Meryatum (“Beloved ofAtum”) was anancient Egyptian prince andHigh Priest of Re, the son ofPharaohRamesses II and QueenNefertari.
He is shown as 16th on the processions of princes, and is likely to have been the last child born to Ramesses and Nefertari (afterAmun-her-khepeshef,Pareherwenemef,Meritamen,Henuttawy andMeryre).[1] He is depicted in the SmallerAbu Simbel temple, dedicated to Nefertari. Inscriptions atKarnak and elsewhere show Nefertari was his mother.[2]
He visitedSinai in the second decade of his father's reign, and later in that decade was appointed as High Priest ofRa inHeliopolis, a position he held for the next twenty years.
Two of his statues are now inBerlin and astela belonging to him is inHildesheim. Anostrakon mentions work on his tomb and that ofIsetnofret; it implies he was buried in the area of theValley of the Queens, though it is also possible he was buried inKV5, the tomb built for the sons of Ramesses, since a fragment of one of hiscanopic jars was found there.
Meryatum is known from several inscriptions.[2]
- Inscription atSerabit el-Khadim depicting Prince Meryatum with the Troop-commander and Royal Cupbearer Ashahebsed and Troop-commander Amenemope.
- Façade of theSmall Temple at Abu Simbel; two of the colossal statues of the King are flanked by small statues of the King’s Son Meryatum and the King’s Son Meryre (the other two are flanked byAmun-her-khepeshef andPrehirwenemef)
- Inscription at theTemple of Mut atKarnak; The inscription names Meryatum and QueenNefertari:Text made by the King’s Son Ramesses-Meryatum, born of Queen Nefertari-Meryetmut, may she live forever! (Kitchen)
- Statue of Queen Nefertari with a depiction of Prince Meryatum at the left side (Brussels E.2459)
- Stela of Subordinate Akhpet from Qantir (Pelizaeus-Museum) mentions the King’s Son, Chief of Seers, pure of hands in the House of Re, Mery-Atum,justified.
- A statue with Standards (Berlin 19716) mentions on the Dorsal Pillar:Hereditary Prince and Count, Chief of Secrets in the Mansion of theBennu bird, bodily King’s son, beloved of him, Chief of Seers, Mery-Atum. (Kitchen[2])
- The dorsal pillar of a statue in Berlin (Berlin 7347). On the left side the inscription reads: "[…in] the Great Mansion, Setem priest in the Horizon of Eternity, Eyes of the King at the head of hisTwo Lands, with the utterance of whose mouth people are pleased; King’s Son, Chief of Seers, pure of hands in the house of Re, Meryatum, renewed in life, born of the Great Royal Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Nefertari Meryetmut." (Kitchen[2]) And on the right side it reads: "[…Chariot]eer of his father the Victorious King, Horus-Falcon, Beloved ofMaat; King’s Son, Chief of Seers, pure of hands in the house of Re, Meryatum, born of the Great Royal Wife, Lady ofBoth Lands, Nefertari Meryetmut." (Kitchen) While the main text says: "Hereditary Prince, Royal princeling, Judge(?) of the people, born of the Great Royal Wife, Chief of Seers, pure of hands in the house of Re, Meryatum." (Kitchen[2])
- Anostracon in Cairo (JdE 72460) mentions “work-in-progress of the Chief of Seers, Meryatum”. Probably refers to work on the tomb of Meryatum (i.e. KV5)
- In theValley of the Kings inKV5 twocalcitecanopic jars were found in chamber 3. One mentionsQebehsenuef, the otherHapi.[3]
- ^Dodson, Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004, pp. 167-168, 172.
- ^abcdeKitchen, K.A., Ramesside Inscriptions, Translated & Annotated, Translations, Volume II, Blackwell Publishers, 1996
- ^Weeks, K., KV5: A Preliminary Report on the Excavation of the Tomb of the Sons of Ramesses II in the Valley of the Kings.
