History vs. Egypt’s "most powerful" pharaoh - Jessica Tomkins
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Pharaoh Ramesses II reigned for almost 70 years in the 13th century BCE. He presided over a golden age of Egyptian prosperity, power, and wealth. But was he a model leader or a shameless egomaniac and master of propaganda? Jessica Tomkins puts this controversial figure on trial in History vs. Ramesses the Great.
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The Rammessid Dynasty
Ramesses II was a Pharaoh in the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 BCE). Other notable Pharaohs of this period include Akhenaten, who shut down the temples of the traditional gods of Egypt and began a new monotheistic religion to the sun god, called the Aten. The famous King Tut also belongs to this period, as does the female king Hatshepsut. You can learn more about Hatshepsut from this TED-Ed lesson. But Ramesses II reigned during Dynasty 19 in the second half of this period and was so influential that nine kings in Dynasty 20 were also called Ramesses. Dynasties 19 and 20 are therefore also known as the Ramesside Period, which you can read about in this blog post.
The Wars of Ramesses II
Ramesses II was well known for his exploits at the Battle of Kadesh, but he also waged other wars in Syria-Palestine, which are documented on the walls of the Karnak Temple. Read a translation of the famous Peace Treaty between the Hittites and Ramesses; is this what you would expect an ancient peace treaty to look like? What image do we get of Ramesses II as a leader from this document?
The Mummy of Ramesses II
Ramesses II was originally buried in the Valley of the Kings in Thebes in a tomb we called KV 7. The Theban Mapping Project has created detailed plans of his tomb with accompanying images and articles about the Valley of the Kings. Compare his tomb with others from the Valley of the Kings that the Theban Mapping Project provides plans for – what are the similarities and differences? Though all tombs (aside from Tutankhamun’s) were robbed in ancient times by tomb robbers, leaving behind nothing from the tombs themselves, we actually have the mummy of Ramesses II! His mummy shows a man with red hair and well-manicured nails. It was found alongside many other royal mummies in a tomb known as TT320. The High Priests of Amun collected many royal mummies and deposited them in TT320 for safekeeping against tomb robbers who wanted to steal precious objects and materials from the royal tombs – or were the priests themselves robbing the tombs? You can read more about this in this blog post by the American Research Center in Egypt, alongside a 3D model of Ramesses’ coffin.
Ramesses II was a Pharaoh in the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 BCE). Other notable Pharaohs of this period include Akhenaten, who shut down the temples of the traditional gods of Egypt and began a new monotheistic religion to the sun god, called the Aten. The famous King Tut also belongs to this period, as does the female king Hatshepsut. You can learn more about Hatshepsut from this TED-Ed lesson. But Ramesses II reigned during Dynasty 19 in the second half of this period and was so influential that nine kings in Dynasty 20 were also called Ramesses. Dynasties 19 and 20 are therefore also known as the Ramesside Period, which you can read about in this blog post.
The Wars of Ramesses II
Ramesses II was well known for his exploits at the Battle of Kadesh, but he also waged other wars in Syria-Palestine, which are documented on the walls of the Karnak Temple. Read a translation of the famous Peace Treaty between the Hittites and Ramesses; is this what you would expect an ancient peace treaty to look like? What image do we get of Ramesses II as a leader from this document?
The Mummy of Ramesses II
Ramesses II was originally buried in the Valley of the Kings in Thebes in a tomb we called KV 7. The Theban Mapping Project has created detailed plans of his tomb with accompanying images and articles about the Valley of the Kings. Compare his tomb with others from the Valley of the Kings that the Theban Mapping Project provides plans for – what are the similarities and differences? Though all tombs (aside from Tutankhamun’s) were robbed in ancient times by tomb robbers, leaving behind nothing from the tombs themselves, we actually have the mummy of Ramesses II! His mummy shows a man with red hair and well-manicured nails. It was found alongside many other royal mummies in a tomb known as TT320. The High Priests of Amun collected many royal mummies and deposited them in TT320 for safekeeping against tomb robbers who wanted to steal precious objects and materials from the royal tombs – or were the priests themselves robbing the tombs? You can read more about this in this blog post by the American Research Center in Egypt, alongside a 3D model of Ramesses’ coffin.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Jessica Tomkins
- Director Brett Underhill
- Narrator Addison Anderson
- Composer Stephen LaRosa
- Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Abdallah Ewis
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Fact-Checker Charles Wallace
