Princess Tia
Encyclopedia
Tia or Tiya was an Ancient Egypt
ian princess during the 19th dynasty
.
Seti I
and Queen Tuya
and the (older) sister of Ramesses II
. She is attested only on monuments dating to Ramesses' reign.
Tia was married to an official who was also called Tia. The couple had two daughters, Mutmetjennefer and another, whose name did not survive. They were depicted in their parents' tomb in Saqqara.
into a non-royal family, before her grandfather Paramessu (later Ramesses I
) ascended to the throne. It is possible she was named after her grandmother, who is known as Sitre, but could be identical with a woman named Tia, who was named as Seti's mother. Her only known sibling is Pharaoh Ramesses; a younger princess called Henutmire
was either her sister or her niece.
Since she was not born as a princess, she is one of the few princesses during Egypt's history, who married outside the royal family. Her husband, a royal scribe, was also called Tia and was the son of a high-ranking official called Amonwahsu. Tia, son of Amonwahsu was Ramesses' tutor, and held important offices later in his reign, he was Overseer of the Treasurers, and Overseer of the Cattle of Amun
. Princess Tia, similarly to other noble ladies, held titles which indicate she took part in religious rituals ("Singer of Hathor", "Singer of Re of Heliopolis", "Singer of Amun-great-in-his-glory").
Tia and Tia are depicted on a stone block, together with Queen Tuya (this is now in Toronto
). Another stone block, now in Chicago
, shows Tia (the husband) with his father Amonwahsu, Pharaoh Sethi I, and Ramesses II as crown-prince.
. The tomb was built close to that of Horemheb
, and was excavated by Geoffrey T. Martin
.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian princess during the 19th dynasty
Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt
The Nineteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt was one of the periods of the Egyptian New Kingdom. Founded by Vizier Ramesses I, whom Pharaoh Horemheb chose as his successor to the throne, this dynasty is best known for its military conquests in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.The warrior kings of the...
.
Family
Tia was the daughter of PharaohPharaoh
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...
Seti I
Seti I
Menmaatre Seti I was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt , the son of Ramesses I and Queen Sitre, and the father of Ramesses II...
and Queen Tuya
Queen Tuya
Queen Tuya was the wife of Pharaoh Seti I of Egypt and mother of Princess Tia, Ramesses II and perhaps Henutmire. She was the daughter of Raia who was a military officer based on his title of Lieutenant of the chariotry...
and the (older) sister of 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...
. She is attested only on monuments dating to Ramesses' reign.
Tia was married to an official who was also called Tia. The couple had two daughters, Mutmetjennefer and another, whose name did not survive. They were depicted in their parents' tomb in Saqqara.
Life
She was born during the reign of HoremhebHoremheb
Horemheb was the last Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty from either 1319 BC to late 1292 BC, or 1306 to late 1292 BC although he was not related to the preceding royal family and is believed to have been of common birth.Before he became pharaoh, Horemheb was the commander in chief...
into a non-royal family, before her grandfather Paramessu (later Ramesses I
Ramesses I
Menpehtyre Ramesses I was the founding Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 19th dynasty. The dates for his short reign are not completely known but the time-line of late 1292-1290 BC is frequently cited as well as 1295-1294 BC...
) ascended to the throne. It is possible she was named after her grandmother, who is known as Sitre, but could be identical with a woman named Tia, who was named as Seti's mother. Her only known sibling is Pharaoh Ramesses; a younger princess called Henutmire
Henutmire
Henutmire was an Ancient Egyptian princess and queen, one of the eight Great Royal Wives of Pharaoh Ramesses II.-Life:She is possibly the third and youngest child of Seti I and Queen Tuya, and the younger sister of Ramesses II and Princess Tia. This theory is based on a statue of Queen Tuya, now in...
was either her sister or her niece.
Since she was not born as a princess, she is one of the few princesses during Egypt's history, who married outside the royal family. Her husband, a royal scribe, was also called Tia and was the son of a high-ranking official called Amonwahsu. Tia, son of Amonwahsu was Ramesses' tutor, and held important offices later in his reign, he was Overseer of the Treasurers, and Overseer of the Cattle of Amun
Amun
Amun, reconstructed Egyptian Yamānu , was a god in Egyptian mythology who in the form of Amun-Ra became the focus of the most complex system of theology in Ancient Egypt...
. Princess Tia, similarly to other noble ladies, held titles which indicate she took part in religious rituals ("Singer of Hathor", "Singer of Re of Heliopolis", "Singer of Amun-great-in-his-glory").
Tia and Tia are depicted on a stone block, together with Queen Tuya (this is now in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
). Another stone block, now in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, shows Tia (the husband) with his father Amonwahsu, Pharaoh Sethi I, and Ramesses II as crown-prince.
Death and Burial
The couple Tia and Tia were buried in SaqqaraSaqqara
Saqqara is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, serving as the necropolis for the Ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. Saqqara features numerous pyramids, including the world famous Step pyramid of Djoser, sometimes referred to as the Step Tomb due to its rectangular base, as well as a number of...
. The tomb was built close to that of Horemheb
Horemheb
Horemheb was the last Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty from either 1319 BC to late 1292 BC, or 1306 to late 1292 BC although he was not related to the preceding royal family and is believed to have been of common birth.Before he became pharaoh, Horemheb was the commander in chief...
, and was excavated by Geoffrey T. Martin
Geoffrey Thorndike Martin
Geoffrey Thorndike Martin is an egyptologist, Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology Emeritus, University College, London, Joint Field Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project and fellow commoner of Christ's College, Cambridge.-Biography:Martin was born in London. He attended...
.