Did Rameses The Great Have A Pet Lion? - Fun Facts For Kids

The Lion Battle of Ramses II by Karl Oderich - can you spot the Pharaoh's lions in battle?

There’s No “Lion” Around When You’re The Pharaoh:

Pharaoh Rameses Thinks He's The Greatest

Pharaoh Rameses the Great thought of himself as the strongest and richest man in Egypt (and probably the world!). He was rather big-headed and wanted to show off to his enemies. Well, who wouldn’t if you were the Pharaoh of Egypt? But rather than buy himself a big fancy golden hat like most people would in this situation (I have at least five big fancy gold hats, just so you know), he went a step further. He bought himself a pet lion!

Ancient Egyptians Loved Lions

Although there are no lions living in Egypt in the modern day, there were once many lions roaming along the banks of the River Nile in ancient Egypt. Some Egyptian pharaohs liked to show their strength by hunting lions. Other ancient Egyptians thought that lions were sacred and guarded the horizons where the sun rises and sets. In fact, lions were considered so important to Egyptian people that archaeologists have even found some very rare lion mummies!

Rameses' Pet Lion Joins The Cavalry

Rumour has it that Rameses' pet lion even fought by his side during the Battle of Kadesh. Imagine that! Fighting a battle with a lion! It would be even more awesome if he rode the lion like a horse. And the lion could breathe fire when it roared. And he also had a whole army riding on fire-breathing lions behind him. Is it just me or do you really want a pet lion now?