Ramesses was the most popular name among Egyptian royalty.
Eleven pharaohs were named this.
The most famous was Ramesses II, who lived between 1279-1213 BC.
Ramesses II had several wives, including Queen Nefertari, to whom the smaller temple of Abu Simbel was dedicated.
He is rumoured to have fathered up to 120 children.
The Pharaoh was determined to immortalize himself by reviving the earlier colossal style of building.
He ordered the building of numerous great statues of himself throughout Egypt.
An impressive temple stood at Abu Simbel, on the Upper Nile.
It was built to honour Ramesses and the gods Amun, Re-Harakhty and Ptah.
Another great construction stands at Karnak.
This huge temple complex covers hundreds of acres in modern day Luxor, and was dedicated to the gods Amun-Ra, Mut and Montu.
It was surrounded by the thriving city of Thebes.
Faced by a growing military threat from the Hittites, Ramesses II took personal charge of the Egyptian army.
Ramesses claimed it was his bravery that saved his men from destruction.
Both the Hittites and the Egyptians claimed victory at Qadesh, but
