Qantir > Pi-Ramesse Ash-Sharqiyah Egypt

Ramesses II is the most vigorous builder to wear the double crown of Egypt.

Nearly half the temples remaining in Egypt date from his reign.

Some of his constructions include his mortuary tem-ple at Thebes, popularly known as the Ramesseum; the huge hypostyle hall at Karnak, the rock-hewn temple at Abu Simbel (Abu Sunbul); and his new capital city of Pi Ramesses.

Ramesses II establishes a new royal capital at Pi-Ramesse ("the house of Ramesses") in the Nile's eastern delta (where, according to some interpretations, Hebrews, or the Biblical Israelites, may have labored before the Exodus).

He embarks on a vigorous foreign policy by attacking the Hittites, the chief opponents of the Egyptian empire in the East.

He suffers a major defeat at the hands of the Hittites in Syria, narrowly escaping capture and losing whatever prestige he has gained in five years on the Egyptian throne.

Revolts within the empire ensue.

Successfully quelling the series of internal revolts, Ramesses resumes direct hostilities against the Hittite empire in 1275, but soon concludes a peace treaty with Hattusili III.

Ramesses fortifies the western coast road of Egypt against Libyan invaders and constructs several large temples, most notably that at Abu Simbel in Nubia, where the four colossal statues of Ramesses II that form the facade of his rock-cut temple of Re Harakte, immense and imbued with awesome strength, exemplify the arc of the sculptural representations of Egypt’s kings in this epoch.

The plan of the impressive temple is similar to that of Egyptian freestanding temples except that the structure is carved out of a cliff face and the enormous statues of the king replace the pylons.

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.