Great Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel temples, Egypt. Video by Cercle | Treasures of ancient Egypt

Ramesses II came to the throne around 1279 BCE and ruled for sixty-six years—long enough to shape Egypt in his own image. By the time he died, he was not merely a king but a living monument. From the beginning, Ramesses understood something crucial: power fades, but image endures. He cast himself as the ideal pharaoh—warrior, builder, father, and god’s chosen son. This identity was not accidental. It was curated. Militarily, his reign is best known for the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites.

Ramesses II had over 200 wives. Most of them never even met him. They lived in his palace. They ate his food. They carried his name. But some went their entire lives without once seeing his face. They were teenagers sent from foreign kingdoms as living peace treaties. They arrived in Egypt, got a new name, got placed in a compound, and that was it. That was the rest of their life. But the women who DID get close to him? That's where it gets insane. His first wife, Nefertari, could read and write