Ramses II., User-maut-Ra, Setepen-Ra

Dynasty XIX., cir. B.C. 1333(P). The Sesostris of Manetho and Sesostris of the Greeks, and one of the most celebrated of all the Egyptian kings. The first care of this monarch on ascending the throne was to finish the beautiful temple of Abydos begun by his father, Seti I. He added also to the temples of Karnak and Luxor, restored that of Ptah at Memphis, and built as a lasting memorial of his fame the rock-cut temple of Abu Simbel, and the Rame eum, before which he placed the largest colo al statues that are known. In Nubia are also many of his buildings. This king did not hesitate to appropriate the work of his predece ors to himself, and both on temples and statues their names may be seen chiselled out, and his own cut over them. During the reign of Ramses II., the powerful Kheta, under their king, Kheta-sar, waged war against Egypt, Kadesh being the rallying-point; and, although in the Poem of Pentaur (q.v.) the king's courage and prowe are loudly sung, he comes out of the war but a very doubtful conqueror. Peace was ratified by the marriage of the Kheta king's daughter with the Pharaoh. In Syria, however, the Egyptian army was more succe ful, and there are long lists of the conquered peoples to be seen upon Ramses II.'s monuments at Thebes. From an inscription at Kuban it is clear that the working of the Nubian gold mines, which was begun during the reign of Seti I., was continued under his succe or. The "treasure cities" of Pithom and Ramses, built by the forced labour of the Israeli tes, date from this reign; and Zaan or Pa-Rameses, became one of the capitals of the kingdom. Ramses II. is by most Egypt ologists considered to be the Pharaoh of the oppre ion; he reigned sixty-seven years, and was succeeded by his fourteenth son, Mer-en-Ptah. The mummy of this Pharaoh is in the Cairo Museum.