Merenptah (Baenre)
(ca. 1212-1201 BC)
Horus name: Kanakht Haiemmaat
Nebty name: Iribauertaentjemhu
Golden Falcon name: Nebsenedjaashefit
Prenomen: Baenre
Nomen: Merenptah
Merneptah was the 13th on of Ramses II.
He was the son of Ramses II and Queen Isetnofret. He had two older full
brothers named Ramses and Khaemwaset. Ramses served as a General in the
army of the King. Khaemwaset was First Prophet of Ptah in Memphis and
was an important person at court. Both elder brothers Ramesses and
Khaemwaset served crown-prince before their brother Merneptah.
Merneptah also had two full sisters named Bintanath and Isetnofret.
Stela from Saqqara showing
Prince Merenptah.
Wives of Merneptah:
Queen Isetnofret. It is not clear which of his female
relatives
this is. Merneptah had a sister named Isetnofret as well as a niece,
the
daughter of Prince Khaemweset. Either one of these women could be Queen
Isetnofret, wife of Merneptah. In the temple of Gebel el Silsila
Merneptah
is shown with Queen Isetnofret and Prince Sety-Merneptah.
Queen Isetnofret, wife of
Merenptah
It is however also possible that Merneptah really did have a wife named
Bintanath. The experts differ on the possible identity of this Queen.
It could
be Merneptah’s full sister Bintanath who this statue refers to, or it
could
be her daughter. This daughter of Bintanath by her father Ramses II is
shown
in Bintananth’s tomb, and she is sometimes referred to as Bintanath II.
Queen Bint-Anath, wife of
Merenptah
Children of Merneptah.
Prince Seti-Merneptah was likely the son of Merneptah and
Queen
Isetnofret. This prince served in the army and became Generalissimo. He
also became Execitive at the head of the Two Lands. This title is
usually
though to mean that he became crown-prince. Seti-Merneptah took the
throne
as Seti II.
Prince Khaemwaset was named after his illustrious uncle.
This prince is depicted in Merneptah’s war reliefs at Karnak.
Prince Merneptah was a King’s Son, a Generalissimo and
also became Execitive at the head of the Two Lands. He was probably a
son of Merneptah.
Princess Isetnofret (IV) is thought to have been a
daughter of Merneptah. She is known from a ships log (now in Leiden).
Early years
Merneptah was heir to the throne and for all intent and purpose regent
during the last 10 years of his father’s reign. He became Generalissimo
after year 50 and Heir to the throne in year 55 of his father
Ramses
II. The first years of Merneptah’s reign seem uneventful.
Statue of Merenptah from the
Louvre
War
Merneptah’s excperience as a leader of the army came to good use when a
coalition of Libyan and Mediterranean forces attacked Egypt in the 10th
month of the fifth year of Merneptah’s reign.
The Libyan leader Meryey (Merayayuy), son of Ded (Dyd) had formed a
coalition including the Sherden (Sharadena), Shekelesh (Shakarwsha),
Ekwesh (Akwaysha), Luka (Rw-kw), Teresh (Twrwsha), Kekeh, and Meshwesh
(Mesawasha). The attack was planned in a place called Meber (Mabara) –
an unknown foreign country. This force attacked Egypt, but were
repelled after fierced fighting. According to the inscriptions at
Karnak and Athribis as many as 9000 of the enemy
were slain.
It seems from the inscriptions that the battle was waged and the war
ended within the month.
The so-called Israel Stela.
The text outlines those
vanquished and the people of Israel are mentioned.
Building Activities:
Three Osiride statues of Merneptah were found at Abydos.
At Abydos Merenptah had a hawk of Amenhotep III resored. The work is
dedicated by Ahmosu, Priest of Osiris and Iuiu (Yuy) First Prophet of
Osiris.
Temple of Seth at Nubt contains text from year 5 of Merneptah.
Temple of Monthu at Armant contains inscriptions of Merneptah.
Rockshrine at West Silsila shows Merneptah offering to Osiris, Isis,
Ramses II, Seth (?), Nephtys, Sobek, Rattaui, Hathor and another
goddess. On another wall Merneptah offers before Amun-Re, Mut, Khons,
Re-Harakhti, Ptah and Hapi. In another scene the king offeres incense
and libation to Atum,
Montu, Amenhotep I, Onuris, Tefnut and Geb. Queen Isetnofret is shown
offering
before Taweret as a hippopotamus, Toth and Nut.
Chapel at Surarieh (near el Minia). This chapel was recorded by
Lepsius. Merneptah is depicted with Ptah, Hathor and Anubis.
Burial in the King's Valley:
The Cartouche shaped
sarcophagus and the mummy of Merenptah
Merenptah before Re-Harakhty
Government Officials:
Hori, Northern Vizier.
Son
of the High Priest of Ptah Hori, and hence a grand-son of
Prince-Khaemwaset. He continued to serve until the
time of Ramessses III.
Panehesy, Southern Vizier. Chapel of Panehesi at temple at Gebel el
Silsila.
Messuy, Viceroy of Kush. Shown before Merneptah in
chariot. Text on Ancient road near Aswan. It is possible that Messuy
was a son of Seti-Merneptah and Takhat and hence a grandson of
Merneptah. Some scholars believe that
Messuy, the grandson of Merneptah would actually take the throne from
his
own father Seti II. There are inscriptions of Messuy showing the later
addition
of a useaus, showing that he did style himself as a pharaoh at some
point.
May have also served as Vizier.
Khaemtjitry, Viceroy of Kush at the end of Merneptah’s
reign. Khaemtjitry would be appointed Vizier under the next pharaoh,
Amenmesse (who may be
identical to Messuy).
Ramesesemperre, Fanbearer. He is mentioned in a stela at
Abydos.
Si-Ese, royal scribe and chief of the granaries (under
both Ramesses II and his son Merneptah. http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.com/record.aspx?id=4861
Simut, Scribe of the Treasury http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.com/record.aspx?id=14091
Tjay also called To, secretary of the king for royal
correspondence. Buried in TT23. Tjay was the son of Khaemteri, Scribe
of the Soldiers, and Tamy. He must have married well because his wife
Raya was Chief of the Harem of Sobek. His second wife was named
Nebettaui.
Priesthood:
Ahautinufer, Scribe of the altar of the Lord of the
Two Lands
Amenemheb, Royal Scribe of the Offering Table. http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.com/record.aspx?id=4385
Hori Head of scribes of the altar in the
Temple of Millions of Years of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt
Baenre-meriamun (Merneptah) in the domain of Amun in the west of
Thebes, etc He was a son of Amenemonet, Scribe of the district of
the town, and Nefertari, Songstress of Amun at
Karnak.
Inheretmose, Overseer of Prophets, High Solar Priest of Re
in Thinis, First Prophet of Onuris. Rock-tomb et Nag el-Mashyikh
(Lepidotonpolis).
Wife: Sekhmet-nefert.
Mey, Leader of the festival of Amun. Inscription at Gebel
el Silsila
Rama(ray),
high priest of Amun, Rameses II - Merenptah. TT 283.
Wife: Tamut (name in niche in court), Tabest (name on stela in Museum
in Leiden)
On the stela Ramaray is given the titles: The Prince and Count, the
God's Father, clean of hands, Priest of Kamutef, Overseer of the
prophets of all the gods, Third Prophet of Amun, Second Prophet of
Amun,
First Prophet of Amun
Roy, First Prophet of Amun before Amun-Re. Shrine at
Silsila. Roy apparently inherited the position from his father Rome,
and later passed
it on to his son Bakenkhonsu, thereby for the first time making the
position of High Priest of Amun hereditary.
Siesi , Overseer of the two granaries in the temple of
Merneptah in the domain of Amun, etc. Known from a statue with
cartouches of Ramesses II and Merneptah.
Yuy, Pirst Prophet of Osiris.
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