Though he passed away 3,000 years ago, the world still remembers him as Ramses II. Today, many of his treasures and sarcophagus are on display for people to admire in Cologne.

Rameses II was believed to have been extremely self-assured. However, one could justify such vanity when serving as a pharaoh, the leader and guardian of Egypt, acting as the bridge between humanity and the divine.

Once he passed away, he was mummified and kept intact forever — however, this wasn’t the sole factor that etched his impact deeply into the consciousness of coming ages.

"King Ramses was renowned not only for his military prowess but also as a conqueror. He engaged in numerous conflicts and was the pioneer of the first peace treaty," clarifies the explanation. Zahi Hawass , a distinguished archaeologist and ex-minister of Antiquities in Egypt. "Moreover, he is a constructor—traces can be found wherever he has been involved."

Hawass is the curator of the temporary exhibition "Ramses and Gold of the Pharaohs," which recently arrived in the western German city of Cologne following stops in Sydney and Paris "Our contemporary world is vastly distinct from ancient Egypt. This exhibit enables guests to immerse themselves in Ramses’ era and explore an entirely different lifestyle," he explains.

Ramses the warlord

For nearly 67 years, from 1279 to 1213 BC, Ramses II governed the Egyptian empire along the Nile River. Early in his rule, similar to his predecessor father Seti I, he found himself defending against invasions by Libyan tribes in the northwest and confronting the powerful Hittite Empire, which now encompasses approximately the regions of modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon.

As a child, he started mastering the skills of combat and joined forces with his father to engage in battles against their neighbors, fighting from a chariot equipped with a bow.

When he became pharaoh, he was only 25 years old.

During his rule, one of his best-known military operations was the campaign for control over the crucial trade hub of Kadesh. Leading an immense force comprising approximately 20,000 soldiers alongside about 2,000 chariots, he may have gathered the biggest army any Egyptian ruler had ever commanded; however, this near-invincible host came perilously close to total annihilation. Confident in triumphing over his adversaries, Ramses was misled by deceitful informants claiming the Hittite troops remained distant from where his men were encamped. Unbeknownst to him, these enemies lay hidden in wait. Relief arrived just as Egypt’s fighters faced potential ruin, resulting in neither side emerging victorious—the engagement concluded with both armies locked in stalemate.

Ancient PR Strategies

However, such an outcome was unacceptable to the pharaoh; thus, he commanded his artisans to engrave temple writings across Egypt declaring his triumph. “All foreign lands were vanquished by me alone, even as my soldiers and cavalry deserted,” he conveyed to his chroniclers. In modern terms, this might be described as "fabricated information." The actual events were revealed much later through a Hittite inscription.

However, Ramses was not just skilled in self-aggrandizement; 16 years afterward, he successfully brokered the first documented peace agreement in global history with the Hittites. These former adversaries pledged never to assault one another again and sealed their commitment with an accord for reciprocal support. A replica of this treaty can currently be seen at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The pharaoh was an ambitious construction manager.

As a result of that alliance, Egypt could concentrate on fostering cultural and economic growth—allowing Ramses II to dedicate himself fully to his grandiose architectural endeavors. It is likely that no other pharaoh oversaw as extensive construction efforts, which included establishing a new capital city known as Pi-Ramesses (House of Ramses).

His enormous burial palace, the Ramesseum in Western Thebes , close to the contemporary city of Luxor, contained a library boasting over 10,000 volumes papyrus scrolls He similarly ensured his immortality there with a colossal stone statue weighing 1,000 tons and towering at 17 meters high.

Some of Ramses' most renowned creations encompass the temples at Karnak, Luxor, and Abu Simbel, with the latter being carved directly into stone.

The pharaoh was revered by his populace for his grand architectural achievements and soon earned the title of "Ramses the Great."

He took eight wives who bore him a combined total of 100 offspring. During his 66-year rule in the 19th dynasty, the zenith of imperial splendor and strength was achieved. The pharaoh boasted about himself saying, "I have exceeded all expectations."

Ramses' remains have traveled overseas just one time.

In 1213 BC, Ramses II passed away at the age of 90, entering the afterlife. His mummified body remains intact even today.

The mummy Only once did it leave its native land: In 1976, his remains were transported to Paris for conservation as they were at risk of deterioration. On that occasion, Ramesses II was accorded the honors befitting a distinguished statesman, with cannon salvos echoing overhead in welcome.

Currently, his remains are housed in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo.

During the traveling exhibit, visitors have the opportunity to view his cedar sarcophagus adorned with hieroglyphics honoring the pharaoh. Throughout history, this sarcophagus has been relocated multiple times to shield it from tomb raiders, though they still managed to cause significant damage occasionally.

Imagine a Pharaoh such as Ramses — picture just how wealthy he must have been and what sort of treasures might lie within? His tomb likely brimming with gold and silver," Hawass shared with Sport Bangjo. Moreover, statues portraying him or his relatives, exquisite pieces of jewelry, animal remains prepared for burial, along with funerary masks, all serve as reminders of an era now past.

Was John Norman, the managing director of World Heritage Exhibitions—the organization behind the event—alarmed about potential damage to the ancient relics during their trip to Cologne? “Not at all,” he reassures Sport Bangjo. “We treat these items with utmost care; every step from moving them to transporting involves procedures as stringent as those in a military operation.”

Proceeds from the exhibition benefit archaeological heritage.

It’s highly unlikely that Ramses II ever envisioned that his possessions would one day be displayed for ordinary citizens 3,000 years following his demise.

The burial items were intended to be with him in the afterworld, whereas exquisite artworks were solely for the elite. There is also a belief that disrupting the tranquility of the tomb would invoke a curse.

Why is Egypt showcasing these artifacts globally? The answer is straightforward: "Money is needed for preservation efforts," explains Zahi Hawass to Sport Bangjo. "No civilization possesses what Egypt does—the Pharaonic monuments—neither the Greco-Roman, Judaic-Christian nor Islamic ones do. These all require millions to billions for maintenance."

He adds that the exhibit aims to inspire visitors to visit Egypt someday, contributing funds directly to the country’s treasury.

The Egyptologist likewise seized the chance in Cologne to reiterate a sincere plea: "Our aim is Nefertiti Back. My interest doesn’t lie in other Egyptian artifacts; feel free to leave them in Munich or Berlin. However, we do desire possession of one artifact that isn’t rightfully located here: Nefertiti.

The exhibit titled "Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs" continues at the Odysseium in Cologne up till January 6, 2025. Following this, it will launch in Tokyo during the spring season of 2025.

The article was initially published in German.

Author: Suzanne Cords