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Ramesseum: The “Ozymandias” Temple of Ramesses the Great

Discover Luxor's "hidden gem" and the temple that inspired the famous poem "Ozymandias." This is the Ramesseum, the massive mortuary temple of Ramesses the Great. See the colossal, 1,000-ton toppled statue of the pharaoh, a "vast and trunkless" wreck that inspired Shelley's poem. You'll explore stunning Battle of Kadesh reliefs, an ancient "astronomical" ceiling, and the massive, mud-brick storerooms of a temple that was once a huge economic hub—all with a fraction of the crowds of other sites.
  • Updated: November 10, 2025

A stunning ruin lies on the West Bank of Luxor. It is away from the main tourist rush. This is the Ramesseum. The great Pharaoh Ramesses II built this “Temple of a Million Years.” He was the most powerful and famous pharaoh of all.

This was his personal mortuary temple. It was a massive complex. He built it to ensure his eternal cult and to show his power. Today, it is a stunning “hidden gem.” Most people miss it. Its greatest claim to fame is a modern one. This temple and its colossal fallen statue inspired the famous poem “Ozymandias.” Here, you can stand in the shadow of a fallen giant. You can reflect on the power of time.

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Why Visit The Ramesseum? The “Hidden Gem” Advantage

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This is one of the grandest temples on the West Bank, yet it remains wonderfully peaceful and uncrowded. Here’s why you must add it to your tour:

  1. See the “Ozymandias” Statue: This is the main event. You will come face-to-face with the remains of a 1,000-ton colossal statue of Ramesses II, one of the largest ever carved. Its toppled, fragmented head and torso are the very “vast and trunkless legs of stone” that inspired the poem.
  2. Escape the Crowds: This is the #1 “insider tip.” You can explore this massive, epic temple in near-total peace. It’s the perfect, quiet contrast to the busy Valley of the Kings.
  3. Witness Royal Propaganda: The walls are covered in some of the most detailed reliefs of the Battle of Kadesh. You can see Ramesses II (in his chariot, firing arrows) single-handedly defeating the Hittites—a “slight” exaggeration that became his signature story.
  4. See the “Temple Economy”: The Ramesseum has the best-preserved mud-brick storerooms in Egypt, showing how these temples weren’t just places of worship but massive economic engines, complete with granaries, bakeries, and treasuries.
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The “Ozymandias” Connection: A Story in Stone

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The Greeks knew this temple as the “Temple of Memnonium.” They gave Ramesses II the Greek name “Ozymandias,” a version of his royal name, User-Maat-Ra.

The Roman historian Diodorus Siculus visited in the 1st century BC. He described the giant statue and its inscription, claiming it read: “I am Ozymandias, King of Kings. If anyone wants to know how great I am and where I lay, let him surpass any of my efforts.”

This story of a long-dead, arrogant king and his ruined monument directly inspired the 19th-century English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. He wrote one of the most famous poems in the English language, “Ozymandias.”

“My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

When you visit the Ramesseum, you stand in the very place that inspired this powerful meditation on the fall of empires.

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What You Will See: A Tour of the Ramesseum

The Ramesseum luxor

Your Egypt Fun Tours guide will walk you through this vast, 600-foot-long complex. While the two main entrance pylons are now in ruins, the temple’s story is still clear.

1. The First Courtyard & The “Ozymandias” Colossus

After you pass the ruined first pylon, you enter the first courtyard. Here, you will see it. Lying in the rubble is the toppled, 1,000-ton granite colossus of Ramesses II. It is shattered, but its scale is breathtaking. It once stood 18 meters (60 feet) high, and its toppled head and shoulders are the “vast and trunkless legs of stone” from the poem.

2. The Second Pylon & Battle Scenes

The second pylon, or gateway, is in much better shape. Its inner walls are covered in dramatic, deep-cut reliefs celebrating Ramesses’s “great victory” at the Battle of Kadesh. Your guide will point out the action-packed scenes of the king in his war chariot, firing arrows into the chaotic mass of his Hittite enemies. You can also see scenes of captives being brought before the king.

3. The Great Hypostyle Hall

You will next enter the Great Hypostyle Hall. While the first courtyard is destroyed, the second is in better condition, with two rows of Osiris-style columns (showing Ramesses as the god). The main hall still has 29 of its original 48 columns standing. Look up! The taller, central columns (which have now fallen) created a “clerestory,” a high window to let light into the dim, sacred hall.

4. The “Halls of Knowledge”

Further into the temple, you’ll find the smaller, more sacred halls.

  • The “Astronomical Room”: This small hypostyle hall features a stunning, well-preserved ceiling. This is one of the first-ever 12-month calendars depicted in a temple, showing the months of the year.
  • The Tree of Life: On the western wall, look for a beautiful scene. Ramesses II sits beneath the sacred Tree of Life, while the gods Thoth (ibis-headed god of writing) and Seshat (goddess of wisdom) write his name on the tree’s leaves, granting him a long and eternal life.
  • The Library: Other chambers in this area served as the temple’s library, linen-room, and a shrine dedicated to the god Amon-Ra.

5. The Mud-Brick Storerooms (The “Insider’s Tip”)

Don’t miss this! Walk around the back of the stone temple to see a massive, sprawling complex of mud-brick arches and vaults. These are the temple’s granaries and storerooms. This is where the temple’s “economy”—the grain, wine, beer, and goods—was stored, showing you the real, day-to-day power of the pharaoh’s cult.

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How to Visit The Ramesseum with Egypt Fun Tours

The Ramesseum Temple - Egypt Travel Package

The Ramesseum is a separate-ticket site on the West Bank of Luxor. It’s located in the Qurna village, very close to Deir el-Medina.

How Long: A visit takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.

The Perfect Combination: Because it’s so quiet and unique, it’s the perfect “hidden gem” to add to your day. We highly recommend combining it with a visit to:

  • Deir el-Medina (The Worker’s Village)
  • The Tombs of the Nobles

This combination creates a perfect “West Bank Deep Dive” tour, showing you the sites that most tourists miss, all in one easy trip.

Let us show you the Luxor that lies beyond the crowds.

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Contact Us to Add the Ramesseum to Your Luxor Tour!

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