Ramesses II, called Ramesses the Great (also…

Ramesses II, called Ramesses the Great (also called Usermare Ramses) is the first truly historical redhead.

The third king of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt, his reign is the second longest in Egyptian history.

Ramesses, whose family comes from the Nile Delta region, is given to boasting.

Creditably, he fought the Hittites to a standstill at Kadesh, but called it a victory rather than the draw it really was.

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.

Microscopic inspection of the roots of Ramesses II's hair proved that the original color of the king's hair was once red, which suggests that he came from a family of redheads.

This has more than just cosmetic significance; in ancient Egypt, people with red hair are associated with the god Seth, the slayer of Osiris, and the name of Ramesses II's father, Seti I, means "follower of Seth.