Pharaoh Ramesses II had a long and interesting reign in ancient Egypt. But did you know, his mummy was the first antiquated remains to be issued a valid passport in the 1970s?
He reigned for roughly 66 years in the 12th century BCE, the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty. He governed Egypt at a time of abundance, prosperity, and military conquests (while never experiencing a mutiny).
Ramesses II’s Early Life
The Pharaoh came to power after his father, Seti I aka Ramesses I, took the throne after the demise of Akhenaten. Akhenaten is probably best known for his attempt to convert Egyptians to a newly introduced monotheistic religion.
While Seti came from a non-royal family, under his rule he made his son a military general when he was just 10 years old. By 14 Ramesses II was already appointed Prince regent. Historians are still unclear on when he took the throne, but it more than likely happened in his early 20s.
Ramesses II Reign
Under his command, there were several successful military campaigns to Syria and Nubia (modern-day Sudan). His soldierly conduct and populist reforms made him a favorite among the people. Which earned him several monuments, temples, palaces, and shrines built in his honor across modern-day Egypt, Sudan, and Palestine. Including a 91-ton statue of him, at the Great Temple of Ptah, near Memphis.
But all of this construction wasn’t always centered around Ramesses. He also developed city centers and architectural marvels that left an indelible mark on Egypt. This reputation garnered him the nickname “Ramesses the Great” by Egyptologists in the 19th century.
The Discovery of His Mummy
The mummy of Ramesses II was discovered in 1881 in the tomb of a high priest named Pinedjem II. This is odd considering Pinedjem II lived almost 400 years after the pharaoh’s reign. It’s believed that Ramesses’ mummy was moved from its original tomb in the Valley of the Kings after looters desecrated it.
His mummy was found in pristine condition with his skin preserved along with the hair on his head. This allowed researchers to compare his likeness with the statues of him, since his facial features were still mostly intact. Surprisingly they found that his monuments didn’t really idealize his appearance. The Pharoah did have a strong jaw with a hooked nose, like the statutes represented.
Unfortunately, the mummy’s condition deteriorated due to several factors, including the humidity of the room where it was housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. By the early 1970s, the remains were riddled with bacteria causing them to show signs of decomposition. Egyptian authorities scrambled to find Egyptologists and restorers who would be capable of preserving the Pharoah’s body. Authorities were able to find experts up to the delicate task, the only catch is, they were in France.
High Flying Pharoah
At the time French law required that all persons needed to have valid identification documents to legally enter the country. So, Egyptian authorities did the only thing they could do, issue the long-deceased pharaoh a valid passport. At the time, he’d been dead for more than 3,000 years, and his occupation was listed as “King (deceased).” In case you thought government employees had no sense of humor.
When the plane with Ramesses’ mummy arrived in Paris, they were greeted by a military procession, complete with full military honors. Apparently, kings who enter France on official business are entitled to such a reception, even if they are dead. This made Ramesses the first pharaoh to be issued an official Egyptian passport and receive full military honors in France.
Once the remains were repaired they were returned to the Egyptian Museum, where the body was inspected by then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and his wife. So that they could ensure that the great Pharoah was properly refreshed.
The mummy of Ramesses II has been housed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization since 2021.
