King Ramses Courage Better May 2026
In 1881, archaeologists found his mummy. And here is the final, haunting image of his courage: His hair was red (dyed with henna), his skin was leathery, and his mouth was still curled in a slight, knowing smile. Even in death, he looked like he was in charge.
Technically, Kadesh was a draw. Egypt lost. But Ramses returned home and carved the victory into every temple wall. He refused to admit defeat, because in his mind, the fact that he survived the encirclement was the victory. The Courage of the Body: Living with a Broken King Most people don’t know that Ramses the Great was in agony for half his reign. king ramses courage
He is walking into a trap.
Yet, he continued to father children. He continued to ride in processions. He continued to oversee the building of the greatest temples in history. In 1881, archaeologists found his mummy
Charge the line. Build the monument. Live so loudly that the future has no choice but to remember your name. Technically, Kadesh was a draw
Furthermore, the temple was oriented so that twice a year (on his birthday and his coronation day), the sun would penetrate the inner sanctuary to illuminate the statues of Ramses and the gods—except for Ptah, the god of darkness, who remained in shadow. Ramses literally rewrote the laws of the universe to prove he was divine.
Modern CT scans of his mummy reveal severe dental abscesses, ankylosing spondylitis (a painful fusion of the spine), and advanced arthritis. By the time he was 60, he was stooped, his hips were riddled with bone spurs, and his arteries were clogged.
