For over six decades, he ruled the most sophisticated civilization on earth. But while historians love to debate his architectural achievements (Abu Simbel, the Ramesseum) and his staggering progeny (over 100 children), I want to talk about something deeper: his courage. Not the fleeting bravery of a soldier in a single battle, but the existential courage of a king who decided to become a legend while he was still breathing.
Critics call this narcissism. But look closer.
Technically, Kadesh was a draw. Egypt lost. But Ramses returned home and carved the victory into every temple wall. He refused to admit defeat, because in his mind, the fact that he survived the encirclement was the victory. The Courage of the Body: Living with a Broken King Most people don’t know that Ramses the Great was in agony for half his reign. king ramses courage
So, he smiled through the pain. That is a physical courage we rarely talk about—the courage to simply endure for the sake of others. Let’s talk about Abu Simbel. Ramses ordered two temples carved into a solid sandstone mountain on the Nubian border. The façade features four colossal seated statues of himself, each 66 feet tall.
Modern CT scans of his mummy reveal severe dental abscesses, ankylosing spondylitis (a painful fusion of the spine), and advanced arthritis. By the time he was 60, he was stooped, his hips were riddled with bone spurs, and his arteries were clogged. For over six decades, he ruled the most
In 1974, his mummy was flown to Paris for preservation. Incredibly, he was issued a valid Egyptian passport (occupation: "King (deceased)"). The French gave him full military honors upon arrival.
Critics will tell you this was propaganda to cover a military disaster. But even propaganda cannot invent the physics of a single man charging 2,500 chariots. Ramses fought so fiercely that the ancient texts claim the god Amun held his hand. In reality, it was sheer, bloody-minded audacity. Critics call this narcissism
Ramses didn't just rule from a throne; he performed kingship . He understood that in ancient Egypt, the pharaoh was the force that held chaos (Isfet) at bay. If he showed weakness, the Nile might not flood. The crops might fail. The foreign nations would smell blood.