Abydos was the main seat of the cult of Osiris, the god of the underworld. The Temple of Seti I with its painted relief`s is the best preserved among the ruins of Abydos, while the Temple of Ramses II is partially preserved.

About 300m from Seti I’s temple at Abydos, on the western edge of the village of Beni Mansur, Rameses II built a another temple for himself. This was also dedicated mainly to the Osirian cult but was a more conventional design than his father’s temple. It was built when he was still co-ruler with Seti I. The walls of the temple of Rameses are very reduced, now only about 2m high, but the plan of the structure is still plain to see. The temple’s greatest attraction are the brilliantly coloured painted reliefs which are possibly the finest in any monument built by Rameses II.