A story that has captured the internet’s imagination claims that in 1974, Egypt had to issue a passport to Ramesses II, more than 3,000 years after his death, so his remains could be flown to France for preservation.
The most powerful leader
Ramesses II, the 3rd pharaoh of Egypt’s 19th Dynasty, was born in 1303 B.C. and ruled for an astonishing sixty-six years. He lived to the remarkable age of ninety-six and earned a place in history as one of Egypt’s most powerful and celebrated leaders.
The fungal infection threat
In the mid-1970s, archaeologists noticed that the mummy of Ramesses II was deteriorating. A fungal infection threatened the preservation of the ancient remains, and the Egyptian authorities were persuaded to send the mummy to Paris for urgent restoration work.
A bizarre rule
According to the story, French law required every person—living or dead—to carry a valid passport when entering the country. To meet this requirement, Egypt is said to have issued Ramesses II an official document, complete with a photograph of his mummified face and the occupation “King (deceased).”
The military honors
When Ramesses II arrived in France aboard a French military aircraft, he was greeted with full military honors. The Garde Républicaine, the French equivalent of the U.S. Marine honor guard, stood in formation to receive the pharaoh who had ruled Egypt more than three millennia earlier.
The restoration
In Paris, restoration experts carefully treated the mummy to halt the fungal infection. This meticulous work ensured that the remains of one of Egypt’s most famous rulers would be preserved for generations to come.
Not the actual document!
On social media, a photograph of what appears to be Ramesses II’s passport often accompanies the story. In reality, the image originated on the archaeology website Heritage Daily in 2020. At the bottom of the article, a disclaimer makes it clear: the passport picture is an artist’s creation, not the actual document.
Although historical accounts suggest that Ramesses II may indeed have been issued a passport for his trip to France, the genuine document has never been made public. The viral image is fake, but the underlying event—a pharaoh flying to Paris for medical care—remains one of the most remarkable episodes in the intersection of ancient history and modern bureaucracy.
Disclaimer: This article has been curated by Hook. All claims and opinions expressed belong to the original author. Hook does not verify or endorse the information presented and is not responsible for its accuracy.
