Rameses II

The Duck Bracelet of Ramesses II is a decorative bracelet featuring a row of finely crafted ducks, symbolizing fertility and abundance. Made for Ramesses II, it showcases the detailed craftsmanship and symbolic motifs typical of New Kingdom royal jewelry. It is suggested that these bracelets were the actual ones worn by the king himself.

Inspired from the famous ring of ancient Egyptian jewelry from the 19th Dynasty, it was commissioned by Ramesses II to honor his two favorite horses, "Mut is Satisfied" and "Victory at Thebes," which saved his life during the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites.

This statue reflects the power and richness of King Ramesses II. It originally stood outside the main temple of god Ptah at Memphis, guarding its sacred inner space. For many years, the statue was thought of as a god listening to the prayers of the devout and receiving their offerings. Two royal children, Prince Khaemwaset and Princess Bintanath are carved behind the king’s legs.

Standing around 25 meters (82 feet) tall, the towering monument that this is a model of is made from a single piece of granite weighing over an astonishing 220 tons. It was made by Rameses II—the Great—who ruled in the 1200s BC, during the New Kingdom. He raised it in front of Luxor Temple, where it stands to this day as a testament to the incredible stone working and engineering skills of the ancient Egyptians.

Rameses II, aptly known as “the Great,” was one of the most successful of all ancient Egyptian kings. During his 66-year-long reign in the period called the New Kingdom, Egypt and its economy prospered. Egypt welcomed many foreigners, and some of their gods began to be worshiped there. A Canaanite god called Hauron was one of them. Here, we see Rameses II as a child under his protection, but that is just on the surface: In a creative twist, this statue can actually be read, spelling out Rameses II’s name.

The daughter of Rameses II and his famous wife Queen Nefertari, Merytamun (“She Whom Amun Loves”) lived in the 13th millennium BC, during the New Kingdom. Her father honored her greatly, rededicating a stunningly beautiful existing colossal statue of a queen to her. It is this statue, located in Akhmim, that is faithfully emulated here by Konouz. Although the colossal statue was originally made for a late 18th Dynasty queen, possibly Tey, the wife of King Ay, its rededication to Merytamun by Rameses II was a great honor, revealing his love for his dear daughter.

The daughter of Rameses II and his famous wife Queen Nefertari, Merytamun (“She Whom Amun Loves”) lived in the 13th millennium BC, during the New Kingdom. Her father honored her greatly, rededicating a stunningly beautiful existing colossal statue of a queen to her. It is this statue, located in Akhmim, that is faithfully emulated here by Konouz. Although the colossal statue was originally made for a late 18th Dynasty queen, possibly Tey, the wife of King Ay, its rededication to Merytamun by Rameses II was a great honor, revealing his love for his dear daughter.

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel, in Nubia near Egypt’s southern border, is among the most awe-inspiring monuments of Egypt. It was cut into the living rock by King Ramesses II around 1264 BC. The temple is most well known for the four imposing seated colossal statues that dominate its façade. One of these collapsed because of an ancient earthquake, and its fragments can still be seen on the ground.

It represents the monumental entrance built during the reign of Ramesses II. The model typically features the massive twin towers of the pylon connected by a central gateway, symbolizing the temple’s grand approach. In front of the entrance stand elements such as colossal statues of the king and an obelisk, while flagstaffs once rose from the façade to display ceremonial banners. Together these components illustrate the architectural grandeur and ceremonial function of the temple’s main gateway.

Nefertari was the main wife of pharaoh Ramesses II and her tomb with its vivid wall paintings is one of the most beautiful tombs in Egypt. This watercolor copy depicts the queen (left) being led by the goddess Isis (right). Noteworthy is that Nefertari’s husband, Ramesses II, is absent in these scenes, indicating the queen's high status that allowed her to directly interact with the deities without him; such depictions would not be possible for non-royal individuals.