Ozymandias facts for kids
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desart. 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.
Ozymandias is a famous sonnet (a type of 14-line poem) written by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It was first shared with the public in 1818. You could read it in The Examiner, a newspaper from London. Many people think it is one of Shelley's best and most well-known short poems.
What the Poem is About
This poem is known for its strong message and vivid pictures it creates in your mind. The main idea of Ozymandias is that even the most powerful leaders and their great empires will eventually fall apart.
The Main Message
The poem tells us that no matter how mighty a ruler or their kingdom may seem, everything they build will one day turn to dust. It's a reminder that power and fame do not last forever.
The Name Ozymandias
The name Ozymandias comes from an old Greek way of writing the name of Ramesses II. He was a very powerful pharaoh (ruler) of ancient Egypt.
The Statue's Story
The poem talks about a broken statue in the desert. This statue is based on a real one of Ramesses II. It was called the Younger Memnon and came from Thebes, an ancient city. Today, you can see parts of this statue in the British Museum.
The words on the statue's base were written down by a historian named Diodorus Siculus. He wrote them in his book, Bibliotheca historica. The words said: "King of Kings am I, Osymandias. If anyone would know how great I am and where I lie, let him surpass one of my works". Shelley's poem shares a similar message.
See also
In Spanish: Ozymandias para niños
