Ramesses II from Group Statue

This statue of Ramesses II is made from Aswan Granite or peridotite, and would have once been a part of a triad or group statue, depicting the king with deities. Ramesses belt buckle is inscribed with his throne name, “User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re”.

Ramesses II was the third ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty. Along with Thutmose III of the Eighteenth Dynasty, he is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom, which itself was the most powerful period of Ancient Egypt. He is also widely considered one of Ancient Egypt’s most successful warrior pharaohs, conducting no fewer than 15 military campaigns, all resulting in victories, excluding the Battle of Kadesh, generally considered a stalemate.

Ramesses II was born a civilian. His grandfather, Ramesses I, was a vizier and military officer during the reign of pharaoh Horemheb, who appointed Ramesses I as his successor. Ramesses II was approximately eleven years old at the time of his grandfather’s accession. After Ramesses I died, his son, Seti I became king, who designated his son, Ramesses II, as Egypt’s prince regent. Ramesses II was approximately fourteen years of age at the time.