Amenhirkhepeshef
Amenhirkhepeshef, Ramesses, and Prehirwenemef at the Ramesseum
(Photo by Sesen)
Titles: Fanbearer on the King’s Right hand, Hereditary
Prince, Royal
Scribe, Generalissimo (of his Majesty), Senior and Bodily King’s Son,
beloved of him.
This prince was the firstborn son of Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari.
He was the first of at least six children. He had three younger
brothers: Prehirwenemef, Meryre and Mery-Atum. He also had at least two
sisters: Merytamen and Henuttawy. There may have been even more
siblings. Meryre II, Sety, Nefertari, and Nebettawy have been suggested
as siblings as well, but there is no firm evidence to support these
claims.
He seems to have at first been named Amenhirwenemef (“Amun is at this
right hand”). He was later re-named Amenhirkhepeshef. Amenhirwenemef is
shown in the temple at Beit el-Wali in Nubia with his brother
Khaemwaset. They are both shown riding a chariot, and Amenhirwenemef is
shown participating in the tribute. He is even shown to make a short
speech. Both princes must have been quite young at the time of the
depicted skermish. Kitchen estimates their age at 6-8?
Amenhirkhepeshef is shown participating in the Battle of Kadesh in year
5, as well as the battle of Qode in year 10. These battles were
memorialized in the Ramesseum, at Luxor and at Abu Simbel. He
appears in the temple of Sety I in Abydos with his father Ramesses II.
He is shown fowling and lassooing a bull. Amenhirkhepeshef is also
depicted at the great temple of Abu Simbel. A statue of the prince
stands before one of the colossi. Amenhirkhepeshef is depicted twice on
the facade of the small temple at Abu Simbel. He and his younger
brother Prehirwenemef are shown twice in statues flanking a colossus of
their father.
Later in life
he may have been known as Seth-hir-kepesh-ef (after year 20?). There is
some speculation that he was known as Amenhirkopshef in the
north and Sethhikopshef in the south. Alternatively, some scholars
think that Sethhirkhepeshef is a younger son of Ramesses and Nefertari.
Sethhirkhepeshef did become crown prince in year 21 however, and if he
really was a younger son of Ramesses and Nefertari then he would have
been chosen as successor in place of his older brother Meryatum. Such a
change in succession where a younger brother is chosen in place of an
older, equally eligible, sibling would have been quite strange. Hence
the theory that Amenhirkhepeshef and Sethhirkhepeshef are one and the
same person.
Sethhikopshef was involved in the correspondence with the Hittites
after the peace treaty. He apparently died around year 25. There is an
ostracon mentioning a wife named Nefertari and a son named Sety.
He seems to have been buried in KV5 in the Valley of the Kings. In this
tomb he is named Amenhirkhepeshef and not Seth-hirkhepesef.
Amenhirkhepeshef is depicted in a relief in the first chamber of the
tomb. A fragment of a canopic jar, probably belonging to
Amenhiskhepeshef, was found in chamber 2 of the tomb.
Depicted
as Amenhirwenemef:
Beit el-Wali Temple; North Wall of Entrance Hall
King slays a
Libyan; Speech of the Prince: “ Says the fanbearer on the
King’s Right Hand, the Hereditary Prince and Real Scribe of the King,
beloved of him, the King’s Son Amenhirwenemef, justified, in praising
his lord in magnifying his might: Mighty is your power O King,
Horus-Falcon Rich in Years! Strong is your power, as you seize the
foreign countries. You have slain their chiefs – your strength is like
[..] who is in heaven, and the rays of the sun above […] all […] of [….]
King
ceremonially receives Prince, Captives and Officials: Fanbearer
on the King’s Right hand, Hereditary Prince, Real Scribe of the King,
divine seed who came from the strong bull, Bodily King’s Son,
Amenhirwenemef.
  
Beit-el-Wali war scene - close-ups of the two sons.
Beit el-Wali Temple; South Wall
of Entrance Hall
King attacks
Nubians and their Village
Text and
cartouches; Speech of Nubian Village women
Said by Fanbearer on the King’s Right hand, Hereditary Prince, Bodily
King’s Son, beloved of him Amenhirwenemef: “I did believ that there was
no limit to thee sky – but the Ruler has caused us to see its limits to
the South. I rejoice, my heart is glad, while my father smites his foes
– he causes his strong arm to be powerful against the nine bows.”
[Below we see Amenhirwenemef’s brother Khaemwaset]
King
receives Nubian tribute and rewards Viceroy.
The Nubian Viceroy Amenemope, son of Paser is shown bringing goldwork.
Prince Amenhirwenemef is depicted and given his full titles:
Fanbearer on the King’s Right hand, Real King’s Scribe, beloved of him,
Hereditary Prince, First King’s Son of his body Amenhirwenemef,
justified, given veneration.
As
Prince Amenhirkhepeshef
Battle of Kadesh inscriptions
from year 5. Shown at the Ramesseum, Luxor and Abu Simbel.
Presentation
of Spoils to the Gods
Prince Amenhirkhepeshef presents prisoners. He is named Fanbearer on
the King’s Right hand, Royal Scribe, Generalissimo, King’s Son,
Amenhirkhepeshef
(similar scenes show the Princes Ramesses, Prehirwenemef, Khaemwaset,
Montuhirkhepeshef, Nebenkhurru, Meryamun, Amenemwia, Setepenre, Sethy,
Meryre, and Merenptah presenting prisoners.)
Luxor Forecourt, West Wall,
North Side
King
receives Prisoners led by his sons.
The Princes Amenhirkhepeshef, Ramesses, Prehirwenemef and Khaemwaset
lead prisoners before the King.
The Princes Khaemwaset, Montuhirwenemef, Nebenkhurru, Meryamun,
Amenemwia and Setepenre are shown attending the King.
Two more rows of scenes show the princes with their prisoners.
Sons leading prisoners before
Pharaoh Ramesses II
King
receives Prisoners led by his sons.
The King addresses the Hereditary Prince and Senior King’s Son
Amenhirkhepeshef: “Speak with the foreign chief – let him perceive his
misdeed!”
Theprpinces Amenhirkhepeshef
and Ramesses at Thebes
(in one of the processions of sons)
Karnak; Black Granite Seated Statue (Turin 1380)
Ramesses II seated with Queen Nefertari Meryenmut on the left and
Prince Amenhirkhepeshef on his right.
Amenhirkhepeshef standing next
to his father.
Abu Simbel
Main Temple; Façade;
Colossus South of Doorway (fallen)
Ramesses II with Prince Amenhirkhepeshef, Hereditary Prince,
Royal Scribe, General and King’s Son. Other members of the Royal family
shown at this Colossus: Queen Mother Mut-Tuya and an unnamed Princess
or Queen.
Main Temple, Main Hall; War
Scenes
King Attacks unnamed Syrian Fort: Accompanied by Princes
Amenhirkhepeshef, Ramesses and Prehirwenemef (All Bodily King’s Son,
beloved of him).
Small Temple; Façade
The large statues of the King just north and south of the doorway are
accompanied by statues of Amenhirkhepeshef and Rehirwenemef. The other
two statues of the King are accompanied by images of the Princes
Mery-Re and Mery-Atum.
Abydos
Texts in Sethy I Temple; Corridor of the Bull
South Wall:
King and Prince go Fowling
Treaversing the marshes by the Hereditary Prince and Senior King’s Son,
Amenhirkehpeshef, justified.
King and
Prince lasso a Bull before Wepwapet and [Ptah?]
Grand Herediatry Prince of the whole land, bodily and Senior King’s
Son, dear to him, Fanbearer on the King’s Right hand, wielder of the
bow, experienced in combat, fighting on foot, unequalled,
Amenhirkhepeshef, justified.
Other:
Scarab from Palestine :
Bodily King’s Son Amenhirkhepeshef.
Valley of the Kings KV5
In the first
chamber Amenhirkhepeshef is shown, with his father
Ramesses II, offering wine to Sokar and Hathor.
The inscription reads:
“Bodily son of Ra, Lord of Appearances (Ramesses Mery-Amen)| true of
voice with Osiris, the great God, Lord of the West. King’s first son of
[his body], hereditary prince, [royal scribe?], king’s confidant […]
Amenhirkhepeshef, true of voice with Osiris (K. Weeks, KV 5:
Preliminary report, pg.57-59)
Calcite
Canopic jar fragment; From chamber 2.
“Recitation by Nephtys: ‘I embrace […]. Over Hapy: ‘I have extended
[my] protection over […] revered with Hapy, the Osiris [King’s] eldest
[son], Royal scribe, hereditary prince Amen[herkhepeshef].
As
Prince Sethhirkhepeshef
Ostracon (Louvre 2261)
The ostracon mentions Year 53, 3rd month of Akhet, Day 23. Named are
the King’s Son Sety, born of Nefertari, the King’s Son and Delegate
Sethhirkhepeshef.
Qantir, base(?)
Mentions Hereditary Prince and Count, […], Royal Scribe and Delegate,
Sethhirkhepeshef., and Hereditary Prince and Count, God’s Father
beloved of the God, Royal Scribe and Generalissimo, Sethhirkhepeshef.
Qantir, Stela: Prince before
Amun and Ptah.
Text: The Hereditary Prince and Count, God’s Father beloved of the god,
Chief of Secrets of the King’s House, Lord in charge of the entire
land, Sem-priest of the Good god, Delegate and Judge of the Two Lands,
Controller if lands far flung (Hau-nebu), the King’s Son, united with
the Throne of Horus, Hereditary Prince and Royal Scribe,
Sethhirkhepeshef, justified.
Vase (BM 54280)
Hereditary Prince and King’s Son Sethhirkhepeshef.
Much of the information comes from:
Kitchen, K.A., Rammeside
Inscriptions, Translated & Annotated,
Translations, Volume II, Blackwell Publishers, 1996
Information about KV5 comes from:
KV5: A Preliminary Report on the Excavation of
the Tomb of the Sons of Ramesses II in the Valley of the Kings
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