You don’t have to be alive when you visit Paris – but you have to be a pharaoh, and not just any pharaoh – but Ramesses the Great

Regarded as the most powerful pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, he ruled for more than sixty years (1279 BC – 1213 BC) and is believed to have died when he was 90 or 91 years old. During his long life he aspired to become a god as well as one of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs. He built many temples in his honour – one of the most impressive is ABU SIMBEL.

From the time of his death to the time he visited Paris more than 3000 years had passed. Egyptologist had noticed in 1974 the rapidly deteriorating condition of his mummy and decided to send him to Paris for further examination. Like any other tourist, he needed the proper travelling papers. He was issued an Egyptian passport on which his occupation was listed as”King(deceased).” Arriving at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, he was received with full military honours, on a red carpet, like any other visiting head of state.

After careful examination by French experts it was discovered that his mummy was being attacked by a fungus. When he had been treated for it, Ramesses II returned to Cairo, where he now rests in the Mummy Room in the Cairo Museum.

After his long life and the difficulties in his afterlife, it is amazing to see that he still has some of his teeth and his remaining hair tells us that he had red hair.

********

Nine more pharaohs took the name Ramesses in his honour, but none equalled his greatness.

More from Egypt soon

Brigitte