Who was Ozymandias as found in Shelley’s poem of the same name?
1 Answer
Ozymandias is the Greek name for Ramesses II, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ruled during the 13th century BCE. He was one of Egypt’s most powerful and famous rulers, known for his military conquests and grand architectural projects.
Ozymandias in the Poem
Ozymandias is the subject of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s famous poem “Ozymandias”, in which a traveler describes the ruins of a colossal statue in the desert. The pedestal of the statue bears an inscription:
“Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
However, the surrounding landscape is empty, symbolizing the impermanence of power and human achievements. The poem serves as a critique of arrogance and the idea that even the mightiest rulers and civilizations will eventually fade into oblivion.