The Ramesseum
First and foremost, the Ramesseum was a key religious institution – a focus for the ritual cult of the dead king, Ramesses II. It was also an abode for the gods, as well as for the deceased king. The maintenance of the sacred mysteries would endow the king with eternal life. Representations of the king offering to the gods would be rewarded with a place amongst their divine pantheon. Yet, the memorial temple was much more than this. It was actually an economy in microcosm. Its principal income came from the produce of land granted by the king – produce that served as daily offerings to the gods. The Ramesseum was also a vital administrative centre for the entire community of the theban west bank.
Construction on the Ramesseum did not get underway until the second year of Ramesses’ reign. The design was greatly influenced by his father’s memorial complex at Gurna. Yet, never shy to innovate, the young monarch took Seti I’s blueprint and embellished it with his own architectural signature. Abounding with colossal statuary and highly expressive tableaux of heroic military feats, the whole design was destined to memorialise the name of the god-king, Ramesses.
Key Facts
Date of Construction: Reign of Ramesses II (c. 1279 – 1212 B.C.)
Highlights:
“Ozymandias” Colossus of Ramesses II
Battle of Kadesh reliefs
Statuary of Ramesses II as Osiris
Hypostyle Hall
Administrative complex, with mud-brick magazines
- Introduction to the Ramesseum - 3:22
- First Pylon, Battle of Kadesh Scenes - 2:01
- First Court, Colossus of Ramesses - 2:02
- Second Pylon, Festival of Min Scenes - 1:14
- The Second Court - 1:12
- Hypostyle Hall - 1:09
- The Siege of the City of Dapur - 2:27
- Temple of Tuya and Nefertari - 0:49
- The Cult Rooms - 0:58
- Hall of the Litanies - 1:28
- Mud-brick Magazines - 1:04
- The Battle of Kadesh - 4:05
- The Festival of the Valley - 2:25
