Ramesses III (c.1184-1153 BC), second king of the Twentieth Dynasty, is considered the last great ruler of ancient Egypt. Modelling himself on the great pharaohs of the past – in particular, his namesake Ramesses II – he presented himself as a successful warrior- king, marking his military prowess in reliefs at Karnak and his ‘mortuary temple’ at Medinet Habu.
In reality, he had inherited an empire with serious socio-economic problems, under threat from the great political changes that were sweeping across the ancient Near East. Yet his reign is remarkable because of the socio-cultural changes happening in Egyptian society at this time – notably the significant religious development in the area of the people’s relationship with the gods, and the relationship between the gods and the Egyptian king. While the picture of Ramesses as the all-conquering king has dominated historical thought, there is another equally important image of the king: that of a pious ruler who bends to the will of the gods.
Personal religion
‘Personal religion’ is one of the most interesting and influential historico-religious phenomena in ancient Egypt. The concept of a personal relationship between the individual and divinity, regardless of the status or power of that individual, was extraordinary. It stemmed from a tradition rooted in teachings from the Old and Middle Kingdom, but it was during the New Kingdom that a novel religious dimension emerged, with significant impact on all levels of Egyptian society.
