Ramesses III

Ostracon of Ramesses III Crushing an Enemy

Ostracon of Ramesses III Crushing an Enemy

One of the most typical royal scenes is reproduced on this ostracon, king Ramesses III in the act of crushing the defeated enemy. The scene was widely used on pylons and external walls of temples. On this piece the king is shown upright, his head adorned with red crown topped by the two feathers and...

Red granite sarcophagus lid of King Ramesses III

Sarcophagus lid of Ramesses III

In the center of the lid of this sarcophagus, King Ramesses III is depicted as the god Osiris in mummy form. On his head he wears the Atef crown composed of ostrich feathers, a sun disk and a pair of ram’s horns. Emerging from his forehead is a uraeus, the royal symbol of protection. The king...

Statue of King Ramesses III as a Standard-Bearer of Amun-Re

Statue of Ramesses III as a Standard Bearer

This grey granite statue of King Ramesses III as a Standard Bearer of Amun-Re was found in Karnak in the temple of Amun-Re. Depicting himself as a high priest allowed Ramesses III to symbolically attend all ceremonies in every temple. Engraving his images on the walls and installing his statues in the temples magically ensured...

Workers' strike at Deir el-Medina

Workers strike at Deir el-Medina

The first workers strike in recorded history took place in the 12th Century BC in Egypt. Even though they regarded the king as a kind of living god, Egyptian workers were not afraid to protest for better working conditions. The most famous example came in the 12th century BC during the reign of the New...

Ramesses III Prisoner Tiles

The Ramesses III prisoner tiles are a collection of Egyptian faience depicting prisoners of war, found in Ramesses III’s palace at Medinet Habu. They are decorated with images of chained prisoners characterized by their ethnic attributes. It is a selection of five captives, representing peoples involved in the political world of the New Kingdom. From...

Statue of Ramesses III with Horus and Seth. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 31628

Statue of Ramesses III with Horus and Seth

The group statue represents King Ramesses III, the god Horus and the god Seth. The three statues are standing and are all approximately the same height. The statue of the king is between the other two, which are represented in profile. The King is wearing the white Hedjet crown of Upper Egypt with the royal...

Mummy of Ramesses III

Before the discovery of the mummy of Ramesses III it had been speculated that he had been killed by means that would not have left a mark on the body. Among the conspirators were practitioners of magic, who might well have used poison. Some had put forth a hypothesis that a snakebite from a viper...