Merenptah

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Merenptah
Rule1213-1203 BC,
PredecessorFather Ramses II
MotherIstnofret I
Nomen (meaning of name)The Beloved of Ptah
Dynasty19th
ConsortsIstnofret II
Takhat
Capital cityMemphis
AchievementsDefeated Libyans and Israelites
Israel Stele
Burial Valley of Kings - KV 8
Reburied in Amenhotep II tomb - KV 35 cache
SuccesorSon Amenmesse out of Takhat

  • In Ramses's II year 40, Merenptah was made commander of the Army
  • Become the heir to the throne during Ramses's II 55th regnal year
  • Carried successful campaigns against the Libyans. The defeat of the Libyans saved Egypt from ruin but economic and political decline continued at a steady pace
  • He built a mortuary temple at Thebes south of The Ramesseum This temple glorifies his campaign against the Libu and Meshwesh Libyans was on the Mererptah Stele also known as the "Israel Stele", which makes reference to the destruction of Israel during a prior campaign in Canan. This is the first written record of the existence of the Ancient Israelites in this region.. Because of this, Merenptah has often been thought to be the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
  • His mummy however reveals that he suffered from old age deseases and died of natural causes
  • He moved the administrative center of Egypt from Avaris (Pi-Ramesse), his fathers capital, back to Memphis
  • He Built a palace in Memphis next to temple of Ptah
  • He also built a mortuary temple that lies behind the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank at Luxor. Much of it was built with stone robbed from the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.

    Page last updated: 15 Feb 2008
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