptian pharaoh did not want to stop there. Ramses II decided to make a second campaign against the Hittites in a year and put an end to old enemies once and for all.
Trap for the Pharaoh
The second campaign in Asia Ramses the Great made in the 5th year of hisboard. Having gathered a twenty thousandth army, the young pharaoh advanced from Memphis. The main goal of the campaign was to capture Kadesh, which was at that time the main city of the Hittites, and annex other enemy possessions to Egypt.
Egyptian army consisted of 5 cohesive detachments. The Hittites were afraid to fight their enemy. They understood that their strength was not enough to win a fair battle. Their army consisted of units of allies, which were very difficult to control. The Hittites planned to win by fraud. To this end, they sent Shasu nomads to Ramses II. They were supposed to inform the Egyptian pharaoh that the Hittite troops were far from Kadesh.
The enemy plan worked. Ramses II was misinformed by the nomads. Believing that there were no Hittite troops nearby, the Egyptian ruler moved with one detachment to the city. The Hittites, in fact, were waiting for the Egyptians near Kadesh on the Orontes. Pharaoh Ramses II, realizing that he was trapped, sent his vizier to hurry the rest of the troops.
Results of the Battle of Kadesh
The Battle of Kadesh is described in detail in Egyptian and Hittite sources. The battle was fierce. The detachment led by Ramses II suffered significant losses. Despite this, the Egyptians managed to escape from the trap. The courage of the pharaoh and the approach of reinforcements played a huge role. Ramses II managed to avoid complete defeat.
After the battle of Kadesh, the Hittite king made an agreement with the Egyptian pharaoh. This event gave the young ruler the opportunity toretreat honorably. Returning to Egypt, Ramses II sent a report to the capital, which spoke of victory in a military campaign. In this regard, the ruler began to be called the great commander and winner. The Hittite sources indicate that the battle of Kadesh ended with the defeat of the Egyptians.
Building under Pharaoh
Ramses the Great during his reign erected a huge number of temple complexes, obelisks, monuments. After the victory over the Hittites, the ruler ordered that a large cave temple be carved in a rock located in Nubia on the western bank of the Nile and called Abu Simbel. It depicted important historical events and inscriptions. The entrance to the cave was decorated with 4 statues with the appearance of the great Egyptian pharaoh.
A second smaller temple was also carved into the rock of Abu Simbel. Ramses II ordered it to be erected in honor of his beloved Nefertari, who is his first wife. There were 6 statues in front of the entrance to the small temple. On each side, 2 images of the pharaoh and 1 of Queen Nefertari were installed.
Each Egyptian ruler during his lifetime built a memorial temple for himself. This was also done by Ramses II, who erected the Ramesseum in Thebes on the west bank of the Nile. On the territory of the building was a huge statue of the Egyptian ruler. Its weight was about 1000 tons. Inside the temple, scenes from the Battle of Kadesh were carved on the stone walls.
Building a city
The construction of Per-Ramses, the capital of the Egyptian state, deserves special attention. This city was built in the Nile Delta, where the childhood of the greatpharaoh. Perhaps its construction began even under Seti I. The work was completed during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II.
For a long time, modern researchers could not understand where Per-Ramesses was located. The name of the city was mentioned in ancient Egyptian sources, but no one could find the ruins. Found Per-Ramses archaeologist Manfred Bitak. After him, excavations were taken up by Edgar Push. The researcher, having taken pictures of the ruins hidden underground, created a detailed plan of the city. It turned out that Per-Ramses was a large and beautiful capital.
On the plan of the city, the outlines of a rectangular building were seen. These were the ruins of a temple. At the location of the structure, archaeologists found pieces of a huge statue of an Egyptian pharaoh. Cartouches with the name of Ramses the Great were also found here.
During the excavations, a workshop was also discovered. Several thousand years ago, when Ramses the Great ruled, colored glass was produced in it. This was confirmed by the found clay jugs, in which raw materials were heated to high temperatures. Decorations and vessels were carved from the material obtained in other workshops of the city.
Recently, a fragment of a tablet was discovered in Per-Ramses. Only a few lines remain on it. The researchers suggested that the text is an excerpt from an agreement concluded between the Hittite king Hattusili III and the Egyptian ruler. The found tablet confirms the existence of the archive of Ramses II.
Egyptian pharaoh's wives and children
Ramses II's family was quite large. It is known that the EgyptianPharaoh had 4 legal wives. His first and most beloved wife was Nefertari Merenmut. She was considered queen already in the 1st year of the reign of Ramses II. Nefertari had several sons and daughters. The eldest son of the pharaoh and the queen bore the name Amenherunemeth.
The second wife of Ramses II was Eastnofret. On many structures, she is depicted with her children. The eldest daughter of Ramses II and Eastnofret was called Bent-Anat. According to some reports, the girl entered the harem of the pharaoh and became his wife. Eastnofret also had a son, Merneptah. After the death of Ramses II, he ascended the throne.
The third legal wife of the Egyptian pharaoh - Maatnefrur. She was the daughter of the Hittite king Hattusili III. The marriage took place 13 years after the conclusion of a peace treaty with the Hittites. Egyptian texts indicate that Ramses II was struck by the beauty of Maatnefrura. Pharaoh saw the queen every day and admired her.
The fourth wife of Ramses II is another daughter of the Hittite king Hattusili III. Unfortunately, her name is unknown. Researchers also suggest that the Egyptian ruler had another legal wife. She was the younger sister of Ramses II - Khenutmir. There is no information about her. Most likely, Khenutmira died at a young age, not even having time to give birth to children to Ramses II.
Pharaoh's death and burial
The Egyptian state Ramses II ruled for a very long time. He survived 12 of his sons. When the great pharaoh died, his 13th son, Merneptah, ascended the throne.
Tomb of Ramses II - the place where the greatruler. After some time, grave robbers came here. The priests carried the body of Ramses II several times. However, all new burial sites were later desecrated by thieves. Ultimately, the mummy of Ramses was placed in a rock cache located in Deir el-Bahi. It is currently kept in the Cairo Museum.
Ramses II is a legendary man. The reign of the pharaoh lasted over 60 years. During these years, he did a lot for the prosperity and strengthening of the power of the Egyptian state. No subsequent ruler could surpass Pharaoh Ramses II.
