Discover the Unexpected: Top 13 Fun Facts About Ramses II That Will Amaze You!

1. Ancient Egypt's Rambo

Who knew ancient Egypt had its own "Rambo"? This action hero didn't need bulging muscles or machine guns to show off his skills: Ramses II, famed for his military might, claimed victory at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BC, with the Abu Simbel temples built as a grand tribute to his triumph in battle and his undeniable prowess as a leader.
Source => theworldtravelguy.com

2. Egyptian Kanye

Move over Kanye, there's another King in town: Ramses II was once dubbed the "Keeper of Harmony and Balance, Strong in Right, Elect of Ra," making him the ancient Egyptian version of royalty.
Source => egyptianmuseum.org

Did you know that King Tut had almost perfect teeth with no cavities or missing ones? However, he still dealt with wisdom teeth issues and an incomplete cleft palate. Discover more about his dental secrets!

=> Fun Facts about King-Tut

3. Legacy-Building Overachiever

They say to build a legacy, you've got to put in the effort – and racking up more construction projects than Egypt has ever seen, Ramses II might have taken that advice a little too seriously: This ancient overachiever, aka Ramses the Great, was well-known for his monumental building shenanigans and public relations antics, soaring his family's fame from his grandfather Ramses I's military successes to Seti I's legitimized royal throne.
Source => nationalgeographic.com

4. Speed-Dating Soldiers

Did Ancient Egypt have speed-dating? Sure seems that way with the Ne'arin on their side: These fleet-footed soldiers in Ramses II's army were known for their rapid and efficient performance in battle, notably aiding in swinging the Battle of Kadesh to the favor of the Egyptians.
Source => warfarehistorynetwork.com

5. Giant Ozymandias Selfie

Ramesses II didn't just take "go big or go home" to heart, he turned it into a 20-meter tall, "no one is ever going to forget me" reality TV show: The Ozymandias colossus, a monumental red granite statue of himself, once stood proudly at the Pharaoh's mortuary temple, Ramesseum, weighed a whopping 1,000 tons, and inspired Shelley's famous poem "Ozymandias" (even though it didn't actually land the king his own show on Egyptian MTV).
Source => isac.uchicago.edu

6. Octo-Dad Pharaoh

Move over, Octomom: Ramses II was the original baby-making machine! With more offspring than a bunny farm, this Egyptian king was the father of an estimated 100 little Ramesses: The fun fact is that he had a multitude of wives and sired around fifty sons and fifty daughters with his principal consorts alone, undoubtedly making family reunions quite the colossal affair.
Source => touregypt.net

7. Golden-Locked King

Whoever said blondes have more fun never met Ramses II: Turns out, one of the greatest pharaohs in history rocked golden locks himself, shattering the assumption that all ancient Egyptians were strictly raven-tressed. Found among the rarities of fair-haired mummies, his platinum mane is attributed to his mixed heritage, with grandma hailing from the land of Mitanni, where fair hair was more common than Cleopatra's sharp eyeliner.
Source => ancient-origins.net

8. Oldest Peace Treaty

Talk about friends with ancient benefits: Ramses II, the Pharaoh of Egypt, inked the world's oldest known peace treaty with Hattusilli III, the King of the Hittites, in 1269 BC. This perpetual friendship contract, found on a clay tablet in Turkey and now displayed as a copper replica at the United Nations, promised everlasting peace, territorial respect, and mutual aid, showing that even ancient bros knew the value of a good bromance.
Source => un.org

9. Ultimate Selfie Game

Move over, Mount Rushmore: Ramses II had the ultimate selfie game way before hashtags even existed! In true ancient Egyptian style, Ramses II commissioned the Abu Simbel temples to boast about his conquest over the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh: The monument featured two temples, one fully dedicated to himself, with awe-inspiring colossal statues of the pharaoh that towered over 20 meters tall – talk about making a statement. These statues showcased the remarkable skill of Egyptian artisans and eternally captured Ramses II's self-proclaimed victory.
Source => theworldtravelguy.com

10. Poetic Warlord

While some ancient rulers were pharaoh-sighted in their hobbies, good ol' Ramesses II knew how to have a verses-atile reign: He was not only a fearsome military leader and prolific builder, but also a passionate poet, penning iconic works like the Poem of Pentaur, which immortalizes his victory at the Battle of Kadesh.
Source => worldhistory.org

11. Flashy Pharaoh Mansion

Behold the ancient Egyptian equivalent of a flashy celebrity mansion – without the security cameras or bodyguards: Ramesses II constructed the opulent city of Pi-Ramesses, which not only served as Egypt's capital during his rule but also housed a whopping 300,000 residents, yet surprisingly lacked any fortifications or evidence of being a backup plan for the pharaoh.
Source => worldhistory.org

12. Artistic Battle Scenes

Ramesses II, aka the Ancient Egyptian Michelangelo of the military, carved out a reputation for his artistic flair when it came to depicting battle scenes on multiple temples: Egyptian scholars today are still busily deciphering his monumental selfie collection at the Hypostyle Hall, meticulously crafted to boast about his spectacular victories in Palestine and Syria.
Source => memphis.edu

13. Royal Dentist's Nightmare

Talk about biting off more than you can chew: Ramesses II, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh known for his sixty-year-long rule and over 100 children, suffered from severe dental problems, arthritis, and hardening of the arteries toward the end of his life. His 1.7-meter-tall mummy, showcasing an aquiline nose and strong jaw, resides in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, while his original sarcophagus remains missing due to looting and multiple relocations – proving that even the mighty pharaohs can't escape life's little indignities.
Source => madainproject.com