Pi-RamessesWithin Ramesses II’s sixty-seven years of reign the pharaoh built a new capitol city, Pi-Ramesses, also referred to as ‘House of Ramesses, Great of Victories’. Ramesses began the building of the city within his second year of reign but did not finish until his until his twentieth year as ruler of Egypt.
Situated within the Eastern Delta, Pi-Ramesses became the third religious capitol city of Egypt, the others being Memphis and Thebes. The pharaoh had several reasons for moving the main religious capitol to the Delta. Historians suggest that Ramesses may have had family relations nearby but it is more likely Pi-Ramesses was made capitol because of the locational advantages as being located so far north the pharaoh was closer to the Asiatic regions and it was easier for foreign diplomats to locate the capitol. Within and after Ramesses reign Pi-Ramesses was distinguished for its elaborate decorations and size. Although a majority of the city has decayed historians are able to look at poems and inscriptions to gather an accurate description and layout. The town was believed to house an estimated thirty thousand people. Many temples were erected in honour of a variety of gods including; Re, Amun, Ptah and Seth along with housing for the officials and burocracies brought by the pharaoh. Before taken over by Ramesses II historians believe that the palace at Pi-Ramesses had been the summer house of Seti I. Ancient scribes refer to the palace of Ramesses as: “Beauteous of balconies, dazzling with halls of lapis and turquoise.” (Kitchin, pg. 120). And “the palace of this city is similar to the two horizons of heaven.” (pg. 253) By creating a capitol city renowned for its beauty and wealth and placing statues of himself throughout the capitol Ramesses II successfully emphasised his power and divinity. The city continued to prosper for over ten decades after the death of Ramesses II. |