Ramses III was the last great pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. of no relation to Ramses II, and ascending the throne twenty-six years after the end of Ramses II’s reign.
When Ramses II’s rule ended in 1212 BCE, Egypt was at the height of its wealth and power. By the time he ascended the throne, twenty-six years after Ramses II’s rule ended, Egypt had suffered crises, especially economic ones, but most of all, the land was threatened by invaders until then held at bay. There are no biographies of the pharaohs because these life stories didn’t interest the ancient Egyptians. The written record we do have tells of their actions, emphasizing the adherence to rituals deemed essential to assure the country’s unity. Ramses III rose to supreme power around the age of forty and reigned for around thirty years. He was an experienced dignitary and yet, nothing presaged his rise to pharaoh. By accepting the responsibility, with the permission of his wife –who would become a formidable queen– he makes a surprising decision: to align himself with the reign of Ramses II, whom he admires. And so he becomes third in the line of Ramses, “Sons of the Light”. He was a determined leader, courageous, who maintained tradition, was aware of dangers, and who cared a lot about honoring the prestigious name he carried.
