Find the original coffin of 'the greatest pharaoh' Ramesses II

Another precious piece of the puzzle about Ramesses II, the most praised pharaoh of ancient Egypt, has just been revealed.

According to Heritage Daily, Ramesses II was the third pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty during the New Kingdom of Egypt.

The reign of Ramesses II is often considered the most famous in Egyptian history, marked by several major military campaigns and many great construction projects. He is also often praised as a "pharaoh of pharaohs".

A statue of Pharaoh Ramesses II - (Photo: HISTORY SKILLS).

Based on historical documents, most Egyptologists believe that Ramesses II ascended the throne in 1279 BC and reigned until his death at the age of about 90 in 1212 or 1213 BC.

His remains are buried in the KV7 tomb complex in the Valley of the Kings, opposite the KV5 tombs of his sons and close to the KV8 tombs of his son, Pharaoh Merenptah. .

During the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses III (1186-1155 BC) of the 20th Dynasty, Ramesses II's tomb was vandalized by tomb robbers.

The priestly officials transferred his remains to the tomb of Queen Ahmose Inhapy, then to the tomb of the high priest Pinedjem II.

After that, his final resting place was the tomb site TT320 , located next to the site of Deir el-Bahari, in the Theban Necropolis opposite the citadel of Luxor.

This mausoleum is a royal burial site, containing the mummies of more than 50 pharaohs, queens and other royal members during the New Kingdom.

The mummy of Ramesses II was discovered at TT320 during excavations in 1881.

He was found placed in a simple wooden coffin, suggesting that this was only a temporary measure until a more permanent resting place could be determined and a new coffin crafted, which never happened.

However, a treasure was unexpectedly revealed through research led by Sorbonne University (France).

Published in Revue d'Égyptologie, the authors said a coffin fragment discovered in 2009 at Abydos was part of the original sarcophagus in which the mummy of Ramesses II had been placed.

The coffin piece was identified as the original coffin of Pharaoh Ramesses II - (Photo: Kevin Cahail).

It was part of an elaborately crafted coffin, befitting the nobility of a pharaoh.

The decoration and text on the sarcophagus fragment indicate that it was first used for Ramesses II and later reused for a high priest of the 21st Dynasty, Menkheperre (c. 1000 BC ).

Menkheperre may have been the one who transported the coffin to Abydos after the KV7 tomb was looted.