Question 1

True or false: Ramesses II built the Great Pyramid of Giza as his personal tomb.

Accepted Answer

False. The Great Pyramid was built by Pharaoh Khufu over 1,000 years before Ramesses II. Ramesses built the Ramesseum and Abu Simbel.

Question 2

True or false: Ramesses II lived to be over 90 years old, an extraordinary age for his time.

Accepted Answer

True. He ruled for 66 years and died around age 90, likely due to arthritis and dental issues, but still exceptional.

Question 3

True or false: Ramesses II had over 100 children, many of whom he outlived.

Accepted Answer

True. He fathered at least 90 sons and 60 daughters, and some of his eldest sons died before he did, including his heir Khaemwaset.

Question 4

True or false: Ramesses II signed the first known peace treaty in history with the Hittites.

Accepted Answer

True. After the Battle of Kadesh, he and the Hittite king Hattusili III agreed to a mutual defense treaty around 1259 BCE.

Question 5

True or false: Ramesses II was the pharaoh who opposed Moses during the Exodus, according to the Bible.

Accepted Answer

False. No direct archaeological evidence links Ramesses II to the Exodus; the Bible never names the pharaoh, and scholars debate the timeline.

Question 6

True or false: Ramesses II had a pet lion that accompanied him during military campaigns.

Accepted Answer

False. No credible evidence supports a pet lion; lions appear in Egyptian art as symbols of power, not as royal pets.

Question 7

True or false: Ramesses II personally led the Egyptian army into battle at the age of 80.

Accepted Answer

False. While he fought at Kadesh in his 20s, by age 80 he was likely too frail; records show he delegated military command later in life.

Question 8

True or false: Ramesses II’s mummy was discovered with its hair dyed red using henna.

Accepted Answer

True. When his mummy was found, traces of red henna were visible, likely to mask graying hair and project vitality.

Ramesses II Trivia Questions