Latest / Ramses the Great: Egypt's Most Powerful Pharaoh — Fexingo History / Ramses the Great's Coronation: Becoming Pharaoh at Abydos
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about Ramses as a warrior, a builder, a diplomat. But we haven't really looked at how he actually became pharaoh. The coronation itself. Luna: Right, the ceremony that turned a prince into a living god. Lucas: Exactly. And it wasn't just a simple crowning. It was a multi-day ritual that connected him to the gods, to his ancestors, and to the land itself. The key location was Abydos, the cult center of Osiris, the god of the dead and rebirth. Luna: Why Abydos? I know it was important, but why there for a coronation? Lucas: Great question. Abydos was where Osiris was buried—mythologically speaking. By going there, Ramses was literally walking in the footsteps of Horus, the son of Osiris, who was the mythical first pharaoh. So the coronation reenacted the transfer of kingship from Osiris to Horus. Ramses was identifying himself with Horus, the living king. Lucas: The ceremony started in Memphis, the administrative capital. Ramses would have traveled by boat up the Nile to Abydos, stopping at various temples along the way to make offerings. When he arrived, the main event took place at the Temple of Osiris, specifically at a structure called the Osireion. Luna: The Osireion—that's the symbolic tomb of Osiris behind the main temple, right? Lucas: Exactly. It's a massive subterranean structure built by Seti I, Ramses's father. The coronation involved a ritual where the new pharaoh entered the Osireion and was 'reborn' as Horus. He would have been purified, dressed in specific robes, and then presented to the gods. Lucas: One of the most important moments was the proclamation of the fivefold titulary. That's the set of five names that every pharaoh took upon ascending the throne. Each name had a specific meaning and linked him to different aspects of kingship. Luna: I've seen those names on temple walls. What were Ramses's? Lucas: So his Horus name was 'Kanakht-Merymaat'—Strong Bull, Beloved of Ma'at. The Nebty name was 'Mekkemetwafkasut'—Protector of Egypt Who Subdues Foreign Lands. The Golden Horus name was 'Userrenput-aanehktu'—Rich in Years, Great of Victories. And then the throne name, Nisut-Bity, was 'Usermaatre-Setepenre'—Powerful is the Justice of Re, Chosen of Re. Finally, his birth name, Sa-Re, was Ramses—'Re has fashioned him.' Luna: So every name was a statement. Especially that Golden Horus one—'Rich in Years, Great of Victories'—that's almost prophetic, given he lived into his nineties. Lucas: Absolutely. And these names were chosen carefully. 'Usermaatre' echoes his grandfather Ramses I and his father Seti I, linking him to his lineage. 'Setepenre' claims divine favor from the sun god. It's all about legitimacy. Lucas: There's a fascinating inscription at Karnak that records the coronation. It describes how Ramses entered the temple, was purified by the gods, and then the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt were placed on his head. The text says he 'appeared as king' wearing the double crown, the pschent. Luna: Was there a specific crown for the coronation, or just any pharaoh's crown? Lucas: There were several. The white crown of Upper Egypt, the red crown of Lower Egypt, and the double crown that combined them. But there was also the khepresh, the blue war crown, which Ramses is often shown wearing. However, for the coronation itself, the pschent was the key symbol of unified rule. Lucas: Another crucial element was the presentation of the crook and flail, the symbols of kingship. The crook represented the pharaoh's role as shepherd of his people, and the flail represented his power to discipline and protect. These were given to him by the gods, or by the high priest acting in their stead. Luna: And this all happened at Abydos. Was there a specific chamber or hall there for the coronation? Lucas: The Osireion itself has a central hall with a raised platform that might have been used. But also, the main temple of Seti I at Abydos has a relief showing the coronation of Seti, which was likely a model for Ramses's own. In that relief, Seti is crowned by Horus and Thoth, not by priests. So the ritual probably involved priests playing the roles of gods. Lucas: One more thing: the coronation wasn't just a one-day event. It included a series of processions, offerings, and a ritual race where the pharaoh ran around a course to demonstrate his physical fitness and vigor. This 'heb-sed' race was part of the rejuvenation ceremony, but it was also incorporated into the coronation to show that the new king was strong enough to rule. Luna: So he had to literally prove he was fit to be pharaoh. That's a lot more involved than just putting on a crown. Lucas: Exactly. And all of this was recorded on temple walls and papyri so that the ritual would be preserved for eternity. The coronation established Ramses not just as a political leader, but as the living embodiment of Horus on earth, the intermediary between gods and humans. Lucas: There's also a historical debate about whether Ramses actually had a co-regency with his father Seti I—meaning they ruled together for a few years. Some scholars argue that Ramses was already acting as king before Seti died, based on inscriptions that show him with a royal titulary early on. But others say those were just honorifics. Either way, his own coronation solidified his sole rule. Luna: So the coronation was as much about legitimizing his power to the people and the gods as it was about the ritual itself. Lucas: Exactly. And if you found this dive into Ramses's coronation useful, it's conversations like this that keep us going. The show stays ad-free because of listeners who support it at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Every bit helps us keep exploring these details. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. And we love digging into these specifics with you. Lucas: So back to the coronation—one last detail I love: the name 'Maa-kheru' which means 'true of voice' or 'justified.' Ramses would have been given this epithet during the ceremony, declaring him righteous before the gods. It's the same phrase used for the deceased in the Book of the Dead. So even at his crowning, there's a connection to the afterlife. Luna: Full circle—from birth to coronation to death. It all ties together. Lucas: Exactly. And that's what makes studying Ramses so rich. Every aspect of his reign was layered with meaning, and his coronation set the tone for everything that followed.