Role in Religion
Religion was major aspect of the Egyptian lifestyle and to be a successful pharaoh, a relationship with the gods was essential. This was because the gods insured the continuing prosperity of the empire as the gods were believed to protect and prevent disorder from occurring within Egypt. This was done through honouring of the gods with elaborate temples and offerings. Within the New kingdom various gods were promoted mainly Amen, god of Thebes, who was associated with the sun god Re. The Heb-sed Festival was a significant event that marked the reign of thirty years of a pharaoh and was celebrated by the whole empire.
Throughout the reign of Ramesses II there was large emphasis on religion as to have Maat a good relationship between the gods and the pharaoh was essential. Numerous gods were worshiped mainly including Re-Horakhty, Amen-Re, Ptah, Ramesses II and his chief wife Nefertari. Though Ramesses worshipped many gods, a significant amount of tribute was given to Amen, god of Thebes. This may have been because Ramesses believed that Amen was responsible for Ramesses great ‘victory’ at the Battle of Kadesh as Amen had protected Ramesses and his army from the Hittites.
Ramesses II’s communication and devotion to the gods can be seen throughout the the size and number of temples the Pharaoh built. The temples can be described as mirrors of Ramesses II’s religion as they reflect the pharaoh’s chief gods. Historian N.Grimal describes Ramesses building programs in relation to restoring the original gods:
Within his Temples, Ramesses: “sought to anchor the restored monarchy firmly in the centre of Egyptian religious faith and practice” (N.Grimal, pg. 266)
Ramesses’ devotion to the gods can also be seen through his conduct of many religious rites and significant festivals, the most well-known of these being the Heb-sed festival. The pharaoh celebrated fourteen Heb-sed festivals in his lifetime, his first signifying thirty years of reign as pharaoh and then continually every third year.
Throughout the reign of Ramesses II there was large emphasis on religion as to have Maat a good relationship between the gods and the pharaoh was essential. Numerous gods were worshiped mainly including Re-Horakhty, Amen-Re, Ptah, Ramesses II and his chief wife Nefertari. Though Ramesses worshipped many gods, a significant amount of tribute was given to Amen, god of Thebes. This may have been because Ramesses believed that Amen was responsible for Ramesses great ‘victory’ at the Battle of Kadesh as Amen had protected Ramesses and his army from the Hittites.
Ramesses II’s communication and devotion to the gods can be seen throughout the the size and number of temples the Pharaoh built. The temples can be described as mirrors of Ramesses II’s religion as they reflect the pharaoh’s chief gods. Historian N.Grimal describes Ramesses building programs in relation to restoring the original gods:
Within his Temples, Ramesses: “sought to anchor the restored monarchy firmly in the centre of Egyptian religious faith and practice” (N.Grimal, pg. 266)
Ramesses’ devotion to the gods can also be seen through his conduct of many religious rites and significant festivals, the most well-known of these being the Heb-sed festival. The pharaoh celebrated fourteen Heb-sed festivals in his lifetime, his first signifying thirty years of reign as pharaoh and then continually every third year.