Ramesseum

Why it matters

The mortuary temple of Ramesses II, once known as the 'House of a Million Years,' built with the goal of immortalizing the pharaoh's name forever. It holds the remains of one of the largest royal statues in Egypt — a colossus of Ramesses II that once weighed over a thousand tons before being toppled by earthquakes and time; the broken head of a similar statue was taken to the British Museum in London, where it is known as the 'Younger Memnon.' The site also included a library the ancient Egyptians called the 'House of Life,' as well as massive vaulted granaries whose remains are still clearly visible today. Joint French-Egyptian archaeological missions continue to work at the site, regularly uncovering new details about its original layout.

The fallen statue inspired the English poet Percy Shelley to write his famous poem 'Ozymandias,' a meditation on how even the greatest kings are humbled by time — one of the most well-known Western literary works about ancient Egypt.

Plan your visit

Prices and hours checked October 2026. Always confirm at the ticket office. Card payment only at most ticket offices.

Your route through the Ramesseum

1. 1

   Pylon & battle scenes

   Ramesses II tells his version of the Battle of Kadesh.

2. 2

   The fallen colossus

   Pieces of a giant statue of Ramesses II — the ‘Ozymandias’ of Shelley’s poem.

3. 3

   Second court

   Pillars with statues of the king as Osiris.

4. 4

   Hypostyle hall

   A forest of columns, with scenes of the king before the gods.

5. 5

   Granaries

   Huge mud-brick vaults behind the temple — still standing after 3,000 years.

Good to know

• Combine with the Colossi of Memnon, a few minutes away.
• Rarely crowded — great for photos.