Ramesses V

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Ramesses V (also written Ramses and Rameses) (reigned 1146 BC to 1142 BC) was the fourth pharaoh of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt.

He was the brother of Ramesses IV. His reign was characterized by the continued growth of the power of the priesthood of Amun, which controlled much of the temple land in the country and was in control of the financial system through the high priest's son. The papyrus Turin 1887 records a financial scandal during his reign that involved the priests of Elephantine. A period of domestic instability also afflicted his reign since the workmen of Deir El-Medina periodically stopped work on Ramesses V's KV9 in the Valley of the King "from fear of the enemy", presumably Libyan marauders, local bandits or a civil war.^[1] This shows that the Egyptian state was having difficulties ensuring the security of their own elite tomb workers.

The circumstances of his death are unknown. It is possible he was dethroned by his successor, Ramesses VI because Ramesses VI usurped his predecessor's KV9 tomb.^[2] Furthermore, an ostracon records that this king was only buried in Year 2 of Ramesses VI which is highly irregular since Egyptian tradition required a king to be be mummified and buried precisely 70 days into the reign of his successor.^[3] Ramesses V's mummy has been recovered and seems to indicate that he suffered from smallpox due to lesions found on his face.^[4]