The History of the Ramesseum
A millennial temple that needs you
The reign of a great pharaoh
Ramesses II, son of Seti I and Queen Tuya, ascended to the throne around 1279 BC at the age of 25. He ruled Egypt for 66 years — one of the longest reigns in pharaonic history. A tireless builder and skilled administrator, he made the Nile Valley one of the most prosperous civilizations in the ancient world.
He married Nefertari and Isetnofret, and his offspring was prodigious: 60 daughters and 48 sons are known. In year 5 of his reign, he fought the Hittites at the famous Battle of Kadesh. Sixteen years later, a historic peace treaty was signed between the two empires — one of the oldest known diplomatic agreements.
A temple dedicated to eternity
The name 'Ramesseum' was given by Jean-François Champollion and Ippolito Rosellini when they visited the monument in 1828-1829 and found the name of Ramesses inscribed on every wall and column. This 'Temple of Millions of Years,' built on the west bank of Luxor, was dedicated to the worship of the pharaoh and the god Amun-Ra.
Its construction required nearly twenty years of effort. Sandstone was transported by boat from the quarries of Gebel es-Silsileh, near Aswan, taking advantage of the annual Nile flood. Around the stone temple, a vast complex of brick annexes — vaulted storehouses, kitchens, bakeries, workshops, and even a scribes' school — could sustain up to 3,400 families.
The shattered colossus
