Isetnofret II
Encyclopedia
Isetnofret (Ancient Egyptian: "the beautiful Isis") was one of the Great Royal Wives
of Pharaoh
Merenptah.
.
Another possibility is that Isetnofret II is a daughter of King Ramesses II
and possibly a daughter of Queen Isetnofret
I.
Her children include:
Isetnofret II is attested several times during the reign of her husband:
It is not known when or where Isetnofret died or where she was buried. If Isetnofret was the daughter of Khaemwaset, then she may have been buried at Saqqara. The tomb of a royal lady named Isetnofret was recently discovered in Saqqara during excavations by Waseda University.
Great Royal Wife
Great Royal Wife or Chief King's Wife is the term used to refer to the chief wife of the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. While most Ancient Egyptians were monogamous, the pharaoh would have had other, lesser wives and concubines in addition to the Great Royal Wife...
of Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Merenptah.
Family
Queen Isetnofret II may have been the daughter of Prince Khaemwaset. If so she married her uncle MerneptahMerneptah
Merneptah was the fourth ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. He ruled Egypt for almost ten years between late July or early August 1213 and May 2, 1203 BC, according to contemporary historical records...
.
Another possibility is that Isetnofret II is a daughter of King Ramesses II
Ramesses II
Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire...
and possibly a daughter of Queen Isetnofret
Isetnofret
Isetnofret was one of the Great Royal Wives of Pharaoh Ramesses II and was the mother of his heir, Merneptah...
I.
Her children include:
- Prince Sety-Merenptah, who would later take the throne as Seti IISeti IISeti II , was the fifth ruler of the Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt and reigned from 1203 BC to 1197 BC. His throne name, Userkheperure Setepenre, meant "Powerful are the Manifestations of Re, Chosen by Re.' He was the son of Merneptah and wife Isisnofret and sat on the throne during a...
- Prince Merenptah B, King's Son, Executive at the Head of the Two Lands, and Generalissimo.
- Prince Khaemwaset D, King's Son, Depicted in Karnak Temple.
- possibly Princess Isetnofret D ?, King's daughter mentioned in the Leiden ship log.
Titles
Queen Isetnofret II's titles include: Lady of The Two Lands (nbt-t3wy), Great King’s Wife (hmt-niswt-wrt), Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt (hnwt-Shm’w -mhw), King’s Wife (hmt-nisw).Life
Isetnofret II grew up during the reign of Ramesses II, her possible grandfather. If she was the daughter of Khaemwaset, she may have very well grown up in Memphis, or otherwise Piramesse.Isetnofret II is attested several times during the reign of her husband:
- She is depicted on a statue usurped from Amenhotep IIIAmenhotep IIIAmenhotep III also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent was the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty. According to different authors, he ruled Egypt from June 1386 to 1349 BC or June 1388 BC to December 1351 BC/1350 BC after his father Thutmose IV died...
by Merenptah. - On a stela of the Vizier Panehesy at Gebel el Silsila. This stela is situated across the Chapel of Panehesy and depicts MerneptahMerneptahMerneptah was the fourth ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. He ruled Egypt for almost ten years between late July or early August 1213 and May 2, 1203 BC, according to contemporary historical records...
, Queen Isetnofret and Sety-Merneptah with the vizier before Amun-Re and Ptah. - Another stela situated in the Gallery of the Speos of Horemheb at Gebel el Silsila depicts Merenptah followed by Queen Isetnofret and the vizier Panehesy as they offer an image of the goddess Ma'at to Amen-Re and MutMutMut, which meant mother in the ancient Egyptian language, was an ancient Egyptian mother goddess with multiple aspects that changed over the thousands of years of the culture. Alternative spellings are Maut and Mout. She was considered a primal deity, associated with the waters from which...
. - On a statuette dedicated by the Vizier Panehesy at Gebel el Silsila.
It is not known when or where Isetnofret died or where she was buried. If Isetnofret was the daughter of Khaemwaset, then she may have been buried at Saqqara. The tomb of a royal lady named Isetnofret was recently discovered in Saqqara during excavations by Waseda University.
Sources
- Nos ancêtres de l'Antiquité, 1991, Christian SettipaniChristian SettipaniChristian Settipani is the Technical Director of an IT company in Paris and a genealogist and historian.He has a Master of Advanced Studies degree from the Paris-Sorbonne University and is currently preparing his doctoral thesis, while he often gives lectures to students undergraduates at the...
, p. 175