Meaning & use
Rameses
Last updated
Meaning
proper nounproper
The name of several ancient Egyptian kings, best known for Rameses II, who ruled for about sixty-six years.
Grammar: Always capitalized; often followed by a number: Rameses II.
Patterns
- Rameses II
Rameses II built enormous temples along the Nile.
Tourists stand before the giant statues of Rameses at Abu Simbel.
Many historians link Rameses with the story of the Exodus, though evidence is debated.
Common combinations
- Rameses II
- Rameses II signed an early peace treaty with the Hittites.
- Rameses the Great
- Rameses the Great is remembered for his monuments.
- reign of Rameses
- The reign of Rameses lasted over six decades.
- tomb of Rameses
- The tomb of Rameses was looted in antiquity.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Ramesses
- Ramesses is the spelling many scholars now prefer, but it names the same kings.
Word family
Commonly confused: Rameses or Tutankhamun?
Rameses vs Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun was a different, much earlier and short-lived pharaoh, famous for his tomb rather than a long reign.
Practice
Rameses II is best described as which of these?
Choose one answer.
Rameses II ruled Egypt as pharaoh. The other options are rulers or thinkers from different cultures.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Rameses”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.