Originally located in the temple of Ramesses II at Abydos in Egypt, it was built in the 13th century BC.
The list is similar to the one inscribed in the temple built at the site by Ramesses' father, Seti I, but with the addition of Ramesses' own throne name and nomen.
Ramesses' list is in fragments, so that only some of the kings' names survive.
The surviving fragments were removed in 1837 by the French consul in Egypt and sold to the British Museum.
The names are listed in reverse chronological order from the upper right to the bottom left, as they were meant to be read.