Khaemwaset
Son of Ramesses II, high priest of Ptah, restorer of monuments
- Lived
- c. 1281–1225 BCE
- Father
- Ramesses II
- Office
- High Priest of Ptah at Memphis
- Known for
- Restoring Old Kingdom pyramids
- Later legend
- Setne Khamwas, magician-scholar
A son of Ramesses II who restored ancient pyramids and labeled them with inscriptions, often called the first Egyptologist.
What is Khaemwaset known for?
Khaemwaset was the fourth son of Ramesses II and Queen Isetnofret. After early military service he became a priest of Ptah at Memphis and later High Priest, and for a few years was crown prince, though he died before his father.
He took a keen interest in monuments already a thousand years old. He restored Old Kingdom pyramids and temples, including those of Unas, Djoser, Sahure and Userkaf, and carved inscriptions on them naming their original owners and recording his repairs. For this he is often called the first Egyptologist.
In later centuries he became a figure of legend. Demotic stories from Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt make 'Setne Khamwas' a scholar-magician who hunts for the magical book of Thoth and visits the underworld.
Restored the pyramid of Unas and carved an inscription recording the work.
Mentioned on these pages
- Rabbit holeUnas
- PersonRamesses II
Sources
- Wikipedia, 'Prince Khaemweset'Reference
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, 'Ramses II'Reference
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