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The Ramesseum was constructed to be the mortuary temple of Ramses 2. While originally laid out on a grand scale, one error was done concerning its eternal qualities. It was built on a field that was inundated by the Nile's flooding once a year. By the time of construction, the nearby temple of Seti 1 had already started to fall apart.
The layout is quite similar to other temples. It faces the Nile, and has pylons, courts, hypostyle halls and closed and gloomy sanctuaries. There is however one change from the general pattern, with the incorporation of the temple of Tuya, Ramses' mother.
A couple of parts of the temple are more interesting than others. The two fallen colossi of Ramses 2 add drama to the site, while the workmen's quarters are unusually well-preserved. It is not unlikely that other temples had similar profane structures next to the sacred quarters, but in most cases they were removed upon the completion of the temple or destroyed over time by nature and man.
Ramses 2 wanted this temple to be perfect, in order to impress men and gods, and secure his unity with the gods. Therefore it appears ironical to the visitors, finding his huge statues smashed towards the ground. Impressive in size, Ramses 2 would not have been happy to find out about ordinary people climbing up on his torso and touching his face. The cartouche on the bicep says nothing less than: "Ruler of Rulers".
Fairly little remains of the interior, with the two inner and small hypostyle halls as an exception. Columns here are in nice condition and with fine decorations, containing much of their original colouring.
Of the 48 original columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall, 29 still stand.
In the first, you can find the oldest known 12 month calendar.
On the picture to the left, it is not another attempt by Ramses 2 to claim the victory at the battle at Kadesh, but rather Egyptian troops
