The Ramesseum

The Ramesseum Unfortunately little remains today of the Ramesseum Temple one of the Funerary Temples built for the dead in Ancient Egypt, and which is thought to have been the most striking Temple Complex on the West Bank of the River Nile. Marking where the the rest of the Complex once stood are broken foundations and a few damaged Statues and a few Pillars, Built by Ramesses II, the Temple includes Statues of him and inscriptions telling the nature of Life in that period. The name of Ramesses II, is more often heard in connection with so many of the Monuments around Luxor and further South. He was a very creative Builder and also loved to refurbish existing Monuments adding to his credit. Controlling for 67 Years he was the prominent defeater in the History of Ancient Egypt, during the New Kingdom1279-1213BC., and expanding the scale of his Kingdom into new frontiers in the South, West and North in Syria. Ransacking by other Pharaohs who had no means of affording to quarry their own stones, plus natural disasters and the Sites used as a Vhurch by the Early Egyptian Christians have all yaken a toll on this once great structure, even though there is proof of its greatness still remains among the ruins. Remnants of an overturned Colossus of Ramesses II, that is supposed to have stood over 6 Stories high, the largest isolated Sculpture in Egypt and one of the largest ever to be attempted in the World. The embellishment of the Columns which remain in the Hypostyle Hall is also striking, proving that the fine craftsmanship that defined the construction of the Ramesseum. Although hardly anything remains the Ramesseum still remains an exhilarating visit, particularly for those who are interested in the Life and Works of Ramesses II, the mightiest of Paharaohs. The layout was the innovation for the much better preserved Temple Complex at Medinat Habu which was built by Ramesses III. If you take a visit there before your entry to the Ramesseum it will help to establish a better impression of how the Temples were meant to look.