3D reconstruction of the ancient site of Pi-Ramesse in Egypt
Academia Archaeology

The reconstruction of Pi-Ramesse or how I was invited to Berlin

on
2019-12-19

I was born in Berlin, Germany, where I attended school and subsequently pursued my studies in Archaeology. This was at the Freie Universität Berlin, where I lived for a period of 31 years. The Freie Universität currently holds a noteworthy second position in the national rankings (as of 2020, according to UniRank). Consequently, I was delighted to receive an invitation to address a broader audience about my research for a project in the Nile Delta in Egypt. The presentation was part of a lecture series entitled “Old World, newly formatted” (my translation), and the organisers requested that I discuss the reconstruction of Pi-Ramesse.

In 2016, I was commissioned to visualise and reconstruct the ancient capital of Rameses II, known as Pi-Ramesse. This visualisation was created for an exhibition about the pharaoh, which was held in Karlsruhe, Germany. The objective was to produce a 5-8 minute animation of the city. The project was time-constrained, with a mere nine months allotted for its completion. The objective was to create an animation that not only showcased the background of the excavations and reconstruction but also featured a fly-over of the city and detailed views of selected buildings. Further information and the animation can be found at my company’s website, Artefacts: The Reconstruction of Pi-Ramesse.

In collaboration with the director of excavations, Dr. Henning Franzmeier, I delivered a presentation on the subject of Pi-Ramesse, encompassing the ancient and contemporary excavations, the reconstruction of the city, and the challenges encountered during the undertaking, given the constrained timeframe. The presentation, which is approximately one hour in duration, is available for viewing in the video above (in German).

But why?

The technology behind the visualisation was by far not exceptional. It is the sheer size of it that is most impressive. The model displays over 2,000 individuals, 10,000 palm trees, nearly 50 special buildings, and at least 3,800 common buildings. These include private houses, granaries, and ovens. The animation consists of 12 sequences with over 4,600 individual frames, created in 380 hours of render time.

Another potential explanation pertains to the charismatic presence of Rameses II. For an extended period, the precise location of his capital remained uncertain. Upon its abandonment, the city, including its monumental statues, was relocated to Tanis (a locale that has appeared in the Indiana Jones film). The act of envisioning Pi-Ramesse has not been undertaken for a considerable duration.

Ultimately, I am uncertain. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Berlin, my place of origin, where I had the opportunity to engage with acquaintances and engage in discourse on the subject of ancient Egypt.

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Sebastian Hageneuer
Germany

Hi! My name is Sebastian. I am an archaeologist, a university lecturer, freelancer, guitarist, and father. You could say I am quiet busy, so I learned to manage my time and energy to build good habits and still have space for myself and my family. Sounds difficult? Read here how I do it. (Nearly) Every Friday.

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