Dr. Campbell Price

So this was a way of commemorating them.

He had a special tomb, a vast tomb built in the Valley of the Kings, KV5, for the children, for the sons.

But then it's also a thing about the psychology of Ramses II, because he lives...

a long life he's on the throne 66 years so assuming he comes to the throne say at 24 he's 90 by the time he dies which is very good going for an ancient ruler albeit he had the best doctors and lived a life of great luxury but you could imagine you know as you see your children die your wives die your grandchildren die

Maybe you, Ramses, thought, I am a god, I'm not going to die.

Good question.

I mean, we do have Nile flood heights, levels from different King's Reigns.

I don't think anything was particularly catastrophically low or high.

Of course, if it's too much, it's a bad thing as well.

It spells bad news.

But I think, looked at another way, you're right.

It could be that he was just doing well.

Whereas later kings like Ramesses III, we know, just happened to get a bad run and ruled under some more economically straightened times.

Yeah, Nefertari...

to whom he dedicated that smaller temple at Abu Simbel, seems to be the first senior wife.

That's clear.

But then there is a second senior wife, Iset Nofret, who's the mother of Kaimwasa and also of Merimptah.

So she's important, probably buried somewhere at Saqqara.

And yes, eventually, her son, the 13th son, Merimptah becomes king.

Well, we nowadays call it the Ramessium.