Ramses II Statue in Alexandria Highlights Ancient Egypt’s Peace Legacy

A statue of Ramses II at a museum in Alexandria offers a link between ancient Egypt’s history and the message of the International Day of Peace, observed worldwide each September.

Ramses II is remembered for concluding ancient Egypt’s first peace treaty. That legacy gives the statue significance beyond its portrayal of a ruler, drawing attention to the place of diplomacy in the country’s past.

Established by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, the International Day of Peace promotes peace among peoples and the rejection of violence.

The annual observance provides an occasion to revisit Ramses II’s association with peacemaking. Seen in that context, the Alexandria statue serves as a reminder that efforts to end conflict have a place in ancient history as well as modern international life.