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Yahoo
13 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
How did Ramesses II die — and did his more than 100 children fight for the throne?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The pharaoh Ramesses II is one of the best known warrior rulers of ancient Egypt, famous for his military victories and great public works. He ruled Egypt for two-thirds of a century (roughly 1279 to 1213 B.C.) during the New Kingdom period, and died when he was around 90 years old, an astonishing age for the time. But how did Ramesses II die and what happened following the celebrated pharaoh's death? First, let's start with Ramesses II's ascension to the throne. He became pharaoh after his father Seti I (ruled circa 1294 to 1279 B.C.) died. At the start of his reign, Ramesses II was at war with the Hittites, a kingdom based in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), and fought a major battle against them, now known as the "Battle of Kadesh", in what is now Syria around 1275 B.C. While Ramesses II claimed victory, modern-day historians tend to believe that neither side won the battle. Ramesses II made peace with the Hittites around 1258 B.C. and took a Hittite princess as one of his wives. Like other Egyptian pharaohs, he practiced polygamy and had many wives and concubines. Toby Wilkinson, an Egyptologist at the University of Cambridge, estimates in his book "Ramesses the Great: Egypt's King of Kings" (Yale University Press, 2023) that he had around 100 children. The pharaoh also built a new capital called "Pi-Ramesses" (also known as "Per-Ramesses") in the eastern Nile delta near the modern-day village of Qantir. The "entire city bore the unmistakable footprint of its pharaonic foundation," Wilkinson wrote, noting that it had at least 50 colossal statues of Ramesses II, most of which were built during his lifetime. When Ramesses II died, he was buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. After this tomb was plundered, his mummy was placed, along with other royal mummies, in a cache at Deir el-Bahari. His mummy is now located in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. Analyses of Ramesses II's mummy have provided insights into his cause of death. Sahar Saleem, a professor of radiology at Cairo University who has studied the mummy of Ramesses II extensively, told Live Science in an email that "Ramesses II was likely crippled by arthritis and walked with a hunched back for several years in later life. He also suffered from severe dental disease, which may have caused chronic pain or infection. However, no definitive cause of death was identified on CT (computed tomography) scans." In all likelihood he died of natural causes, Saleem said. The fact that Ramesses II lived to around age 90 was, in itself, quite a feat in ancient Egypt. At the time "most people died well before their 40th birthday and he was on the throne for two or three generations," Susanna Thomas, an Egyptologist who works at the Grand Egyptian Museum, told Live Science in an email. Ramessees II outlived many of his wives and children and it was Merneptah, his 13th-oldest son, who succeeded him as pharaoh. Thomas noted that there is no evidence of any fighting over the throne when Merneptah became pharaoh. "Twelve of his elder brothers had died before him and frankly he [Merneptah] was just next in line," Thomas said. Merneptah was probably already in his sixties when he became pharaoh and he launched a program of building new palaces and other buildings, Thomas said. While Merneptah's accession occurred without incident, his successors did face internal strife. "Ramesses II grandson Seti II has to deal with an usurper [named Amenmesse] who seems to have been successful in ruling over Upper Egypt for a couple of years" Henning Franzmeier, a senior research affiliate at the Cyprus Institute who is the field director of excavations at Pi-Ramesses, told Live Science in an email. Some of Seti II's successors also faced quarrels over the throne. The vast number of children that Ramesses II had complicated questions over succession as his descendants vied for power. There were "hundreds of members of the royal family who might have felt inclined to seek for power," Franzmeier said. In addition to internal turmoil, Egypt experienced invasions from a group known as the "Sea Peoples." One invasion occurred during Merneptah's reign while another occurred during the reign of Ramesses III (reign circa 1184 to 1153 B.C.). The internal quarrels over the throne, along with problems dealing with the Sea Peoples invasions, "ultimately led to the decline of royal power in Egypt," Franzmeier said. Ramesses II was so powerful, he was worshipped in life as a living god. And even after death, his cult continued to some degree. RELATED STORIES —Ramesses II's sarcophagus finally identified thanks to overlooked hieroglyphics —Ancient tomb of Pharaoh Ramesses II official discovered at Saqqara —Archaeologists find top half of giant Ramesses II statue, completing a century-long puzzle "Surprisingly his cult is not attested widely after his death — although bits and pieces of evidence do appear," Campbell Price, a curator of Egypt and Sudan at the Manchester Museum, told Live Science in an email. A sarcophagus mentions a priest devoted to the worship of Ramesses II who lived at the site of Abydos during the Ptolemaic period (circa 304 to 30 B.C.) Price said. This means that some people were still worshipping Ramesses II 1,000 years after he died. Price noted that pharaohs named themselves "Ramesses" or "Usermaatre" (his throne name) for centuries after Ramesses II's death. Pharaohs also treated items of his with great respect. "Objects from his robbed tomb were clearly prized heirlooms and were incorporated into later royal burials at Tanis [an ancient city], surely with a sense of reverence for their illustrious ancestor," Price said.
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
The idea was to crush his spirit': family of jailed British-Egyptian man describe awful prison conditions
Family, friends and supporters of the jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah have spoken about the conditions of his long imprisonment as his mother, Laila Soueif, remains in a London hospital in declining health on a hunger strike to secure his release. Amid a mounting campaign to put pressure on British ministers to intervene more forcefully on Abd el-Fattah's behalf, supporters say his continued detention is part of a campaign of vengeance motivated by the personal animus of the Egyptian president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, towards him. The activist, who came to prominence during Egypt's 2011 Tahrir Square protests, has been jailed twice, the second time months after his release from prison in 2019, and continues to be imprisoned despite completing his five-year sentence last autumn. Abd el-Fattah's first period in prison – from 2015 to 2019 – was spent in the Tora maximum-security prison, a place designed to hold violent jihadists, but since 2018 he has been held in Wadi al-Natrun in Beheira province in the Nile delta. While the physical conditions are less harsh than in Tora – where Abd el-Fattah was beaten – his treatment in Wadi al-Natrun has been designed deliberately to isolate and demoralise him, say supporters, depriving him for three years of books and limiting his contact with other prisoners. Between September 2019 to May 2022 he was held in a small, poorly ventilated cell, denied a bed and mattress as well as reading materials and exercise. 'The idea was to crush his spirit,' says Mona Seif, his sister, who has visited her brother in jail. 'I think after so many trials and attempts to break him, the regime has realised that the way crush to him is to isolate him from the world and render him mute. That's been the tactic since his second period in jail beginning in 2019.' What has become clear to Seif, and others campaigning to release him, is that the treatment of her brother is being driven by a very personal animosity directed at Abd el-Fattah and his family by Egypt's president. 'It seems very personal,' says Seif. 'Since 2019 the unofficial messages we have been getting from different Egyptian institutions is that our file is with Sisi.' Abd el-Fattah was a familiar and always approachable figure in Tahrir Square during the 2011 mass protests that led to the fall of the government of Hosni Mubarak. Articulate, passionate and thoughtful, his great skill was seen in bringing different groups together. Sentenced to jail for organising a political protest without permission in 2015, Abd el-Fattah was briefly released in March 2019 but was rearrested months later and charged with spreading 'fake news undermining national security' for a retweet. One person with a personal insight into what Abd el-Fattah has been through is the activist and poet Ahmed Douma, who was imprisoned during his first spell in jail in Tora, where for 10 months the two men were in separate, solitary cells facing each other, until the authorities decided their proximity was a problem. Unlike Abd el-Fattah, Douma was pardoned and released by Sisi in 2023. January 2011 – when 18 days of mass protests led to the resignation of the then president, Hosni Mubarak – 'was, still is, and will forever remain a personal enemy to Sisi. And Alaa was one of the symbols of that period,' Douma told the Guardian. 'At the same time, he's an activist who has audience and influence – a thinker with his own philosophy and interest in how political movements develop, how people move, how they understand things. 'And of course, he also became a symbol of the stupidity of the authorities. 'The truth is that even one hour in prison inevitably leaves an impact, and it's not trivial,' adds Douma, who spent more than 10 years in prison. 'There's depression from what happened in prison, whether things that happened to you directly or which you witnessed. Torture, assault and so on. 'It's not just the impact on the body, but on the mind. At some point, you realise that you've been in solitary confinement for days, months, days or years, with no communication. I haven't even begun the journey of recovery from the effects of those 10 years.' Aida Seif El-Dawla, a psychiatrist, human rights defender and co-founder of El Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, says: 'Look, in Egypt, detention is a psychological torture. I don't know what those people are punished for except that they expressed an opinion. And to put people in prison because they expressed an opinion, that's not a legal punishment. But apparently, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi thinks otherwise. 'This is the punishment of the saddest father who tortures his children for non-obedience.' What is clear is that the Egyptian authorities regard Abd el-Fattah's detention as open ended, holding him beyond his originally scheduled release date and also holding another potential prosecution over him. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Mahmoud Shalaby, a researcher at Amnesty International who deals with Egypt, says: 'The whole thing is about making an example of him. He's already been brutally punished. He has spent almost 10 years in prison solely for practising his human rights. Alaa's case is extremely extraordinary, especially as Egypt has a history of releasing dual nationals who are arbitrarily detained. 'I think the fear is that if he was released, he would go abroad and criticise the government from there. But that's not a reason to keep him arbitrarily in prison.' His lawyer, Khaled Ali, says: 'Alaa should have been released on 28 September last year.' Instead, the courts have declined to include his period of pretrial detention, prior to ratification of the sentence, meaning he will not be released until 2027 – if then. Ali says: 'He was sentenced to five years in prison and he has been detained since 28 September 2019. His sentence should have ended on 28 September 2024.' After a hunger strike in 2022, Abd el-Fattah has been allowed access to books and now a television in Wadi al-Natrun, from where he is able to write and receive letters from his family. 'Alaa and my mum are both big science fiction fans and so he reads a massive amount,' says Seif. 'Science fiction, graphic novels and anything to do with science. Now he is allowed a television, he follows tournaments. He'll treat a tournament as a whole project. If Wimbledon is on, he will follow for the day. 'But because of the way the prison was constructed, the exercise area is a big hole with concrete walls and no ceiling. He hasn't walked in sun for over five years.' The family are able to monitor his mood via his response to the cats that have sought shelter in the prison and whom he has adopted. 'If his mood is good he shares lots of pictures of the cats.' His mood in recent months as his release date has come and gone has not been good. Attempts by successive British governments and EU officials – among others – to intervene behind the scenes have been a failure as Egypt has faced no consequences for its human rights abuses. Lacking interlocutors with influence within Sisi's immediate circle, Abd el-Fattah's case is stuck, even as his mother's health in London has dangerously worsened. One person who has been involved in advocacy for Abd el-Fattah says: 'The policy of private engagement has been going on for over 10 years. You only see movement on human rights issues in Egypt where there is the threat of action.' Seif says: 'They just want his absolute surrender and Alaa completely broken and mimicking the regime's narrative. Even the slightest indication of independence they see as defiance. The whole thing is a senseless act of pure vengeance that leaves us to keep guessing, what is it for, and when will be enough.' Ahmed Douma adds: 'If I could send him a message and tell him anything, I would tell him that we are with him. And that his freedom and Laila's life are our personal battle.'
Sustainability Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Sustainability Times
'Egypt's Visionary Project Unveiled': Skyscrapers Rising Amidst the Desert and Beside the Pyramids as Revolutionary New City Takes Shape
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 The Jirian project aims to transform the desert west of Cairo into a thriving metropolis with an artificial Nile canal, part of Egypt's ambitious Nile Delta initiative. 💡 President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's series of mega-projects , including Jirian, has significantly increased Egypt's external debt, reaching $155.2 billion by the end of 2024. , including Jirian, has significantly increased Egypt's external debt, reaching $155.2 billion by the end of 2024. 🏗️ The development promises to create approximately 250,000 jobs and features luxury residences , 80-story skyscrapers, and international educational and healthcare facilities. , 80-story skyscrapers, and international educational and healthcare facilities. 💧 With 97% of Egypt's fresh water coming from the Nile, the project highlights ongoing water security concerns amid the country's conflict over Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam. Egypt's ambitious new urban project, Jirian, promises to transform the barren desert west of Cairo into a thriving metropolis. Unveiled on Sunday, this development features an artificial Nile canal, part of Egypt's grand Nile Delta initiative. This massive agricultural project aims to reclaim over 3.9 million acres of desert land, boosting strategic crop production and reducing the nation's food import bill. With a commitment to urban growth, Egypt continues its trend of mega-projects under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, despite rising external debt concerns. The country's reliance on international financial support has also grown, prompting questions about the sustainability of such ventures. Jirian: A New Urban Vision in the Desert The unveiling of the Jirian project marks a significant step in Egypt's urban development strategy. Located to the west of Cairo, this new city is designed to be a beacon of modernity in what was once a barren desert landscape. The city, whose name translates to 'Flow' in Arabic, is part of an ambitious initiative to revitalize the Nile Delta region. By reclaiming over 3.9 million acres of desert, Egypt aims to increase the production of essential crops like wheat and corn, thereby reducing its dependence on food imports. The project's scope is unprecedented, promising to create a sustainable urban environment complete with industries, logistics platforms, and homes for millions of families. At the heart of Jirian's design is an artificial canal derived from the Nile, which will wind through the city. This canal is not only a picturesque centerpiece but also a vital source of irrigation for surrounding agricultural lands. The integration of water resources into the city's infrastructure highlights Egypt's commitment to balancing urbanization with environmental sustainability. Anurag Bajpayee's Gradiant: Engineering the Future of Industrial Water The Economic Implications of Mega Projects Egypt's push for rapid urbanization under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has led to a series of mega-projects, including the new administrative capital east of Cairo. While these projects are deemed essential for long-term economic growth, they have significantly increased the nation's external debt. Since 2015, Egypt's foreign debt has quadrupled, reaching a staggering $155.2 billion by the end of 2024. This surge in debt raises concerns about the financial sustainability of such expansive endeavors. To support these projects, Egypt has sought financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union. These international bodies have provided billions in aid, with the EU recently pledging additional billions to ensure Egypt's financial stability. However, the reliance on external funding underscores the precarious nature of Egypt's economic strategy, prompting questions about the long-term viability of its development plans. 'America's Cities Are Sinking Fast': 28 Urban Giants Like New York and Houston Are Quietly Crumbling Beneath Our Feet Jobs and Infrastructure: The Promise of Jirian The Egyptian government has high hopes for Jirian, projecting the creation of approximately 250,000 jobs. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli has described the project as a 'revolution in urban and development planning,' underscoring its potential impact on the nation's economy. The city will feature a wide range of infrastructure, including luxury residences, 80-story skyscrapers, international universities, and hospitals. It will also offer an eco-friendly hotel, commercial zones, and a cultural and media district. Strategically located, Jirian will be minutes away from the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Giza Pyramids, and the nearby Sphinx International Airport. This proximity to key landmarks and transportation hubs enhances its appeal as a modern urban center. The project's developers have committed to a five-year timeline for completion, indicating a rapid pace of construction and development. Chinese Product Designer Yihan Luo Showcased 'Pikapoo' at Milan Design Week 2025 Water Security and Environmental Concerns The development of Jirian takes place against the backdrop of Egypt's ongoing water security issues. With 97% of its fresh water derived from the Nile, Egypt is deeply concerned about the potential impact of Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam. This longstanding conflict with Addis Ababa highlights the vulnerability of Egypt's water resources, which are critical to both its urban and agricultural development plans. The integration of a Nile-connected canal into Jirian's design reflects an effort to address these concerns by ensuring a reliable water supply for the city and its agricultural areas. However, the broader implications of water management and resource allocation remain pressing issues for Egypt's future. As the country continues to navigate these challenges, the success of projects like Jirian will depend on their ability to harmonize urban development with environmental stewardship. As Egypt forges ahead with its ambitious urban plans, the world watches closely to see how these projects will shape the nation's future. Will the vision of a thriving metropolis in the desert be realized, or will the challenges of debt and resource management prove insurmountable? The answer to these questions will have profound implications for Egypt and its place in the global community. Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.3/5 (26)
Malay Mail
02-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Egypt unveils ‘Jirian': Ambitious new desert city with artificial Nile channel promises three million homes, jobs boom
CAIRO, June 2 — Egypt on Sunday unveiled plans for a vast new urban development west of Cairo where a man-made channel of the River Nile will eventually wind through what was once arid desert. The new city, named Jirian meaning 'Flow' in Arabic, is part of Egypt's Nile Delta scheme, a massive agricultural initiative aiming to reclaim about 2.5 million acres west of the original Nile Delta. The ambitious agricultural project, which started in 2021, seeks to boost production of strategic crops such as wheat and corn while reducing the North African country's food import bill. The project is the latest in a string of megaprojects launched by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in recent years, including a new administrative capital east of Cairo. While officials say these projects are key to Egypt's long-term growth, they have also contributed to the country's soaring foreign debt, which quadrupled since 2015 to reach US$155.2 billion (RM660 billion) by late 2024. The country has also received billions of dollars from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union to ensure its financial stability, with the EU pledging billions more last month. At a launch event on Sunday, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli called the Jirian project 'an urban and development revolution'. He added that it would create 250,000 jobs and serve as the cornerstone of a wider development zone equivalent in size to four to five governorates. 'We are talking about full-spectrum development,' he told reporters, describing a sprawling urban zone that will include industry, logistics hubs and homes for 'between 2.5 and 3 million families'. The government did not disclose the total cost of the project which is being developed in partnership with three major Egyptian real estate firms. The new Nile Delta project comes at a time when Egypt is already under pressure to secure its water future. With 97 per cent of its fresh water sourced from the Nile, the country has been locked in a years-long dispute with Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Cairo fears could reduce downstream water flows. Developers said that a canal connected to the Nile will run through the heart of the 1,680-acre Jirian city, occupying a fifth of its total area and serving both as a scenic centrepiece and an irrigation source for surrounding farmland. The project will feature luxury residences, 80-storey skyscrapers, international universities and hospitals, an eco-friendly hotel, commercial zones as well as a cultural and media district, they added. It will also lie just minutes away from the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is due to fully open in July, the Giza Pyramids and nearby Sphinx international airport. Construction began five months ago and is expected to be completed within five years, according to the project's developers. — AFP
Arab News
01-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Egypt unveils plan for new desert city in latest megaproject
CAIRO: Egypt has unveiled plans for a vast new urban development west of Cairo where a man-made channel of the River Nile will eventually wind through what was once arid desert. The new city, named Jirian, meaning 'Flow' in Arabic, is part of Egypt's Nile Delta scheme, a massive agricultural initiative to reclaim about 2.5 million acres west of the original Nile Delta. The ambitious agricultural project, which started in 2021, seeks to boost production of strategic crops such as wheat and corn while reducing the North African country's food import bill. The project is the latest in a string of megaprojects launched by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in recent years, including a new administrative capital east of Cairo. While officials say these projects are key to Egypt's long-term growth, they have also contributed to the country's soaring foreign debt, which quadrupled since 2015 to reach $155.2 billion by late 2024. The country has also received billions of dollars from the International Monetary Fund and the EU to ensure its financial stability, with the EU pledging billions more last month. At a launch event on Sunday, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli called the Jirian project 'an urban and development revolution.' He added that it would create 250,000 jobs and serve as the cornerstone of a wider development zone equivalent in size to four to five governorates. 'We are talking about full-spectrum development,' he told reporters, describing a sprawling urban zone that will include industry, logistics hubs, and homes for 'between 2.5 and 3 million families.' The government did not disclose the project's total cost, which is being developed in partnership with three major Egyptian real estate firms. The new Nile Delta project comes at a time when Egypt is already under pressure to secure its water future. With 97 percent of its fresh water sourced from the Nile, the country has been locked in a years-long dispute with Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Cairo fears could reduce downstream water flows.
