The Foundation of Pi-Ramesse: Strengthening the Rule of the 19^th Dynasty and Displaying Egypt to the Outside World

In the past, the statement from P. Anastasi II, that everybody left his city to settle in Pi-Ramesse, has mainly been interpreted in a somewhat propagandistic sense – everybody wanted to leave their old city to come to the marvellous new capital with all its wonders. While this interpretation might have been the author’s intention, based on the reality of a new capital, it can be interpreted in different ways: a new place needs people to function. This gave the founder of the new city the opportunity to carefully choose these people to enhance and stabilize his power. Moreover, the city, with its particular location, served as a gateway into Egypt and thus also as a showcase to foreigners. The Egyptian sovereigns could demonstrate their power and access to resources by monumental building. This contribution aims to highlight some rarely discussed motivations for the foundation of Pi-Ramesse. [Formula: see text]