055 Ramses II

Museum Description: King Ramesses II

Room: 4/Case: None/Number: EA 79

Scripture: Exodus 5:2

Unfortunately it is not possible to determine with any certainty who was the pharaoh at the time of the Exodus.  The pharaohs would surround themselves with intimidating statues, such as the one we can see here.  Can you imagine how brave Moses needed to be, to tell such a person the message from Jehovah "let my people go"?  This is a statue of perhaps the most famous pharaoh of all, Ramses II.  He is famous for his many building projects, but this could just be because he is thought to have ruled the longest of any pharaoh, dying at around 90 years of age.  Ramses would also remove the names of other pharaohs and carve his own name in their place, taking credit for their achievements.  Notice how skilfully this has been carved: the head is red granite and the body is black granite where the join naturally occurs in the rock.  We can also see the hole that was bored to move it onto a ship, to be transported here to The British Museum.