In front of the ruins of the first pylon, there was once a colossal statue of Ramses, which was over 1,000 tons and 18 meters high! You can still see the remains of today.
Many other kings bunk monuments in the Ramesseum as Mernptah and Ramses III.
The Greeks identified what Memnonium Temple (associating the colossal statue in front of the temple with its legendary hero, Memnon, son of Aurora who's mother, Eos was the goddess of the dawn. Sometimes also called "the grave Ozymandias ", a name that might have derived from the ancient Egyptian word" User-Maat-Ra. "
This huge temple later inspired a poetic verse by Percy Bysshe Shelley: -
I met a traveler from an antique land
who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
standing in the desert. Near them on the sand,
The average cast broken face lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and contempt of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor those passions read,
Still survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed,
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Check out my works, ye mighty, and despair not! "
There is nothing left to the side. Round the decay
this colossal, huge, naked ruin
the lonely sands stretch far and level.
Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792-1822
The Roman historian Diodorus, had the impression that the temple was built by the legendary king named Ozymandias, and his grave was there. Even detailed descriptions of the tomb of Ozymandias is offered and described the inscription that was at the entrance, which says: -
"I am Ozymandias, king of kings. If anyone wants to know how I am and where I lie, it surpassed any of my works."
The temple is 600 feet by 220 feet. The pylon is the Temple was the main entrance and was once decorated with scenes from the Battle of Kadesh, but is now in ruins! On the right wing of the tower is entries representing 118 cities that Ramses III had acquired during his military campaigns. You can also see scenes of prisoners to the king. On the left side of the tower, there are scenes of the famous battle between Ramses II and the Hittites. After spending the first outdoor patio where you can see many damaged statues. There once was a colossal statue of Ramses II and his feet, read:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair"
In the great hall of columns there are 29 columns still stand, the averages are lower than the sides to allow light in the temple! Here on the left, you can see more scenes of the Battle of Kadesh.
To the right of this room, and outside the walls of the pillared hall, is a much older temple built by Seti I and dedicated to the god Amon Ra. The second cut is a lot better than the first state, and can see both sides, two rows of columns representing Rameses II Osiris. Further south, there is another small hypostyle hall that once had 8 columns papyrus bud. This is the room of astronomy is, where is the first 12 calendar months. This room is decorated with scenes of the offer, and the scenes of the sacred barque of Amun Ra. On the west wall, you will see Ramses II sitting under the tree of life, where God Thoth and the goddess Seshat register your name on the leaves of the tree for a long life.
If you go later, on the west side, are the ruins of two corridors leading to a library, a linen room and badly ruined shrine, which was dedicated to the god Amun Ra.
South of the temple, Ramses II built a large palace breaking clay where he stayed during his visits to the site. South of this section, is the small temple of Ptah-Mern, the successor of Ramses II. In 1896, the great Egyptologist William Flinders Petrie, excavations made on this site.
Petrie found here a very important Stella known as "Israel Stella," which contained the first reference to the "tribe of Israel." Because of this Stella, many archaeologists believe Mern-Ptah is probably the Pharaoh of the Exodus
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