Khaemweset

Prince Khaemweset (also translated as Khamwese, Khaemwese or Khaemwaset [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/death_sakkara_gallery_04.shtml] BBC Ancient Egyptians] ) was the fourth son of Ramesses II, and the second son by his queen Isetnofret. He is by far the best known son of the king, and his contributions to Egyptian society were remembered for centuries after his death. [Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, Thames & Hudson (2004), p.171] Khaemwaset has been described as "the first Egyptologist" due to his efforts in identifying and restoring historic buildings, tombs and temples.

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 at the battlefield, he became a Sem-Priest of Ptah in Memphis. This appointment occurred in c. 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 in rituals, including the burial of several Apis Bulls at the Serapeum.

Around c. Year 25 of his father, his older brother Ramesses became Crown-Prince, and in c. Year 30 Khaemwaset became involved with the announcements of the (Heb-)Sed Festivals. These Heb-Sed festivals were traditionally held in Memphis, but some of the announcements were made in the south of Egypt at El-Kab and Silsila. While he was a Sem-Priest, Khaemwaset may have constructed and built additions to the temple of Ptah in Memphis. There are several inscriptions which attest to Khaemwaset's activities in Memphis. [Kitchen, K.A., Rammeside Inscriptions, Translated & Annotated, Translations, Volume II, Blackwell Publishers, 1996]

Khaemwaset restored the monuments of earlier kings and nobles, such as Shepseskaf, Sahure and Nyuserre Ini. He also restored the pyramid of Unas at Saqqara. 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 restorations were undertaken after Khaemwaset's promotion as the High Priest of Ptah in Memphis around Year 45 of Ramesses II.

Khaemwaset held the position of Crown Prince to the throne between Year 50 and Year 55 of his father's reign when he died. He was succeeded in this position by his full brother Merneptah. [Dodson & Hilton, op. cit., p.170] He also served as Governor of Memphis.

In later periods of Egyptian history, Khaemwaset was remembered as a wise man, and portrayed as the hero in a cycle of stories dating to Greco-Roman times. [Dodson & Hilton, op. cit., p.171] 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." [Dodson & Hilton, op. cit., p.171]

Family

Khaemwaset is known to have had two sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Ramesses, is mentioned on a block statue from Memphis. His second son, Hori, became High Priest of Ptah at Memphis during the later part of the 19th dynasty. Khaemwaset is also known to have had a daughter named Isetnofret II or Isitnofret II who may have married her uncle, the Pharoah Merneptah. [ [http://euler.slu.edu/Dept/Faculty/bart/egyptianhtml/kings%20and%20Queens/Khaemwaset.html Prince Khaemwaset ] ]

One grandson of his is known to us. His son Hori, had a son who was also named Hori. This grandson of Khaemwaset would later serve as Vizier of Egypt during the tumultuous period at the end of the 19th dynasty He was still performing these duties under Ramesses III.

References

* "Nos ancêtres de l'Antiquité", 1991, Christian Settipani, p.175

External links

* [http://euler.slu.edu/Dept/Faculty/bart/egyptianhtml/kings%20and%20Queens/Khaemwaset.html Prince Khaemwaset]