The mummy of Ramesses was found in an ordinary wooden coffin that belonged to another king. Wooden coffin lid of Rameses II (Usermaatra Setepenra, 1279-1213 BCE) of the 19th Dynasty from Deir el Bahari. Historians believe that Ramesses was entombed along with a vast quantity of gold and precious gems. But when his tomb (KV7) was opened in the nineteenth century CE, it was found to be empty. The original sarcophagus of Rameses II was mummiform in outline and decorated inside and out with carved scenes and texts from the Book of Gates and the recumbent figure of the king stood out, in hight relief, on the lid.

The Coffin of Ramesses II, one of the most remarkable and striking royal coffins to emerge from ancient Egypt, presents a poignant glimpse into the craftsmanship and intricacy of the period. Though largely stripped of its original embellishments, the coffin, dating to the late 18th Dynasty, is made from high-quality imported wood and was carefully repurposed for the reburial of Ramesses II at the end of the New Kingdom. It was found, along with the mummy of Ramesses II, within the Royal Cache at Deir el-Bahari (TT320) in 1881.

circa 1279 BCE

Initially, Egyptologists assumed the cache was created as a measure to safeguard the remains of several New Kingdom pharaohs, their families, and the High Priests of Amun. However, more recent analysis of both archaeological and textual evidence presents a more nuanced understanding of the circumstances. By the end of the New Kingdom, the High Priests of Amun, who held political power in Thebes, faced significant challenges. A scarcity of gold from southern Egypt's mines and the inability to procure raw materials, such as wood from the north, were exacerbated by Egypt's socio-political instability. This situation led the High Priests to systematically clear older royal tombs to secure precious materials and resources like gold. The entire operation was concealed under the pretext of "restoring" and "protecting" the royal mummies, amid the rampant looting and theft plaguing tombs of the time.

The wooden coffin bears three hieratic inscriptions (inspect), known as dockets or cartouches, which serve as records for the official caching and list the contents of a coffin or mummy bundle. These inscriptions also chronicle the journey of Ramesses II's coffin and its occupant through various stages before their final interment at the Deir el-Bahari cache. Painted in black ink on the lid of the coffin are two large cartouches—one indicating the nomen (birth name) and the other the prenomen (throne name) of Ramesses II. Beneath this inscription, two additional texts appear on the upper legs, with one text now heavily faded, partially erased, and overwritten by a later inscription. The third, more prominent inscription, located at the back of the head on the lid, is particularly well-preserved and was clearly written while the coffin lay on its back. These three dockets together allow Egyptologists to trace the journey of Ramesses II’s mummy from his original resting place in KV7 to its final location in the Deir el-Bahari cache.

Initially, the mummy of Ramesses II was relocated to the tomb of his father, Seti I (KV17), where it remained for over 80 years. Following this, the KV17 cache was moved to the tomb of Ahmose-Inhapi, where it stayed for more than 40 years before its final transfer to the Royal Cache at TT320 during the 11th year of Shoshenq II’s reign.

The coffin itself is adorned with significant iconography. The king is depicted (inspect) wearing a nemes headdress and holding the crook and flail—symbols of kingship—emphasizing his role as ruler. The crook and flail are intricately painted in red and blue, further enhancing the symbolism. Additionally, Ramesses II is shown with a braided beard, specifically the "divine beard" associated with Osiris, the god of the underworld. This emblematic beard signifies the king’s transformation into a divine being in the afterlife.

The ureaus (cobra) attached to the front of the nemes headdress is another prominent feature. Traditionally representing the goddess Wadjet, the uraeus is positioned to strike any potential threats to the king. However, it is clear that the uraeus on this coffin was altered in antiquity. The cobra is off-center, with plastered-over dowel holes on either side, indicating that it was once part of a more elaborate vulture-cobra motif. This dual motif was likely crafted from gold and adorned with precious materials, akin to other royal burial regalia from the 18th and 19th Dynasties, such as the funerary mask of Tutankhamun. The gold, along with other materials such as the coffin’s gilded surface, appears to have been removed or repurposed during the reburial of Ramesses II.

It is apparent to Egyptologists that this coffin was not the original burial container for Ramesses II. It is believed to have been a late 18th Dynasty royal coffin, likely repurposed for the king's reburial at the end of the New Kingdom. The style of the coffin, particularly its elongated triangular face, is consistent with Amarna or post-Amarna styles. Scholars have speculated that the coffin may have originally belonged to Horemheb, the last ruler of the 18th Dynasty. The coffin's facial features, including high-relief eyebrows and painted eyes, bear a distinct Amarna style, suggesting that it may have been reused from the reign of this earlier monarch.

Today, the Coffin of Ramesses II is part of the University of California, Los Angeles Coffins Project, housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The project, directed by Kara Cooney and supported by the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), aims to study and document royal coffins and related funerary artifacts, further contributing to the understanding of Egypt’s burial practices, craftsmanship, and political transitions during the New Kingdom.

The Coffin of Ramesses II remains one of the most significant surviving objects from ancient Egyptian royal tombs, offering invaluable insights into the artistic, religious, and political context of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty.