page_title: Ramesses II
section_title: Battle against Sherden sea pirates
hierarchical_section_title: Ramesses II / Campaigns and battles / Battle against Sherden sea pirates
caption_attribution_description: Relief of Ramesses II on limestone, still retaining its color. Like from early in his reign, given the stylistic similarities to that of his predecessor, Seti I. Dynasty 19, circa 1279-1213 B.C.
context_page_description: Ramesses II was one of the greatest Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. He was the third Pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. His successors and later Egyptians called him the "Great Ancestor".
  When he was 14, Ramesses was appointed successor by his father Seti I. He ruled Egypt from 1279 BC to 1213 BC.ᵖ¹⁶⁵ This is a total of 66 years and 2 months. It is likely that he died in his 90th or 91st year. On his death, he was buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings; his body was later moved to a royal cache where it was discovered in 1881. It is now on display in the Cairo Museum.
  Ramesses II led several expeditions north into the lands east of the Mediterranean. He also led expeditions to the south, into Nubia.
  The early part of his reign was focused on building cities, temples and monuments. He established the city of Pi-Ramesses in the Nile Delta as his new capital and main base for his campaigns in Syria.
context_section_description: In his second year, Ramesses defeated the Sherden sea pirates. They were causing problems along Egypt's Mediterranean coast by attacking cargo-laden vessels on the sea routes to Egypt.ᵖ²⁵⁰ Ramesses posted troops and ships at strategic points along the coast, and allowed the pirates to attack their prey. He then caught them by surprise in a sea battle, capturing them all in a single action.ᵖ⁵³  A stele says they came "in their war-ships from the midst of the sea, and none were able to stand before them". Shortly afterwards Sherden are seen in the Pharaoh's body-guard with their horned helmets, round shields and the great Naue II swords.
caption: Relief of Ramesses II on limestone, still with its original colour.
exif: {}