Without doubt, Egypt is famous for its splendid monuments and its many pharaohs, including Ramses II are among the most important thanks to its magnificent architectural works. Also known as Ramses the Great, was the most ambitious builder throughout Egypt although not raise any pyramid. It was without doubt one of the most glorious of his time.

The successor of Seti I

With only 10 years was Ramses II (1279-1212 BC), named by his father, Seti I (1291-1279 BC), second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty, shortly before the year 1278 BC as Commander in Chief of the Egyptian army. However, was not exposed to the front of his young age. Ramses traces its origins to a family of warrior pharaohs where his grandfather Ramses I (1293-1291 BC) had no royal lineage. To save the order of the Empire, Ramses I was elected master of the Two Lands thus founded a new dynasty, the nineteenth of the extraordinary number Egyptian breed.

Ramses I and his son Seti I set out to be great batallantes and Ramses II was to be like them so from their 9-year-old began to receive religious education, hieroglyphic and military. Ramses II accompanied his father Seti I in a battle in Libya and a year later was already fighting alongside the army in Syria. Later went to war without the company of his father. Ramses apparently enjoyed this traditional sport of the sovereign militia. There are even indications that such was his attachment to the army was called in later times and not Pharaoh generalissimo was customary.

While still a prince, Ramses married with various women including his much beloved Nefertari, the most important of his queens primary, secondary and concubines. Seti I had the joy of seeing their grandchildren first run through the palace but never managed to meet all of them. Just as Ramses was ambitious for the state affairs also was for the whole family managed to generate more than 100 children in his vast harem. Among his royal wives was Nefertari his favorite course Istnofret addition, Merietamun, Bintanat, Henutmire, Nebettauy, and a Hittite princess Mahornefrure which name is unknown today.

Already prepared and educated as a king was given the title of Prince Regent and future King unveiling, the great Ramses would become the next pharaoh of Egypt. In the año1279 BC Seti I is headed in its journey to the underworld, the realm of Osiris, god of the dead. Officially its 25 years, Ramses becomes the ruler of Wadjet and Nekhbet, symbols of the two ladies, namely, of the Two Lands, and therefore of Upper and Lower Egypt.

The Battle of Kadesh

As is known Ramses II was very mixed up in the military, mandatory role imposed by custom and practice of invasions of foreign lands.

Egypt retained control of the territories of the Delta and south of the falls but the Syrian territory including its border, was under the control of traditional enemies, the Hittite people. Ramesses II probably inspired by his ancestors decided to recover the territories in foreign hands as taking advantage of the revolt of Levante organized his troops to attack the Hittites starting the traditional war between nations. For this brought a huge army of 20,000 men and divided into 4 divisions. Christened with the names of the gods Amun, Re, Ptah and Seth, each of these divisions had 5,000 men ready to give everything for Pharaoh.

Addressing the city of Kadesh the army captured two spies of the Hittites. They confessed that the troops of the Hittite king, Muwatalis, were about 15 miles outside the city, frightened by the troops of Ramses. The king relied on the testimony of the prisoners came forward and encamped on the outskirts of the city with its division of Amen.

The other divisions, Re, Ptah and Seth were far from a small patrol pharaoh when Egypt captured another pair of spies who confessed that the previous two were a decoy to fool the king and ambush. Egyptian divisions to learn the trap Ramses rushed to support it would be captured or killed by the Hittites. The division of Re was divided in two by the enemy army consists of over 37,000 men when they tried to support the king. The division of Amon was attacked and subsequently reinforced in the north. A lot but at the same time inaccurate documents say that the battle was fairly even as Ramses and Muwatalis agreed peace.

Each army and at home is dedicated to record all events in Kadesh. Each makes its own style narratives. The Hittites claim to be the winners and the Egyptians in their records say they be. Chances are that none of the two armies have been victorious in the battle. What probably happened is that there was a lull to see the strength of each side. This is the best theory shared by experts to judge from the Hittite documents say that the Egyptians sued for peace while the Egyptian records say that those who were called the Hittites.

Other small battles occurred at later times until Hattusilis III, the new Hittite king Ramses proposed to sign the final peace between the two empires. Monarchs finally realized that no one could with the other and that fighting was pointless, each who had to settle for the territories that had already mastered. This first treaty of peace in the world was held in the year 21 of Ramses reign, to the 1259 BC to give more power to deal Hattusilis III in 1246 BC, gave one of his daughters to become the wife of the Egyptian monarch and in 1239 BC sent to one of them.

These deals were final to achieve the desired peace for both peoples. Now Ramses would be no more the warrior who had been so far, now devote their efforts to become Ramses the Great, very well deserved title for her dedication to the pharaonic glory.

Ramses the constructor

The king now delight in the construction of temples like no other, no doubt, his favorite pastime. It is known that it was a great leader, he liked to be present in buildings, which were the perpetual image of Pharaoh that he would be remembered through the millennia.

The initial stage of his new hobby a temple dedicated to complete unfinished by the death of his father Seti I. Also found a temple in Abydos, enlarged the temples of Luxor and Karnak that was then the largest religious center of humanity.

Near Abydos he built his mortuary temple called Rameseo. Dimensions are the same and certain texts that have been found is believed that the building might need around about 3000 workers.

Ramses II was certainly a great builder, in fact, is among the most important as Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid of Egypt on the Giza Plateau. To explore the historical sites of the land of the Pharaohs is almost impossible not to run into the cartridge that holds the name of Ramses II in the monuments, not only because many of them built, but also because many of them were usurped by him . A well known example is the Colonnade built by Tutankhamun during his brief term in office.

By looking at the monuments built by Ramses shows a good tactic by the king to prevent their monuments were usurped in the future by other Pharaoh. The cartridges bearing the name of Ramses II had at least a depth of 15 centimeters to avoid their being removed and then replaced by another king cartridge.

However, the temple has done is not really famous in Egypt but in ancient Nubia, the land of gold. Abu Simbel was the temple that really makes it famous for being carved into the rock and not built as was done routinely. In the front there are four images of Ramses II seated inside a series of statues of himself in a pose of Osiris. At the end of the temple about four statues of gods were and are still bathed in sunlight, besides having had a deep religious symbolism in his time, was a visual extravaganza.

Just beside this temple is a smaller one that Ramses dedicated to the goddess Hathor and his beloved wife Nefertari. It is a true work of art in the main facade are six colossal statues, four of which represent two to Ramses and Nefertari. Fortunately, the Queen managed to see both temples completed on time, then, a year after its construction was completed a favorite of Ramses died.

The construction of the Aswan Dam threatened the safety of the two temples at Abu Simbel so that in the decade of the 60, it was necessary to cut temples in huge blocks to be transferred to a place a little higher in order prevent the waters of the Nile and submersibles.

Ramses did not limit his work to Abu Simbel, also built their own city in his time was superb. This new city was built in the Nile Delta and gave the name of Pi-Ramses. Logically required a large number of workers to build and it is from this is that many Egyptologists are looking to combine the written documents of the Egyptians and the Exodus of the Bible. Ramessides dynasties were formed by soldiers and contractors, such is the case of his grandfather Ramses I and his father Seti I. It is believed that both pharaohs massively exploited their workers that some presume it were the Jewish people. The arrival of Pharaoh Ramses II as was final, his ambition to be the most glorious of the pharaohs and their desire to leave this stone-finished testimony beginning the search for freedom of the Jews led by Moses and he in turn met with the will of God.

The only documentation is on the Jewish people in Egypt is the Stele of the Victory of Mineptah (1212-1202 BC), successor and son of Ramses II. This stele was reused and has stories of conquest, but what really matters in the wake for a few lines here are praying that Israel is wasted, its seed is no more, Palestine has become a widow for Egypt. This text puts students in doubt when trying to date the Jewish expulsion from Egypt in the event that actually occurred.

The death of the great Ramses

At 90 years old in 1212 BC, Ramses II left the world of the living to meet with the gods. As one of the pharaohs who ruled for more years Egypt is known about this king who had at least 67 years of tenure as the largest builder in Egyptian history with the well-known pharaohs of the pyramids, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. His tomb KV 7 in the Valley of the Kings is one of the largest as well as that of his father Seti I. He is currently in such bad condition that is not open to the public.

In 1881 were found in a hiding a group of mummies among which was that of Ramses II. Since its original tomb was moved to his father Seti I and then to the hideout to save it from looters who from the earliest times snared the graves of the dead to steal all the riches of eternal life threatening.

Studies were done to Ramses II indicated that they had a happy ending, suffered from arthritis and severe dental damage caused by the gritty bread that had to be a major cause of his agony over the last years of his life. At least Ramses despite having been interrupted from sleep holy managed to perpetuate their image through the centuries as Ramses the Great.