The Ramesseum was constructed to be
the mortuary temple of Ramses 2. While originally
laid out on a grand scale, one error was done
concerning its eternal qualities. It was built on
a field that was inundated by the Nile's flooding
once a year. By the time of construction, the
nearby temple of Seti 1 had already started to
fall apart.
The layout is quite similar to other temples. It
faces the Nile, and has pylons, courts, hypostyle
halls and closed and gloomy sanctuaries. There is
however one change from the general pattern, with
the incorporation of the temple of Tuya, Ramses'
mother.
A couple of parts of the temple are more
interesting than others. The two fallen colossi of
Ramses 2 add drama to the site, while the
workmen's quarters are unusually well-preserved.
It is not unlikely that other temples had similar
profane structures next to the sacred quarters,
but in most cases they were removed upon the
completion of the temple or destroyed over time by
nature and man.
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