More than thirty-two centuries ago, the glory of Ramses II shone over Egypt like the sun; he was considered to be a living god. His extraordinary sixty-seven year reign is extensively documented: no other Pharaoh left so many records of what he had hoped to achieve, nor constructed as many monuments, offering us a unique insight into his goals and motivations. In this scholarly yet accessible work, Christiane Desroches Noblecourt sheds new light on this fascinating figure. After years of research and visits to Ramses' temples, she is able to demystify the great ruler and unlock the reality of his life and timesfact proves to be even more enthralling than fiction. From battles to temples, this is a comprehensive study of one of the most intriguing personalities of Antiquity. This booka critically acclaimed best-seller in its original French editionis now updated and illustrated with stunning color images, bringing the world of Ramses II back to life.

Christiane Deroches Noblecourt is Honorary Curator of Egyptian antiquities at the Louvre museum. With UNESCO, she spent twenty years preserving temples endangered by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. She organized exceptional exhibitions on Tutankhamen and Ramses II, and, after retirement, she organized and directed the renovation of the Valley of the Queens. She is considered to be the preeminent Ramses II specialist and is the author of many books about Egypt, including Gifts from the Pharaohs: How Egyptian Civilization Shaped the Modern World (Flammarion, 2007).