Who was Rameses III and what were his major achievements as a pharaoh?

Rameses III was the second pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt and ruled from around 1186 to 1155 BCE. He was the last great pharaoh of the New Kingdom period and was known for his military campaigns and architectural achievements.

During his reign, Rameses III successfully defended Egypt against various foreign invasions, including a major incursion by the Sea Peoples, a confederation of seafaring raiders from the eastern Mediterranean. His victory over the Sea Peoples is considered one of his greatest achievements as a pharaoh and is commemorated in several inscriptions and reliefs at his mortuary temple at Medinet Habu.

Rameses III was also a prolific builder and commissioned numerous construction projects throughout Egypt, including temples, palaces, and other public works. His most famous architectural achievement is the Ramesseum, a temple complex built on the west bank of the Nile at Thebes. The complex was dedicated to the god Amun and included a massive mortuary temple for Rameses III.

In addition to his military and architectural achievements, Rameses III was also a patron of the arts and commissioned several works of literature and poetry, including the Harris Papyrus, a collection of documents and hymns that provide valuable insights into the social, political, and religious life of ancient Egypt.