Ramesses II: Anatomy of a Pharaoh
His Family (Specifically, his Children)
How the early, predynastic leadership
of Egypt was developed is certainly debatable. However, many
Egyptologists believe that the early chieftains gradually
gained a sphere of influence because they knew how to harness
the Nile River, and the fertility of the Nile Valley. Rather
than being warier kings, they knew how to lead others in feeding
their people.
Throughout Egypt's pharaonic history,
the King of Egypt was thought to intercede with the gods to
assure fertile Nile floods, and hence, food to feed the masses.
This was one of the reasons that great temples were built,
and the priesthood furnished with wealth. When the Nile floods
came up short, the king could also be blamed as well. But
fertility
stretched beyond Egypt's crops. At a time when the world's
human population was small, and death at birth or early infancy
was considerable, human fertility was also important, and
it was most important for the Pharaoh, who needed to produce
an heir to the throne of Egypt. We believe that fully one
third of all children did not live to reach their fifteenth
year.
Producing a crown prince was not
always easy, even though the pharaohs often had numerous wives.
The ladies of his harem who were expected to produce a future
heir were often close family members, including even full
sisters at times. Hence, a pharaoh who, even with the "assistance"
of a number of queens, prodigiously produced children, including
a number of males, might be considerably proud of such a feat.
Indeed, Ramesses II of Egypt's 19th Dynasty was such a pharaoh,
and because of his long life, this was very lucky, because
twelve of his oldest sons would die before their father.
In fact, because Ramesses II featured
so many of his children in depictions and statuary, and the
fact that we have considerable documentary evidence from this
period, we learn much about the treatment and importance of
royal children, at least during this period, some of which
might seem surprising to us.
For example, Ramesses II provided
us with a number of processions of both sons and daughters
(sometimes together), depicted on the walls of his monuments
at such locations as Thebes (The Temple of Luxor and the 
Ramesseum)
and Abu Simbel. While Ramesses II may have had any number
of other children by very minor consorts, those of his principal
wives (see also, his women) are ordered apparently by age,
only, without regard to the importance of their mothers, with
most probably even the children of minor wives following those
of Nefertari and Iset-Nofret (his two principal wives). Indeed,
the order of this list appears to have probably been the same
as the line of succession (for the sons) so that those of
Iset-Nofret bearing the same opportunities (given their birth
order) as that of Nefertari, Ramesses II's actual chief wife.
Of course, it would eventually be Merenptah, a son of Iset-Nofret,
who would inherit the throne of Egypt.
Perhaps even more interest, given
this information, is Iset-Nofret's apparent lack of real importance
to Ramesses II. Her image is infrequently depicted, and when
it is, seems to have been the work of her famous son, Khaemwese
rather than Ramesses II. Yet we find images and references
to her daughter, particularly that of Bent'anta (Bintanath,
Bint-Anath, Bintanat) who later became the first of Ramesses
II's daughters that he married, which predate those of her
mother. In many cases, the princesses of consorts were given
more importance then their mothers. In any event, it is very
notable that even the sons and daughters of relatively minor
consorts were given considerably more attention then their
mothers, even though they might have never stood a chance
of becoming king.
How Ramesses II interacted with his
children is relatively unknown to us. Some children of the
minor queens perhaps saw little of the royal court. They may
have even been portrayed in the processions simply to enhance
their father's reputation, but it would appear that some thought
was given to these children, perhaps especially to those who
showed talent. For example, we are told of Prince Simontu,
who was Ramesses II's 23 son and who 
served
as an able administrator of the royal vineyard at Memphis.
Others, such as Prince Ramesses-Meriamen-Nebweben (son number
46) may have been virtually ignored. He seems to have died
during his thirties while still living in one of the harem
palaces.
However, the sons of the principal
queens, particularly those who were the oldest and therefore
had a chance to become king, must have received considerably
more attention. Perhaps most of these sons accompanied Ramesses
II on military expeditions at one time or another, and several
of them ended up acquiring a talent of martial leadership,
becoming generals. These included his eldest son, Amenhirkhepeshef,
who became General-in-Chief, and Prehirwenemef, his third
son who was given the titles, "First Brave of the Army" and
later "First Charioteer of His Majesty". Most of the sons
were probably give the opportunity to prove themselves in
battle, but some appear to have not taken to this way of life,
such as Khaemwaset, his forth son. His talents seem to have
been of a more intellectual nature, so he was allowed, as
others, and even encouraged, to purse a career as a priest.
In this, he excelled becoming famous as a sage and as the
creator of the Serapaeum at Saqqara. Merenptah, the 13th son
of Ramesses II who would be lucky enough to eventually outlived
his older brothers and become king, was initially responsible
for administration of the Delta region as far south as Memphis.
While he may not have been recognized officially as a co-regent
of his father, he was probably responsible for the kingdoms
stewardship during the final twelve years of his father's
long life.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect
of Ramesses II's daughters is what became of the minor princesses.
We know what became of the most senior of his daughters who
lived past the age of puberty. They were wed to their father,
a situation which seems not so unpleasant to them as it would
of course be today. However, we know little about most of
the other, more minor daughters. Some were no doubt lucky
enough to have married brothers, who would accept them, for
while a minor prince might marry most anyone, the choice for
princesses were usually limited to those of their own royal
status. Those that did not marry, as well as some who did,
no doubt served the temples and gods in some capacity. Some
may have even become minor wives of Ramesses II, though mostly
as invisible to us as their mother's might have been.
Of Kings and Family
The question that many would ask,
is how did the royal family of Egypt compare to our own modern
families, or for that matter, even modern royal families.
Was there intimacy, and intimate moments? Could we find touching
scenes of family life, and was there great love between husband,
wife and the kids?
Regrettably, we may never know the
answers to these questions, but we might take a stab at a
few responses.
For the typical child of the king's
harem, and particularly for those of minor kings, intimacy
was certainly shared mostly between mother and child. This
was probably even true for the youngest children of Ramesses
II's principal queens, though at times it is possible that
father, mother and their children came together as a family
unit. While 
we
find few such depictions during the reign of Ramesses II there
are those, for example, during the reign of Akhenaten that
do seem to reveal considerable family intimacy, and others
from many period that depict ordinary Egyptians displaying
great affection for their wives and children. Yet Ramesses
II was a hands-on king who spent considerable time during
the early period of his reign either traveling back and forth
along the Nile, or sometimes away on military campaigns, so
he must have had little enough time to form the bonds of fatherhood.
However, we might assume, considering
that Ramesses II began his family with both Nefertari and
Iset-Nofret prior to his ascending the throne, when his offsprings
were few, that we might have witnesses some moments similar
to those depicted between Akhenaten, his wife and children.
But it is also probable, that as time wore on and the harem
swelled, and the eldest of Ramesses II's children passed on
before him, that intimacy and deep love might become rare
pleasures of this king, his feelings made numb more and more
by the memories of earlier losses. In addition, favorites
had to be closely controlled, for it probably would have done
to show undue emotion to a more joyful younger son at the
expense of an Arab parent.
Yet, for those first few, there are
certainly allusions to Ramesses II's adoration. Of course,
for Nefertari, his first "Chief King's Wife", there is the
temple at Abu Simbel and the wonderful tomb in the Valley
of the Queens, and there were also apparently separate tombs
for several of his daughters who became his queens. We also
find, built for at least his elder sons, if not for many more
of his children, probably the largest tomb ever excavated
in Egypt in the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank at Luxor
(ancient Thebes).
Yet all of this is relevant, and
not at all complete proof of Ramesses II's affection for his
wives and children, because in the big scheme of things, certain
aspects all of these efforts may have simply promoted the
kingship, as well as the deification, of Ramesses II himself.
Keep in mind, for example, that while the small temple at
Abu Simbel may have been built to honor Nefertari, and her
images in monumental form may be found on its facade, it is
Ramesses II himself that occupies the walls within.
Major Sections on Ramesses II: