The poem's depiction of the destruction of Ozymandias and his tyranny isn’t entirely fictional: Ozymandias is the Greek name for the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, who dramatically expanded Egypt’s empire and who had several statues of himself built throughout Egypt.
Ozymandias: The Greek name for Ramesses II (ruled 1279-1213 BCE), the great Egyptian pharaoh. The name itself is preserved even though the king's empire has vanished.
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; And on the pedestal, these words appear: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
" Ozymandias " (/ ˌɒzɪˈmændiəs / OZ-im-AN-dee-əs) [1] is a sonnet written by the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, first published in the 11 January 1818 issue of The Examiner of London.
Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley - Poems | Academy of American Poets
‘Ozymandias’ is a sonnet by English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, published in 1818. Considered Shelley’s finest poem, it offers an ironic and enduring commentary on the fleeting nature of power.
‘Ozymandias’ is written by one of the greatest 19th-century British poets, Percy Bysshe Shelley. It was first published in 1818 in The Examiner of London under Shelley’s pen name, “Gilrastes.” In this sonnet, Shelley’s speaker encounters a traveler from an antique land.
In this guide, we give the background on how "Ozymandias" was created, explain the key Ozymandias meaning, and discuss the poetic devices used in this poem. By the end of this article, you'll have a complete understanding of "Ozymandias."