Ramesses VIII

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Usermaatre Akhenamun Ramesses VIII (also written Ramses and Rameses) Sethherkhepshef Meryamun (1126-1124 BC) was the seventh Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt and is thought to has been a son of Ramesses III. The fact that he succeeded a son of Ramesses VI may indicates a problem in the royal succession. Ramesses VIII is the most obscure ruler of this Dynasty and the current information from his brief kingship suggest that he lasted on the throne for one or two years at the most. (Clayton: p.169) Monuments from his reign are scant and consist primarily of an inscription at Medinet Habu, a mention of this ruler in one stela--Berlin stela 2081 of Hori at Abydos--and one scarab. His only known date is a Year 1, I Peret day 2 graffito in the tomb of Kyenebu at Thebes [Tomb No.113: see P.M. I, i (1960), pp. 230-231]

Of all the Pharaohs of the Twentieth Dynasty, his tomb is the only one which has not been definitely identified in the Valley of the Kings, though some scholars have suggested that the tomb of Prince Mentuherkhepshef, KV19, the son of Ramesses IX, was originally started for Ramesses VIII but proved unsuitable when he became a king in his own right. Ramesses VIII's prenomen or throne name translates as "Powerful is the Justice of Re, Helpful to Amun." (Clayton: p.167)

Preceded by Ramesses VII

Pharaoh of Egypt Twentieth Dynasty

Succeeded by Ramesses IX

[edit] Bibliography

• Peter Clayton, Chronicle of the Pharaohs, Thames & Hudson Ltd, 1994