“He outmatched the achievements of all kings who came before him” wrote Ramses II about himself in an inscription at the famous Amun Temple in Luxor. He went down in the history of ancient Egypt with the name “Ramses the Great”. The Badisches Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe has created a large cultural and historical special exhibition dedicated to the famous pharaoh – the first comprehensive exhibition since the Ramses Exhibition in Paris 40 years ago. From 17th December 2016 through to 18th June 2017 visitors can view around 250 exhibits from museums all over the world.                   

Virtual Ramses

A special feature of the Karlsruhe exhibit is the first virtual reconstruction of Ramses II's new capital city, Pi-Ramesse. This reconstruction has been created through close collaboration with the archaeologists working on the site from University College London and the Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim. A specially created discovery lounge gives visitors the opportunity to explore the fascinating history of the pharaoh's mummy. For the first time, visitors can get a complete look at the most powerful personality in ancient Egypt: Ramses the Great, pharaoh, military strategist, diplomat, builder and god.

Author of the world's first peace treaty

No other pharaoh left behind as many buildings and statues as Ramses II. The Ramses Exhibition uses models and huge installations that will give visitors a fantastic impression of the monumental temple complexes at Abu Simbel and Ramses' mortuary temple, the Ramesseum in Thebes. Colossal statues of the king show off the imperial might of this divine ruler.

Ramses was also a political realist and attempted to extend Egypt's area of influence. This brought him into conflict with the Hittites, the greatest power in Anatolia. This rivalry culminated in the famous Battle of Kadesh. During the peace negotiations that followed, Ramses showed great diplomatic skill and agreed the world's very first peace treaty with the Hittites. Unique written documents and valuable gifts given in tribute provide evidence of the close relationships between Egypt and its neighbours. Statues, some of which have never before been seen in Germany, and images of daily life give visitors an insight into ancient Egyptian society at the time of Ramses II.

RAMSES Weekend Offer

Experience the fascination of Ancient Egypt in Karlsruhe: the RAMSES Weekend Offer includes a hotel stay of between one and three nights (offer valid Friday to Monday) with breakfast, a Karlsruhe Card with a range of free services, a huge number of discounts, free use of public transport in the city as well as free entry to the great cultural and historical exhibition “Ramses – Divine Ruler on the Nile”.