History of Pi-Ramesse TO BE ADDED TO SOON

Pi-Ramese was founded by Seti I, father of pharaoh Ramesses The Great. The city was seat of government for the 19th and 20th Dynasties.

The location of this city in antiquity is uncertain, but this locale stands the best chance of having hosted the capital of Egypt during Ramissid times. The environment of the Delta was less friendly for artifact preservation than lands more arid and southerly than this.

Mounds discovered in this region indicate settlement during the Middle Kingdom, the Second Intermediate Period and the Ramissid periods of the New Kingdom.

Pi'ramesse was built by Seti I. Portions of it overtopped the older Avaris, built by the Hyksos of the 2nd Intermediate Period.

A royal residence of the 19th and 20th Dynasties, Pi-ramesse was abandoned in the 21st Dynasty due to the Nile becoming drier in this region of the Delta. From here, many of the portable artifacts were removed at that time to Djan'net or to Per-Bastet.

The 1920's brought the first indication to modern eyes that New Kingdom royal settlements once thrived in this region and today's towns of Qantir, Samana, Ezbet Yasergi, Tell el-Dab'a, and Tell Abu Shafi'a cover portions of the territory that most likely once hosted this important royal city.

Pi'ramesse comprised a residential area, the Palace, various temples, a necropolis, and a garrison and a large stables; and, no doubt, the places where ordinary inhabitants performed the many "small" deeds to oil the necessary machinery of everyday life: weaving, cooking, embalming, and more.
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Society in ramesid times TO BE ADDED SOON

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Anatomy of a Pharaoh

Ramesse Usermaatre Setepenre, better known as Ramesses II and Ramesses The Great.
He became one of only a dozen pharaohs to rule for over half a century, Tutmosis III, of the XVIII Dynasty, being the only one to have preceded Ramesses and only being surpassed by three years by both Nicrotis I and Ankhnesneferibre; both pharaohs during the XXVI Dynasty.
Ramesses’ 67 year rule, during the XIX Dynasty, was to be seen as the Golden Age of Egyptian history, in which the country not only grew it’s borders but also developed greatly in both building techniques as well as the great amount of buildings that were erected during Ramesses’ era.
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Ramesses and his father, Seti I, built a palace in Avaris where Ramesses I established a new capital when he came to power. When Seti I died in 1290 B.C.E. and Ramesses assumed the throne he began a series of wars against the Syrians.
One such battle, the famous Battle of Kadesh, was to be inscribed on the walls of Ramesses temple.
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Amongst Ramesses' building accomplishments the following are found:
Two temples at Abu Simbel,
The hypostyle hall at Karnak,
A mortuary complex at Abydos,
The Colossus of Ramesses at Memphis,
A vast tomb at Thebes,
Additions at the Luxor Temple, and
The famous Ramesseum.
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Not only was Ramesses a great builder but he lived to be 96 years old, had 200 wives and concubines, 96 sons and 60 daughters. His primary wife being Nefertari, followed by Queen Istnofret, his two daughters, Binthanath and Merytamon, and the Hittite princess, Maathornefrure.
Ramesses was originally buried in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings, but due to looting in later Dynastic times was moved and finally came to rest in the Royal Cache, found inside the tomb of High Priest Pinudjem II.

Ramesses was followed to the throne by his thirteenth son, with his queen Istnofret, Merenptah.
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