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Pages in this article: [ THE LIFE OF RAMESSESS THE GREAT ] Ramesses the god
Ramesses knew what was required to be a great pharaoh, a brave warrior, a mighty builder, an educated scribe, and an effective priest. Ramesses had already fulfilled the first requirement and had all his victorious campaigns carved into the walls of the most public monuments exaggerating his achievements. The battle of Kadesh was re-enacted on at least nine national monuments, which included the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Abu Simbel, and the Ramesseum.
In addition to the city being one of beauty with its palaces, temples and its spatial residential districts, it was a garrison city, housing numerous troops, who were on a constant state of readiness, allowing Ramesses to easily counteract any military interventions from the east i.e. the growing power of the Assyrians. Ramesses never abandoned the traditional role of pharaoh travelling up and down the length of the Nile, making personal appearances to every corner of his realm, re-assuring and at the same time warning his people that no matter where they lived, nothing could happen without him knowing about it. What drove Ramesses to construct and dedicate more monuments in his own honour than any of his predecessors?
Pharaoh, albeit a semi-divine being, also displayed normal human vanities and insecurities. He wanted to prove to his people and the gods that he was worthy of his divine status and was better than his predecessor. In order to prove their worthiness, the kings would ensure that their achievements were celebrated for eternity by having their names, titles, and deeds carved in stone throughout the land. A stele from the New Kingdom expresses this doctrine: "Publish your deeds throughout the world so that all may congratulate you."
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