Ramses II (ca.
1304-
1213 BC), the third ruler in
Ancient Egypt's 19th
dynasty, was the greatest of the
pharaohs, and also lived the longest (90 years), built the most temples (countless), and had the most children (about
125). Ramses II was a capable general, extending Egyptian holdings in
Syria at the expense of the
Hittites in a series of
wars, despite a defeat at
Kadesh in the early part of his reign. Ramses II was also one of the earliest
propagandists, claiming Kadesh was actually a great victory and incribing his version of the battle all over Egypt.
Ramses was an insatiable temple builder, constructing some of the largest temples in Egpytian history, including the massive hypostyle temple of Amon at Karnak, twin temples to himself and his first wife Nefertari at Abu Simbel, and his gargantuan funeral temple, the Ramesseum.
Ramses II was the pharaoh who tossed Moses and the Jews out of Egypt in the Biblical Book of Exodus, and one of the many statues he had made of himself was the inspiration for Shelley's poem Ozymandias.