Ramses II

Yesterday Mary and myself went to the Egyptian Ramses II exhibition at the Australian museum in Sydney.It was also our wedding anniversary so we had lunch afterwards in the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) nearby.

It was very well executed without resorting to overwhelming information--a common exhibition fault. The pic here is an estimate of his appearance, at time of becoming Phaoroh without hair or beard, from various depictions of him.

An initial fact that astonished me was that he lived in an era 1000 year after the first pyramid was built, so it's like King Charles relation with Henry 1st.

There was staggering opulence and much jewellery on display, and tombs. Ramses II tomb was raided but there was no mummy-- a mystery for many years.  He had only one wife his entire life, whom he adored  but managed to father over 100 children!!

The greatest achievement was his success against the Hittite hordes,who greatly outnumbered his army,  at the battle of Kadesh. Although it took place so long ago, more written detail of it has survived than many more recent wars. Being carved in stone probably helped?

There is also a depiction of him much older. he lived to 90

So as the tour unfolded , the mystery of whether the mummy of his body was hidden elsewhere, became more exciting.

Finally, when further tombs were discovered......