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Egyptian Artifacts

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II

This is a large sandstone stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“.

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ talk about how Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ founded the town of Meriamun, and how he established the cult of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– there. The stela was a way to commemorate Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ presenting statues to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³.

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows (from left to right) Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, and Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Rameses II can be seen wearing the blue crown, also known as the khepresh π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ crown which was very popular among New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻! Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is receiving symbols of kingship (the crook π“‹Ύ) from the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–. This is meant to represent that Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– saw Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ as a legitimate ruler! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 believed that they were direct descendants of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–(in the 18th – 19th Dynasties Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– kind of replaces Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ in popularity as king of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ) and that they were gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth.

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is quite large (I’m 5’5”)! It was also really cool that five 𓏾 of Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ names appear on this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ! This was probably meant to show that while he was a divine figure, he also had very human qualities!

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum (and me)!