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Which events were shown in the reliefs on the walls of the Ramesseum?
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Ramses II
A larger-than-life Ramses II towering over his prisoners and clutching them by the hair. Limestone bas-relief from Memphis, Egypt, 1290–24 bce; in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
The walls of the Ramesseum, the mortuary temple of Ramses II, are decorated with several significant historical and religious reliefs:
- Military Campaigns: The wide outer pylon features vigorous scenes depicting the king’s wars against the Hittites in Syria. Additionally, the inner pylon contains episodes from the Battle of Kadesh.12
- Religious Festivals: The inner pylon also includes scenes from the festival of the harvest god, Min.12
These reliefs serve to illustrate the pharaoh's role as both a powerful warrior king and a pious leader dedicated to the gods.13