Ozymandias

Ozymandias

Ramses II, a.k.a Ozymandias

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
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:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
 ~Percy Bysshye Shelly~

Why Ozymandias?
For those of you who are not familiar with the poem Ozymandias, it was written by Percy Bysshe Shelley in the 19th century. The poem refers to one of many statues of Ramses II the great of Egypt I chose Ozymandias as my nom de guerre for this blog because it has always represented a number of concepts that I hold valuable. On the off chance that some might mistake my choice of pseudonym for hubris, my reasons are discussed below. After reading it you may still find it to be hubris, but hopefully at least a bit more nuanced in its arrogance.

Archaeology
I make my living as an archaeologist. The romance of the past played a big part in my choosing to become an archaeologist. I enjoy the writings of many 19th century romantic authors, and among my favorites is Percy Bysshe Shelley. His particular view of the past encompasses an awe and wonder about the mysteries of material culture that I often use as a touchstone. I am a scientist and I work in cultural resources management. While I find the work to be very rewarding, sometimes it can get repetitive and well, cold. Reading poems like Ozymandias can really recharge my sense of beauty in the world around me.

Atheism
Beyond the obvious nihilism of the poem, there is an implied atheist quality to Ozymandias as well. Shelley was an atheist as well as a prolific author. In Ozymandias there is the hint of a common understanding about the nature of death and the afterlife that is shared between the author and the reader. It subtly says that Ozymandias may have believed himself to be immortal, but we know differently.

Existentialism
Although the arrogance of Ozymandias has clearly been humbled by the fact that his civilization and "works" lie in ruins, we still look in awe upon the accomplishments of past civilizations. In Ozymandias the original meaning of the sculpture and inscription are juxtaposed with the effect of time and erosion. In that juxtaposition, the intended meaning becomes unhinged from any kind of abstract claim on truth. The words of the inscription and the magnificence of the sculpture are rendered meaningless by their surroundings. It is only upon observation and retelling by the traveller that "these lifeless things" acquire new life and meaning. This is an amazing example of what I consider to be the most positive aspects of existentialist philosophy, that there is no implicit meaning in life beyond what we impart to it. The realization that your life can mean what you want it to mean is very empowering.
 
Humility
There is an implied message of humility in Ozymandias that I also find very compelling. It was natural for me, and I think most readers to wonder what Ramses II himself might think when viewing the current state of his accomplishments. One might think that he would be quite pleased that his name was even remembered and commemorated in a poem more than three thousand years after his death, but that was clearly not his intent during his lifetime. The inscription mentioned in the poem is actually adapted from a real inscription on a statue of Ramses II. To see the ruins of ancient Egypt and all that Ramses II may have accomplished in his lifetime lying in ruins is to be reminded of the fragility of even the mightiest of human accomplishments when faced with the vastness of time.