Merit (1)(fl. 14th century B.C.E.)Noblewoman of the
Eighteenth Dynasty
She was the wife of MAYA, the treasurer for TUT’ANKHAMUN
(r. 1333–1323 B.C.E.) and HOREMHAB (r. 1319–1307
B.C.E.). Maya protected the tomb of Tut’ankhamun when
Horemhab set about destroying the surviving monuments
of AKHENATEN(r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.) and the ’AMARNA
Period. Also called Maia in some records, he built an
elaborate tomb in SAQQARA. Merit is depicted in exquisite
reliefs in the tomb with Maya, and the artistic splendor of
her portraits and other scenes symbolize the high degree
of skill evident in that period of Egyptian history.
Merit (2) She was an Egyptian divine being, called
“the Goddess of the Inundation.” Egypt was named Ta-
Mera, or Ta-Merit, “the Land of the Inundation.”
Meritites (1)(fl. 26th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of
the Fourth Dynasty
A consort of KHUFU(Cheops; r. 2551–2528 B.C.E.), Meri-
tites was the mother of Prince KEWABand Princess HET-
EPHERES (2), Princess MERYSANKH (2), and Princess
DJEDEFHORand BAUFRÉ. She was buried in GIZA. The royal
family of Khufu was divided between two factions, and
Meritites’ son Kewab, who was the rightful heir, was killed
in a questionable manner. His successor represented the
opposing side of the family and did not manage to keep
the throne for long or to raise his own sons as heirs.
Meritites (2)(fl. 23rd century B.C.E.)Royal woman of
the Sixth Dynasty
She was the daughter probably of PEPI I(r. 2289–2255
B.C.E.). A small step PYRAMID, recording her as a queen,
was discovered in SAQQARA. It is recorded that Meritites’
pyramid became a pilgrimage site after her death.
merkhet This was an astral gauge used by the ancient
Egyptians for architectural surveys and construction pro-
jects. Much like the modern plumb line, the merkhetpro-
vided relatively accurate measurements, something
required for the construction of massive monuments that
not only had to be based on secure foundations but were
positioned according to astronomical configurations
deemed appropriate.
Merneith (1) (Merynit, Mereneith, Meryneith)(fl.
c. 29th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the First Dynasty
She was the consort of DJETor Wadji (date of reign
unknown). Merneith was the mother of DEN, and clay
seals bear her name as “the King’s Mother.” She served as
regent for her son, who obviously inherited the throne
before reaching his majority. Merneith’s mortuary com-
plexes at ABYDOSand SAQQARAattest to her rank as a ruler
in that period. The Abydos tomb follows the pharaonic
style of that time and was surrounded by 41 other
gravesites. These Egyptians, including artisans and crafts-
men, possibly died as part of her mortuary ceremonies.
Merneith died in the reign of Den. A STELAerected in her
honor depicts her name entwined with the SEREKH(2)
symbol, normally reserved for pharaohs. Merneith’s coffin
bore similar royal insignias. Her Abydos tomb was a brick
lined pit with a wooden floor. Some 77 additional graves
were discovered nearby. Her Saqqara tomb contained a
boat pit.Merneith (2)(fl. 28th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of
the First Dynasty
Merneith was the consort of DEN (date of reign
unknown). She was probably his sister, born to Queen
MERNEITH(1) and DJET.Meroë A site on the eastern bank of the Nile in NUBIA
(modern Sudan), north of modern Kabushiyah, it con-
tains royal remains and unique monuments dating to the
Twenty-fifth Dynasty (712–657 B.C.E.) and other histori-
cal periods. In the fifth century B.C.E., the great Kushite
Empire was seated in Meroë. Vital and energetic, the peo-
ple of Meroë remained powerful even in the Greco-
Roman Period on the Nile. The necropolis of Meroë,
Begarawiga, was filled with Kushite pyramids and royal
burials. A temple to ISISdates to the Napatan Period (c.
1000–300 B.C.E.) at Meroë, and lavish palaces were
erected there as well. A temple of AMUNwas built in the
second century B.C.E., as well as a temple of APEDEMAK,a
Nubian lion deity.Suggested Reading: Priese, Karl-Heinz. The Gold of
Meroe.New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1993.Mersa Matruh This was a site 185 miles west of
ALEXANDRIAthat served as a port of entry into Egypt. Pil-
grims arriving to visit the oasis of SIWAduring the Ptole-
maic Period (304–30 B.C.E.) used the port and erected a
city called Ammonia (later called Paraetonium). Modern
Bates Island served as another trading port in the area.
Siwa Oasis, called also Jupiter Ammon, was well known
throughout the Mediterranean region, and many came
from distant lands to worship AMUNin that vast desert site.Merti See MERRHET.Meryamen(fl. 12th century B.C.E.) Prince of the Twenti-
eth Dynasty
A son of RAMESSES III (r. 1194–1163 B.C.E.), he was
depicted as a “Fan-bearer,” in reliefs, apparently not hold-
ing any other known official position. Meryamen was
also portrayed on the walls of MEDINET HABUwith 19 of
his brothers, listed there as Ramesses-Meryamen.240 Merit