Ramesses II, who reigned from 1279–1213 bce, is considered one of the most powerful pharaohs of ancient Egypt. An avid patron of art and architecture, he created an entirely new capital named for himself—Pi-Ramesses, in the eastern delta of Egypt. This boldly carved relief fragment would have decorated the façade of one of the temples there. It depicts the pharaoh making an offering to a deity, whose wings are visible in the upper right corner. The scene is carved in a technique introduced during the pharaoh’s reign—sunk relief—where the projection of the surrounding stone creates shadows that outline the figure, making it easier for viewers to see it in bright sunlight.