Ramses II

Introduction & Top Questions
Background and early years of reign
Military exploits
Prosperity during the reign of Ramses II

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Memphis, Egypt: colossal statue of Ramses II

Stone frieze at Luxor depicting Ramses II standing in a chariot drawn by horses during the Battle of Kadesh, with detailed carvings of figures and hieroglyphs.

Tourists gather at night in the illuminated outer court of the Temple of Luxor, with large seated statues of King Ramses II and an obelisk in Luxor, Egypt.

Aswān, Egypt: Ramses II statue at Abu Simbel temple

At a Glance

Al-Jizah. Giza Necropolis, Giza Plateau, Cairo, Egypt. Side view of Sphinx with the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) rising in the background. The sides of all three of the Giza pyramids are astronomically oriented to be north-south, east-west (see notes)

Pop Quiz: 18 Things to Know About Ancient Egypt

Ramses II, upper portion of a granite figure from Thebes, 1250 bc; in the British Museum.

Ramses II summary

Quizzes

Three flint axes from the stone age. (prehistoric, tools, early humans, culture, archaeology, implements)

Ancient Civilizations

Tutankhamen. Modern copy of Tutankhamun's sarcophagus aka funeral mask of king Tutankham. King Tut, Pharaoh, Egypt, mummy, Mummified, gold mask, Egyptian

Egyptian History Quiz

Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon in Coronation Robes or Napoleon I Emperor of France, 1804 by Baron Francois Gerard or Baron Francois-Pascal-Simon Gerard, from the Musee National, Chateau de Versailles.

Kings and Emperors (Part III) Quiz

Related Questions

How did Ramses II strengthen peace with the Hittites after the treaty?
How did Seti I prepare Ramses II to become king?
How long was Ramses II’s reign?
How many soldiers may have been in each Egyptian division at Kadesh?
How tall are the colossal statues of Ramses II at the entrance to Abu Simbel’s main temple?
What happens inside the Abu Simbel temple around February 22 and October 22?
What military rank did Ramses II hold when he was about 10 years old?
What promises did the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty include?
What was the purpose of the well Ramses II built in the eastern desert?
When did Ramses II rule ancient Egypt?
When did the Battle of Kadesh take place?
Where was Nefertari buried?
Where was Per Ramessu located?
Where was the Battle of Kadesh fought?
Where was the Ramesseum built?
Which Egyptian dynasty did Ramses II belong to?
Which Hittite king made peace with Ramses II?
Which events were shown in the reliefs on the walls of the Ramesseum?
Which gods were honored in Ramses II’s main temple at Abu Simbel?
Which other regions did Ramses II campaign against besides Hittite territory?
Which places in Syria did Ramses II campaign in after the Battle of Kadesh?
Which religious festival did Ramses II attend at Thebes soon after becoming sole ruler?
Which territories had Egypt lost in Asia before Ramses II became sole ruler?
Who did Ramses II appoint as high priest of Amon at Thebes?
Who led the Hittite forces at the Battle of Kadesh?
Who succeeded Ramses II as king of Egypt?
Who was Nefertari, the queen of Ramses II?
Who was Ramses II’s father?
Why are the temples of Abu Simbel important to Ramses II’s legacy?
Why did Ramses II accompany Seti I on military campaigns as a young prince?
Why did Ramses II build the Ramesseum?
Why did Ramses II dedicate the smaller temple at Abu Simbel to Nefertari?
Why did Ramses II go to war with the Hittites?
Why did Ramses II marry Hittite princesses?
Why did Ramses II stop at Abydos after visiting Thebes?
Why is the Ramesseum connected with Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias”?
Why was Ramses II known as “the Great”?
Why were the later years of Ramses II’s reign mostly peaceful?
When did Ramses II rule Egypt?
What military campaigns did Ramses II undertake?
What famous structures were built during the reign of Ramses II?
What was Ramses II’s family like?
Was Ramses II a popular pharaoh?
What did Imhotep accomplish as an architect?
When did Imhotep become a deity?
How did Darius the Great come to power?
How was Darius the Great influential?
How did Abdel Fattah al-Sisi become Egypt’s leader?

Politics, Law & Government World Leaders Kings

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External Websites

World History Encyclopedia - Ramesses II
Live Science - How did Ramesses II die Â— and did his more than 100 children fight for the throne?
Tour Egypt - Ramesses II: Anatomy of a Pharaoh: His Family (Specifically, his Women)
National Geographic - Who was Ramses II?
PBS - Egypt's Golden Empire - Ramesses II

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Ramses II - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Ramses II - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Ramses II

king of Egypt

Also known as: Rameses II, Ramesses II, Ramses the Great

Written by

Raymond Oliver Faulkner

Fellow of University College, London; Lecturer in Ancient Egyptian, University College, University of London, 1955–67. Author of Egypt: From the Inception of the Nineteenth Dynasty to the Death of Ramesses...

Raymond Oliver FaulknerAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026 •History

Ramses II (flourished 13th century bce) was the third king of the 19th dynasty (1292–1191 bce) of ancient Egypt whose reign (1279–1213 bce) was the second longest in Egyptian history. In addition to his wars with the Hittites and Libyans, he is known for his extensive building programs and for the many colossal statues of him found all over Egypt. Ramses’ family, of nonroyal origin, came to power some decades after the reign of the...

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