Ramesses III (Usermaetre-Meryamun)
(ca. 1185 – 1153 B.C.)
Horus name: Kanakht Aanesyt
Nebty name: Werhebusedmitatjenen
Golden Falcon name: Userrenputmiatum
Prenomen: Usermaatre-meryamun
Nomen: Ramesses Heqaiunu
Tomb: KV 11
User-maat-re mery Amun (= Re is powerful in truth, beloved of Amun).
Ramesses, Ruler of Heliopolis.
Ramesses III was the son of Pharaoh Setnakhte (Userkhaure) and Queen
Tiye-Merenesse
Ostracon showing Ramesses
smiting the enemy.
Ramesses III is known to have had at least two wives:
- Isis or Isis-Ta-hemseret: Wife of Ramesses III and
mother
of Ramesses IV and Ramesses VI
Titles: Great King’s Wife, his beloved (hmt-niswt-wrt meryt.f),
Lady of The Two Lands (nbt-t3wy), King’s Mother (mwt-niswt),
God’s Wife (hmt-ntr)
- Tiye: This wife of Ramses III was involved in a
harem plot
to assassinate him and place her son on the throne. The plot was
discovered and the Queen and other members of the harem were tried in a
royal court. Nothing is known of her fate. Titles: King’s Wife (hmt-nisw)?
 
Left: Queen Isis (ta hemseret)
as
depicted on a statue of Ramesses III
From Lepsius Abt
III, Bande 7, bl 207
Right: Queen Isis as depicted
in the
Valley of the Queens.
 
Unnamed Queen depicted in a
tomb in
the Valley of the Queens.
Tomb of Prehirwenemef? (He is also depicted in the tomb Image on the
right). See Lepsius Abt
III, BAnd 7, Bl. 217
Ramesses III admired Ramesses II and one way in which this manifests
itself is the naming of his sons, which (somewhat) parallels the naming
of the earlier royal sons:
1. Ramesses , Generalissimo. Son of Ramses and Isis
ta-Hemdjert. Ruled as Ramses IV
2. Pentaweret, son of Ramses III and Queen Tiye.
Implicated in the harem conspiracy, convicted and as punishment he took
his own life.
3. (Ramses-) Amenhikopshef I Eldest King’s Son,
Executive at the head of the Two Lands
4. Sethirkopshef King’s Son, Master of the Horse(?)
Later became pharaoh as Ramses VIII.
5. Prehirwenemef First King’s Son, Great Charioteer
6. Mentuhirkhopshef King’s Son of his Body.
Possibly the father of King Ramses IX.
7. (Ramesses-) Meryatum King’s Son of his Body,
High Priest of Re at Heliopolis
8. Khaemweset First King’s Son, Sem Priest of Ptah at
Memphis
9. Amenhikopshef II ruled as Ramses VI, King’s Son,
Master of the Horse.
10. (Ramesses-) Meryamun King’s Son of his Body.
The order of the princes is taken from Susan Redford’s book. She
argues that sons 1,3,9, and 10 are sons of Queen Isis Ta-Hemdjert, and
the other 6 are sons of Queen Tiye.
But according to Lepsius' drawings, Queen Isis appears in
Prehirwenemef's tomb, which seems to indicate she is his mother.
The princes depicted at Medinet Habu (see also below under
Medinet
Habu).
Daughters:
(Dua)Tentopet: Wife of Ramses IV and mother of
Ramses V.
Titles: King’s Mother (mwt-niswt), Lady of The Two Lands (nbt-t3wy),
Great King’s Wife (hmt-niswt-wrt), King’s Daughter (s3t-niswt),
Adoratrice of the God (duat-ntr)
Tombs in the Valley of the Queens:
QV41
-
unfinished tomb (20th Dynasty)
This tomb is architecturally contemporary to the tombs from the time of
Ramesses III.
QV42 - Prince Prehirwenemef, First King's
Son, Charioteer of the stable of the Great House, (20th
Dynasty)
Son of Ramesses III. Predeceased his father. S. Redford suggests that
Prehirwenemef may be a son of Ramesses III and Queen Tiye, the Queen
implicated in the plot against her husband
QV43 - Prince Set-hirkhopshef, King's son,
Hereditary prince of the royal children of his Majesty, Charioteer of
the
Great Stable. (20th Dynasty)
Son
of
Ramesses III. S. Redford suggests that Set-hirkhopshef may be
the son of Ramesses III and Queen Tiye, the Queen implicated in the
plot against her husband.
This tomb was never used. He survived his (half ? -)brothers and his
nephew, and took the throne as Ramesses VIII.
Reused as a family burial place in the Third Intermediate Period.
http://members.tripod.com/~ib205/vq43.html
QV
44 -
Prince Khaemweset, First King's
Son, Sem-priest of Ptah. (20th Dynasty)
Son of Ramesses III. S. Redford suggests that Khaemwese may be the son
of Ramesses III and Queen Tiye, the Queen implicated in the plot
against her husband.
The tomb was discovered by Schiaparelli. Khaemweset's possible mummy
and his sarcophagus lid are now in the Turin Museum.
Reused as a family burial place in the Third Intermediate Period.
http://members.tripod.com/~ib205/vq44.html
QV45
-
unfinished tomb (20th
Dynasty)
This tomb is architecturally contemporary to the tombs from the time of
Ramesses III.
QV 51 -
Queen Isis (Ta-hemdjeret), King's Great
Wife, King's Mother, God's Wife.
Wife
of Ramesses III, mother of Ramesses VI and
Ramesses VI (20th Dynasty)
She was the daughter of a Lady called Hemdjeret. She lived
on into the reign of her son Ramesses VI.
http://members.tripod.com/~ib205/vq51.html
QV53 -
Prince Ramesses
King's Son, Generalissimo (20th Dynasty).
Son
of
Ramesses III and Isis Ta-Hemdjeret.
This tomb was not used because Ramesses took the throne as Ramesses IV.
QV54 - unfinished
tomb (20th Dynasty)
QV55 - Prince
Amenhirkhopshef , Eldest King's
Son, Royal Scribe, Overseer of Horses, (20th Dynasty).
Amenhirkhopshef lead by his father. The image is artifically
colored, hence the real colors may be slightly different.
Son of Ramesses
III. His name is also written as
Ramesses-Amenhirkhopshef. Apparently died young as heir presumptive.
Susan Redford suggests that Amenhirkhopshef is a son of Ramesses III
and Queen Isis Ta-Hemdjeret.
http://members.tripod.com/~ib205/vq55.html
 
Amenhirkhepeshef accompanied by his father
Ramesses III (photo on the right by yuti
 
The first pylon of Rameses III's Temple at Medinet Habu
is
24 metres high and 67 metres wide.
The gateway on the right shows some of the original colors of this
temple complex.
 
On the left we see the main entrance to the Temple's
enclosure. This
tower is sometimes referred to as a 'migdol'.
On the right we see Ramesses III smighting his enemies before Amun.
Below the smiting scene we see a list of captured cities.
 
On the left we see another smiting scene.
On the right we see Rameses III being presented with the severed hands
of captives taken during a Libyan war.
 
On the left we see the First Court of the temple with the
Second
Pylon.
On the right we see Ramesses is shown taking part in the Feast of
Min-Kamutef.
This scene is an almost exact copy of a scene from the Ramesseum. The
Queen performing a ritual dance in not named in this scene (the
cartouche is left blank). In the original scene this role was performed
by Queen Nefertari.
Original color on the columns in the Second Court.
Lepsius recorded several scenes
from
Medinet Habu:
The temple and first pylon: Abt
III, Band 7, Bl 209
Smiting scene at first pylon: Abt
III, Band 7, Bl 210
The King presenting prisoners before Amun and Mut: Abt
III, Band 7, Bl 211
The King before Amun-Min: Abt
III, Band 7, Bl 212
Ramesses III offering before
Amen-Min-Kamutef.
This scene is almost an exact
copy of
a similar scene depicting Ramesses II
Note that the Queen's cartouche
is
empty. In the original Nefertari was shown dancing.
See Lepsius Abt
III, Band 7, Bl 212
The
sons of Ramesses III are depicted at Medinet Habu. Top left we see
Ramesses with his name in a cartouche, Prince Ramesses, Ramesses
also with his name in a cartouche, Prince Sethirkhepeshef, Prince
Prehirwenemef, Prince Mentuhirkhepeshef, and Prince Mery-Atum.
At the bottom we see: Prince Khaemwaset, Prince Amenhirkhepeshef, and
Prince Mery-Amen on the left.
On the right the two figures are surrounded by the titles and names of
the same 10 princes.
Additions to the temple at Karnak
The entrance of the temple of Ramesses III which opens off the
right
hand side of the Great Court.
 
On the left we see the courtyard of the temple of Ramesses
III.
Each side of the Courtyard has a covered passage with eight square
pillars fronted by Osiris figures.
On the right: a relief with original colour in the
Sanctuary of the Khonsu Temple depicting Ramesses III.
Priesthood
Amenemopet High Priest of Mut at Karnak (TT148).
Appointed by Prince Ramses C in year 27. Also priest of Amun.
Amenemopet was the son of Thonufer abd Nefertari. His wife was the
Chief of the harem
of Amen, named Tamert.
Amenmose, Overseer of the treasury of Amun, Chief
steward
in the Western River, Overseer of works in the cult-temple of Ramesses
III, etc., son of Pawia and Nebtyunet [G.I.]
Amenemopet, Overseer of recruits of the temple of
Amun,
temp. Setnakht to Ramesses III [G.I.]
Bakenkhons(II):
High Priest of Amun, temp Sethnakht to Ramesses III. Known from several
monuments including a black granite statue at Boston Museum of Fine
Arts. Son of Amenemopet.
Hekmaetre-Nakht called Turo, First prophet of Montu
(TT222). His wife Wiay was Chief of the harem of Montu. Their son
Userhet was Chief prophet of Monthu and their son Panebmonthu was First
prophet of Monthu.Turo served under Ramses III and Ramses IV.
Khaemweset First King’s Son, Sem Priest of Ptah
at Memphis
(Ramesses-) Meryatum King’s Son of his Body, High
Priest
of Re at Heliopolis
Setau, First Prophet
of
Nekhbet, tomb 4 in El-Kab. Father: Huy (shown offering to
Re-Harakhti
Atum). The
Vizier
To is mentioned with reference to a hebsed festival for Ramesses III in
year
29. The Vizier Ramesesnakht was apparently a son-in-law of Setau.
Thonufer, Third prophet of Amun (TT158). His wife
was the
Chief of the harem of Amun named Nefertari. Their son was Amenemopet
(see above).
Army
Rameses III being presented with the severed hands of captives
taken
during a Libyan war.
Djehutemhab, General of His Majesty, etc., and wife
Iay,
Songstress of Wepwaut. [G.I.]
Hori , Great general of the Lord of the Two Lands,
etc.,
son of Bekamun [G.I.]
(Ramesses-) Mentuhirkhopshef C First King’s Son
of his Body, Eldest King’s Son of his Body. First Generalissimo,
Executive at the head of the Two Lands.
Ramesesnakht , Scribe of the marshalling of the
army [G.I.]
Ramesses (C), Generalissimo. Son of Ramses and Isis
ta-Hemdjert. Ruled as Ramses IV
Sethirkopshef King’s Son, Master of the Horse(?)
Later
became pharaoh as Ramses VIII.
Si[emniut](?) First great charioteer of His
Majesty
of the great stable of Rameses[-hekayunu] (Ramesses III) [G.I.]
Government
Hori, Governor of the Town and Vizier, son of the High Priest of Ptah Hori, and hence
a grand-son of Prince-Khaemwaset. [G.I.]
Herwernef, Vizier. He visits the Deir el-Medina
working community in a regnal year 15, I peret 10, in order to have
it explained to the crew that he had been appointed by and for the god
Amun (appointment of a vizier by oracle is otherwise unattested). The
vizier must a northern one, as his predecessor, the well-known vizier
Hori, seems to have died in the same year. This Hewernef might well
have
been the anonymous northern vizier who is mentioned as having been
‘removed’
by Ramses III from a temple in Athribis (in Pap. Harris I) and who was
succeeded by the vizier To in regnal year 29.
Ramesses-nakht:
King's Son of Kush. Known from an inscription on a piece of jewelry. globalegyptian
museum
To, Governor of the Town and Vizier, [G.I.]
Court Officials
Amenemonet, fan-bearer Shown on a lintel (probably
from his tomb) as a fan-bearer kneeling in adoration before cartouches
of Ramesses II and III. Cairo, Egyptian Museum, JE 29468. (Topological bibliography - Reliefs and
Paintings by Malek)
Amunhotep Steward of (Dua-)Tentopet (TT346) - possibly dates to
a little later period (i.e.Ramesses IV)
Ptahmose, Royal scribe of memoranda of the Lord
of the Two Lands, Chief steward [G.I.]
Ramessesemperre, Fanbearer on the right of the
King, royal butler, etc., likely from the time of Ramesses III. Buried
in Saqqara.
Tjayiri called User-khau-Re-nakht, Great
Overseer of the Harem in Memphis, A limestone statue of Tjayiry is on
display in the Museum in Leiden. Served under Sethnakht and Ramesses
III.
Other:
Benanta, Chief physician of the Mansion of Life.
Known from lower part of (probably) a tomb jamb. Thought
to have been buried in Saqqara. Cairo, Egyptian Museum, JE 40031 (Topological bibliography - Reliefs and
Paintings by Malek)
Karo , Deputy of the transport official (ms•kb)
[G.I.]
Scene depicting Ramesses III with several
harem
ladies.
This painting is (very) loosely based on a line drawing by Lepsius. The
clothing is fictional.
See Lepsius Abt
III, Band 7, Bl 208 for this scene and several other from
Medinet Habu
The Harem Conspiracy
The Harem conspiracy is described in the Turin judicial papyrus.
A group of officials is given the commission to investigate the
charges.
The investigators are:
The overseers of the White House (treasury), Mentemtowe and Pefroi
The standard-bearer, Kara,
The butlers, Pebes, Kedendenna, Maharbaal, Payernu, and Thutrekhnefer;
The king's-herald, Penrenut;
The scribe, Mai;
The scribe of the archives, Peremhab;
The standard-bearer of the infantry, Hori;
[He was placed before Kedendenna, Maharbaal, Pirsun, and Thutrekhnefer;
they examined him; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment
upon him.]
It seems that Pebes, Mai and Hori were later implicated in the
conspiracy.
The guilty include:
From the Royal Harem and Court:
Pebekkamen, chief of the chamber and apparently the mastermind of the
crime.
Eshehebsed, assistant of Pebekkamen.
Peynok, overseer of the royal harem,
Pendua, scribe of the royal harem
Pere, scribe of the royal harem
Mai, formerly scribe of the archives.
The butlers: Mesedsure, Weren, Peluka (also scribe of the treasury),
the Libyan Yenini,
Nebzefai, Henutenamon, Pebes,
Inspectors of the Royal Harem: Petewenteamon, Kerpes, Khamopet,
Khammale, Setimperthoth, Setimperamon
Wives (6) of the people of the harem-gate, who united with the men,
when the things were discussed;
From the Treasury:
Pere, son of Ruma, overseer of the White House (treasury).
From the armed forces:
Binemwese, Captain of archers in Nubia. He was brought in because of
the letter, which his sister, who was in the harem, [in the suite], had
written to him, saying: "Incite the people to hostility! And come thou
to begin hostility against thy lord."
Peyes, Commander of the army.
Teynakhte, Officer of infantry.
Oneney, Captain of police.
Related to Priesthood?:
Iroi, King’s Physician.
Perekamenef, Seems to have worked with Iroi using black magic.
Messui, Scribe of the house of sacred writings.
Shedmeszer, scribe of the house of sacred writings.
Some of the names are not the original names of the accused. Mesedsure
for instance means “Re hates him”, while Bonemwese means “Wicked in
Thebes”
Bibliography / Suggested Reading
1.Breasted, J.H. Ancient Records of Egypt, Vol3 Chicago 1906 (reprinted
in 2001)
2. Dodson A. and Hilton D. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient
Egypt, London 2004
3. Redford, S. The Harem Conspiracy: The Murder of Ramsesses III,
Northern Illinois University Press 2002.
4. Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts,
Statues, Reliefs and PaintingsVolume VIII: Objects of Provenance Not
Known: Statues by Jaromir Malek, Diana Magee and Elizabeth Miles
(Published
online by the Griffith Institute)
5. The text of the judicial papyrus can be found online:
http://nefertiti.iwebland.com/texts/judicial_turin_papyrus.htm
6. Digitalegypt page: http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/chronology/ramsesiii.html
7. Tomb KV11 on Osiris.net: http://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/pharaons/ramses3/e_ramses3.htm
8. The coffin and mummy of Ramesses III by Ian Bolton: http://members.tripod.com/~ib205/ramesses_3.html
Last edited: June 2007
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Ramesses III at Medinet
Habu
