Merneptah Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Merneptah
Merenptah
Granodiorite bust of Merneptah, Egyptian Museum, Cairo
Pharaoh
Reign	1213–1203 BC (ten years) (Nineteenth Dynasty)
Predecessor	Ramesses II
Successor	Seti II/Amenmesse
Royal titulary
Consort	Isetnofret II, Takhat?
Children	Seti II, Merenptah, Khaemwaset, Isetnofret
Father	Ramesses II
Mother	Isetnofret
Born	c. 1283 BC
Died	2 May 1203 BC (aged 80)
Burial	KV8; Mummy found in the KV35 royal cache (Theban Necropolis)

Portrait of Pharaoh Merneptah

Merneptah (also called Merenptah) was an important pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. He was the fourth ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty. Merneptah ruled Egypt for about ten years, from 1213 BC until his death in 1203 BC. He was the first pharaoh born into the royal family since Tutankhamun.

Merneptah was the thirteenth son of the famous pharaoh Ramesses II. He became pharaoh because all his older brothers, including his full brother Khaemweset, had passed away. He was around 70 years old when he became king. Merneptah is well-known for the Merneptah Stele. This stone slab has the first known mention of the name Israel. His throne name, Ba-en-re Mery-netjeru, means "Soul of Ra, Beloved of the Gods".

Merneptah's Family Life
Before Becoming Pharaoh
Merneptah's Time as Pharaoh
Military Campaigns and Battles
Who Ruled After Merneptah?
Merneptah's Mummy
Images for kids
See also

Merneptah's Family Life

Merneptah was likely the fourth child of Isetnofret and Ramesses II. He was also Ramesses II's thirteenth son. He married Isetnofret II, who was probably his sister or niece. She became his Great Royal Wife when he became pharaoh.

Merneptah and Isetnofret II had at least two sons, Merenptah and Seti II. They also had a daughter named Tausret. When Seti II became pharaoh, Tausret became his Great Royal Wife. She later became pharaoh herself after Siptah died. Some historians think Takhat, the mother of Amenmesse, might have been another queen.

Before Becoming Pharaoh

Ramesses II lived a very long life, reaching his nineties. He was one of the oldest pharaohs in Egyptian history. Because he lived so long, many of his sons who were supposed to rule before Merneptah died. Eventually, Merneptah was the son who would take over.

Merneptah was prepared for his role as pharaoh through many government jobs. By the 40th year of Ramesses II's rule, Merneptah was in charge of the army. In year 55, he was officially named the crown prince. He then served as a Regent (a ruler who governs for a king who is too young or ill) for the last twelve years of his father's life.

Merneptah's Time as Pharaoh

Merneptah moved Egypt's main government center. His father's capital was Pi-Ramesses. Merneptah moved it back to Memphis. There, he built a royal palace next to the temple of the god Ptah. This palace was later explored by archaeologists in 1915.

Military Campaigns and Battles

Limestone block with Merneptah's unfinished royal names.

Pharaoh Merneptah had to lead several military campaigns during his rule. In his fifth year as pharaoh, he fought against the Libyans. The Libyans, with help from a group called the Sea Peoples, were attacking Egypt from the west.

Merneptah led a successful six-hour battle against them. This battle took place at a city called Perire, likely near the western edge of the Nile delta. His victory is written on a wall at Karnak. This writing describes the fight against the Sea Peoples and Libyans. It says:

"The wretched chief of Libya, Meryre, has attacked the land of Tehenu. He brought his archers and warriors, including Sherden, Shekelesh, Ekwesh, Lukka, and Teresh. He brought his family and reached the western border."

Merneptah making an offering to the god Ptah.

Another inscription, the Athribis Stele, says Merneptah was "enraged like a lion" when he heard the news. He gathered his court and gave a powerful speech. He even dreamed that the god Ptah gave him a sword and told him to be brave. The inscription says that the god Amun protected his archers. After six hours, the enemy soldiers gave up their weapons and ran away. Merneptah said he defeated the invasion, killing 6,000 soldiers and capturing 9,000.

There is also a famous poem about these events on the Merneptah Stele. This stele is also known as the Israel Stele. It talks about Merneptah stopping rebellions in Canaan. It mentions the defeat of Israel before his fifth year as pharaoh. It says: "Israel has been wiped out... its seed is no more." This is the first time ancient Egyptian records mention Israel. It describes Israel not as a country or city, but as a group of people. Recent discoveries of burnt layers in Canaan confirm Merneptah's claims about his campaign there.

Who Ruled After Merneptah?

Merneptah was already an older man, in his late 60s or early 70s, when he became pharaoh.

His successor was Seti II, who was the son of Queen Isetnofret II. However, Seti II's rule was not easy. A rival king named Amenmesse took control of Upper Egypt and Kush. Amenmesse might have been another son of Merneptah or even Ramesses II. Seti II was only able to regain control of Thebes in his fifth year as pharaoh. It is possible that Amenmesse was known as Messuy and was a governor in Kush before he tried to become king.

Merneptah's Mummy

Stone sarcophagus of Merneptah in KV8.

Merneptah suffered from arthritis (joint pain) and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). He died as an old man after ruling for almost ten years. He was first buried in tomb KV8 in the Valley of the Kings. However, his mummy was not found there.

In 1898, his mummy was found with eighteen other mummies in a hidden tomb (KV35) belonging to Amenhotep II. His mummy was taken to Cairo and unwrapped by G. Elliott Smith in 1907. Smith noted that Merneptah was an old man, about 5 feet 6 inches tall. He was almost bald, with only a little white hair left. Smith also said that Merneptah's face looked like his father Ramesses II, but his skull and face measurements were more like his grandfather, Seti the Great.

In April 2021, Merneptah's mummy was moved. It went from the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. This was part of a big event called the Pharaohs' Golden Parade, where 17 other kings and 4 queens were also moved.