Ramesses II Lived 90 Years: What Did It Cost Him?

Ramesses II lived to about ninety and ruled Egypt for more than 66 years. His temples promised eternity, while clay tablets recorded the people he lost along the way. This video follows three moments where the monument and the documents disagree. The first is the Battle of Kadesh, carved as a triumph but in reality a stalemate that made the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty possible. The second is Abu Simbel, where Nefertari stands as tall as the king and then quietly vanishes from the records. The third is the marriage stela, where a letter from the Hittite queen Puduhepa tells a very different story. Along the way we meet Khaemwaset, the prince often called the first Egyptologist, and follow Ramesses into his final years. The video closes on the single number that shows what his long reign cost. Chapters: 00:00 The survivor's price 01:36 Kadesh, 1274 BC: the ambush 04:41 A queen's seal on the Treaty of Kadesh 06:55 Abu Simbel and Nefertari's disappearance 10:48 Khaemwaset, the prince who restored names 11:23 The marriage stela vs. Puduhepa's letter 14:26 The final years: Paris 1976 and KV5 15:47 Who took the throne Sources: Battle of Kadesh — Kadesh (modern Syria), c. 1274 BC, year 5 of the reign Treaty of Kadesh, Egyptian copy — Karnak, c. 1259 BC, year 21 of the reign Treaty of Kadesh, Hittite clay tablet — Boğazköy (Hattusa), now in the Istanbul Archaeology Museums Nefertari's letter to Puduhepa — Hattusa archive Temples of Abu Simbel and the Meritamun stela — Nubia, c. year 24 of the reign Tomb of Nefertari, QV66 — Valley of the Queens Puduhepa's letter on the dowry — Hattusa tablets, translated by Gary Beckman Examination of the mummy of Ramesses II — Paris, 1976 KV5, tomb of the sons of Ramesses II — Kent Weeks's team, 1995 Note: The Treaty of Kadesh is not the first peace treaty in history, but it is one of the oldest where both sides' versions survive. Reading the Meritamun stela as a sign of Nefertari's illness is an interpretation, not established fact. The Ramesses "passport" story has no confirming document. "My sister" was conventional diplomatic language of the period. Next video: Nefertari wrote to Puduhepa as an equal, so how much power did women actually hold in Ancient Egypt and Sumer?    • Women in Ancient Egypt vs Sumer: Who Was F...   _______________________________________________ History Then to Now is a history channel exploring how the world has changed from the distant past to the present day. From ancient civilizations and powerful empires to wars, technology, culture, cities, and everyday life, we look at the past through the lens of the modern world. We explore how people lived, how societies developed, how technology transformed daily life, and how familiar things have changed across centuries. Each video explores a simple but fascinating question: What was life like then — and what is it like now? By connecting historical events and everyday experiences with the world around us today, we uncover the changes, discoveries, and transformations that shaped modern civilization. History isn't just about what happened before. It's the story of how we got here. From then to now. History is the story of change. ________________________________________________ Playlist 👇 History of Ancient Civilizations    • History of Ancient Civilizations   👇Subscribe 👇    / @historythentonow