Pi-Ramesses
To get to Pi-Ramesses, you have to drive to Faqus, and from there 9 km by taxi. Some of the excavations are covered by the village buildings, many of the monuments have been destroyed. Pi-Ramesses (Per-Rameses, Pi-Ramesses), capital of the Ramessid period, it lies southwest of the modern village of Al-Kanatir and only 2 km from Awaris, the capital of the Hyksos.
Foundation of a new capital, far from Thebes of Amun and the intrigues of the priests, was a political endeavor. Hence, it was easier to guard the eastern and western borders, exposed from the west to attacks by the Libyans, and from the east to the Hittite raids the Ramessites returned to their place of origin, where they could worship Set. A vast city – House of Ramses, full of palaces and temples were built partly on the ruins of Avaris. During the archaeological works, the palace was unearthed (1929) from the time of father Ramesses II, Seti I., residential districts and workshops. In the center was the great temple of Amun-Horachte-Atum.
The Temple of Set was situated in the southern districts, and not far away was the little temple of Ashtarte. The shrine of the goddess Wadget was built in the north-eastern part of the resort. Pi-Ramesses became the residence of the court only under Ramesses II. The city did not survive long after the death of the last ruler of the 20th dynasty. When the eastern branch of the Nile became silted, the inhabitants left them. Some of the buildings were demolished and moved to the new capital – Tanis.
Part of the city is covered with farmland. This area is also crossed by the al-Samana Canal. There are stone blocks and fragments of sculptures on the territory of the resort. The stone feet of the colossus Ramesses II and his arm make a great impression. Colossi of Ramesses, before they were brought to Tanis, they stood outside the temple of Amun, of which only the remnants of the hypostyle hall with broken obelisks remained, statues and columns. A mutilated statue of Ramses is set up here. Among the ruins you can see the outlines of the complex of Ramesses III (XX dynastia) erected on the occasion of Sed. Interesting are the remains of the workshops producing the famous war chariots for the army, as well as the largest stables in Egypt (on 460 horses).