Egypt: The Art of the Immortality

            Ramesses II was the third Egyptian of the nineteenth dynasty. He ruled from 1279 to 1213 B.C. and was one of the greatest Egyptian pharaohs to reign. He was born in 1303 BC (possibly February 22^nd) as the second child to the pharaoh Seti I and his queen Tuya. He had one sibling, a sister Princess Tia. At age 14, he was appointed by his father as Prince Regent. He reigned in his father’s place in 1279 BC. His reign lasted 67 years, longest reign of the pharaohs. He married eight women barring the title Great Royal wives and had countless others and sired more then 100 children. Nefertari was one of his wives, the most famous and important of his consorts. The tomb of Nefertari is referred to as one of the greatest achievements of Egyptian art.

            Ramesses II is known for the Battle of Kedash. He built the city Per-Ramesses for the manufacturing of the weapons, shields, and chariots. The time came to march out to battle. He was tricked by some spies, who told him Hittite king was miles away. The spies were forced to tell them the King and his thousands of armies were just beyond the valley waiting to attack. Ramesses hardly had time to gather his divided army before the enemy attacked. The battle was crazy, both gaining nothing. Ramesses had to retreat back, for the battle loss. A peace treaty was later made between the two countries, dating to be the first peace treaty ever accomplished.

            Ramesses II died in 1213 BC and buried in the Valley of the Kings. He was later moved to the mummy cache at Deir el-Bahri. His mummy was discovered in 1881. They examined the mummy and scientific analysis revealed battle wounds and old fractures, as well as the pharaoh's arthritis and poor circulation. His last years, he suffered arthritis in his back, causing a hunched back. Also, the mummy was found to still have hair, red hair in fact.