Ramesseum Temple is located on the western bank of the Nile River in Luxor. This temple was dedicated to King Ramses II as his mortuary temple and to the god Amun-Ra. It is largely ruined, with only the remains of the temple left.
This temple is known as the Ramesseum. This name was given to the temple by the French Champollion, who deciphered the Rosetta Stone.
The Greeks linked this temple to the northern statue of King Amenhotep III and the Greek hero Memnon and considered the Ramesseum to be the tomb of Memnon.
There is a legend associated with the remains of the huge fallen statue of King Ramses II, which is located in the first open courtyard. It is the legend of Ozymandias, the Roman hero, whose body fragmentation gives strength to the place. The English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote a poem linking this fallen statue to their hero Ozymandias. The words of this poem were written on the pedestal of the statue.
The design of this temple
The temple begins with the pylon, which is decorated with inscriptions of the Battle of Kadesh, which was carried out by King Ramses II against the Hittites. This pylon is broken down.
The first open courtyard houses the remains ofcolumns , but the most famous this is the remains of colossal statue of king Ramses II
Then there is the large hypostyle with 29 columns still standing. Then we reach the second courtyard with two rows of statues representing King Ramses II in the form of Osiris god.
Then we reach the second hypostyle with 8 columns in the shape of papyrus. This hall is characterized by:
- The Astronomical scenes.
- Scenes of offerings to the gods.
- The sacred boat of Amun-Ra.
- A unique scene of King Ramses II sitting in front of the gods Thoth and the goddess Seshat writing his name on the leaves of the tree of life to have a long life.
- Another scene for the king Ramses II in front of the Triad of Thebes.
you can visit RamesseumTemple with Explore the Land of Pharaohs
