Abu Simbel as Military Propaganda: Ramesses II, Kadesh, and the Southern Frontier with Kush

Long before the development of modern psychological operations, Ramesses II mastered the art of influence through monumental architecture. This research examines how the Great Temple and surrounding inscriptions at Abu Simbel functioned as a deliberate medium of military propaganda, crafted to project the pharaoh’s authority, intimidate foreign powers, and legitimize his divine rule. Geographically, the study focuses on the Nubian border region of southern Egypt, where the temple’s strategic placement along the Nile made it visible to travelers and foreign emissaries entering Egyptian territory. Chronologically, the project situates Abu Simbel within the 19th Dynasty (circa 13th century BCE), a period defined by Ramses II’s military campaigns and consolidation of imperial power.

Using a qualitative framework that integrates iconographic, symbolic, and contextual analysis, this study evaluates how imagery and architecture worked in concert to shape public perception. Primary data includes field observations and photographic documentation gathered during on-site research at Abu Simbel, the Ramesseum, and the Luxor Museum, supplemented by archival lithographs of the temple’s original painted reliefs accessed through the Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The findings reveal a complex visual strategy embedded within the temple’s design. Iconography of bound prisoners and battle scenes is positioned beneath colossal statues of Ramses, creating a vertical hierarchy that symbolizes total subjugation. Additionally, the temple’s mirrored battle scenes and duplicated stelae reinforce a message of perpetual military triumph, echoing similar depictions from the Battle of Kadesh at the Ramesseum. The monument’s fortified exterior and proximity to Nubia suggest that it was intended to communicate Egyptian dominance to both domestic and foreign audiences.

Modern scholarship increasingly recognizes propaganda as a core element of royal Egyptian art, used to project royal power, shape public perception, and intimidate adversaries. This research builds on that understanding by showing that Abu Simbel’s narrative was uniquely directed toward a foreign military audience, Nubian mercenaries, and frontier populations along Egypt’s southern border. Through its commanding scale, repeated scenes of conquest, and placement overlooking the Nile, the monument conveyed a tailored message of dominance meant to reinforce Egyptian authority and deter rebellion. Abu Simbel thus stands as a deliberate and outward-facing expression of political and military influence in the ancient world.