Ozymandias

Ozymandias, the ancient Greek name for the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Rameses II, symbolizes hubris and the impermanence of political power. Though he was at one time known for his “cold command” (5) and boasted of his preeminence among the rulers of the world as “King of Kings” (10), by the following millennium all that remains of his empire is the “colossal Wreck” (13) of his once-monumental statue. Because even the statue is the work of a separate creator, ironically the most authentic depiction of Ozymandias comes from his words inscribed on the pedestal. This irony highlights the true power of language compared to that of individuals, nations, and even empires.

Sculptor

The sculptor symbolizes the enduring power of art in comparison to governments and societies. The only “work” of Ozymandias that remains is not the cities or states that he built or conquered, but the fragments of a statue...