Khaemweset
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Prince Khaemweset (or Khaemwaset) was the fourth son of Ramesses II, and the second son by his queen Isetnofret and, by far, the best known son of this king whose memory was remembered for centuries after his death.[1]
Khaemwaset grew up with his brothers during a time of foreign conflict. He apparently was present at the battle of Kadesh, at the siege of Qode (Naharin), the siege of Dapur in Syria and earlier in Nubia. After this initial period where Khaemwaset may have had some military training, or at least was present, he became a Sem-Priest of Ptah in Memphis. This would have happened in ca. year 16 of Ramesses II's reign. He would have initially been a deputy to the High Priest of Ptah in Memphis named Huy. During his time as Sem-Priest Khaemwaset was quite active. He was involved with the burial of several Apis Bulls at the Serapeum.
In ca year 25 his older brother Ramesses would have become Crown-Prince, and in ca. year 30 Khaemwaset becomes involved with the announcements of the (Heb-)Sed Festivals. These Heb-Sed festivals were traditionally held in Memphis, but we see some of the announcements being made in the south in El-Kab and Silsila. While a Sem-Priest Khaemwaset may also have become inolved with the construction of and additions to the temple of Ptah in Memphis. There are several inscriptions that attest to Khaemwaset's activities in Memphis. [2]
He restored monuments of earlier kings and nobles, such as Shepseskaf, Sahure and Nyuserre Ini. He also restored the pyramid of Unas at Saqqara. Because of this, he is often called "the first Egyptologist." He seems to have undertaken these tasks during his later tenure as Sem-Priest and some of the inscriptions mention his title as 'Chief of the Artificers' or 'Chief of Crafts'. Hence some of these restaurations were undertaken after Khaemwaset had been promoted to High Priest of Ptah in Memphis, ca year 45.
He held the position of Crown Prince to the throne between Year 50 and Year 55 of his father's reign. He also served as Governor of Memphis.
In later times Khaemwaset was remembered as a wise man, and portrayed as the hero in a cycle of stories dating to Greco-Roman times.[3] One example is the 'Stories of Setne Khamwas'. He is believed to have been buried at Saqqara, "perhaps below his hilltop sanctuary between Abusir and Saqqara."[4]
Khaemwaset is known to have had two sons and a daughter. His eldes son, Ramesses, is mentioned on a block statue from Memphis. His second son, named Hori, became High Priest of Ptah in Memphis during the later part of the 19th dynasty. Khaemwaset is also known to have had a daughter named Isetnofret. [5]
One grandson is known to us. His son Hori, had a son who was also named Hori. Hori, the grandson of Khaemwaset, would later become Vizier of Egypt and served his country during the tumultuous times at the end of the 19th dynasty, and was still performing his duties under Ramesses III.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, Thames & Hudson (2004), p.171
- ^ Kitchen, K.A., Rammeside Inscriptions, Translated & Annotated, Translations, Volume II, Blackwell Publishers, 1996
- ^ Dodson & Hilton, op. cit., p.171
- ^ Dodson & Hilton, op. cit., p.171
- ^ http://euler.slu.edu/Dept/Faculty/bart/egyptianhtml/kings%20and%20Queens/Khaemwaset.html
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