Meryatum (1)(fl. 13th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Nineteenth Dynasty
Meryatum was the daughter of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224
B.C.E.) and Queen NEFERTARI. She is depicted with her
parents at the Queen’s Temple at ABU SIMBEL.
Meryatum (2)(fl. 13th century B.C.E.) Royal priest of
Ré of the Nineteenth Dynasty
The sixteenth son of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.)
and NEFERTARI, he served as the high priest of RÉat
HELIOPOLIS. Prince Meryatum is depicted at the Queen’s
Temple at ABU SIMBEL, and the temple of NUTat KARNAK
bears his name. Meryatum officially visited the Egyptian
turquoise mining operations in the SINAI.
Meryatum (3)(fl. 12th century B.C.E.) Royal priest of
Ré of the Twentieth Dynasty
The son of RAMESSES III(r. 1194–1163 B.C.E.), he served
as the high priest of RÉat Heliopolis. Meryatum outlived
his father and was possibly buried at el-MATARRIYAH
necropolis, in modern Cairo.
Meryet (1) (Merit, Mereret)(fl. 19th century B.C.E.)
Royal woman of the Twelfth Dynasty
She was the consort of SENWOSRET III (r. 1878–1841
B.C.E.). Meryet was buried in the mortuary complex of
Senwosret III at DASHUR.
Meryet (2)(fl. 19th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Twelfth Dynasty
She was a consort of AMENEMHET II(r. 1929–1892 B.C.E.).
Little is known of her, as she was a lesser-ranked queen.
Merymose(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Viceroy of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty, called the “King’s Son of Kush”
Serving AMENHOTEP III(r. 1391–1353 B.C.E.), he was the
VICEROYof Kush, or the governor of NUBIA (modern
Sudan). Merymose was responsible for trade routes and
fortifications of the Egyptians south of Aswan. The
region of Nubia was highly active during Merymose’s
term of office as the “King’s Son of Kush,” and he had to
maintain garrisoned stations and navigable waterways
along the Nile. His tomb at THEBEScontained outstand-
ing statuary.
Merynénefer (Qar)(fl. c. 23rd century B.C.E.)Official
of the pyramidal complexes of the Sixth Dynasty
He was the overseer of the pyramidal complexes of
KHUFU(Cheops) and MENKAURÉ(Mycerinus). Merynéne-
fer was also a tenant of the pyramid complex of PEPI Iand
the inspector of priests in the pyramid of KHAFRE(Che-
phren). He served in several reigns. His tomb in GIZAis
elaborate, with two FALSE DOORSand decorations. A por-
tico displays pillars carved as the likenesses of Merynéne-
fer, and there are statues of the deceased and his son and
other male relatives. IDU, Merynénefer’s father, was buried
in an adjoining tomb in ABUSIR. He was the overseer of
priests in the pyramidal complexes of Khufu and also
Khafre (r. 2520–2494 B.C.E.). Elaborate paintings beautify
this gravesite.Meryptah(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Official of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty
Meryptah served AMENHOTEP III(r. 1391–1353 B.C.E.) as a
royal treasurer. He was buried at THEBESand was honored
for his faithful service to the nation.Meryré (1)(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Priestly official of
the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served AKHENATEN (Amenhotep IV; r. 1353–1335
B.C.E.) at ’AMARNAas the high priest of ATEN. Meryré held
the position of the Great Seer of Aten when Akhenaten
decided to share his powers with others near the end of
his reign. Akhenaten’s death resulted in the abandonment
of ’Amarna and the end of Aten’s cult. Meryré and his
wife, Tener, disappeared and their beautifully adorned
tomb at ’Amarna remained unfinished. Meryré reportedly
was buried somewhere in ’Amarna, probably deposited in
a secret cache in order to preserve his remains from the
agents of HOREMHAB(r. 1319–1307 B.C.E.).
Many of the ’Amarna officials made arrangements to
have their remains hidden when they died, as they wit-
nessed the destruction turned loose on Akhenaten’s capi-
tal after his death. The unused tomb of Meryré depicts
him receiving decorations from the pharaoh and visiting
Aten’s temple. The paintings at this site record events and
personalities of the ’Amarna Period and display the viva-
cious artistic styles of the era.Meryré (2)(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Official of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty at ’Amarna
He served AKHENATEN (Amenhotep IV; r. 1353–1335
B.C.E.) as superintendent of Queen NEFERTITI’s royal
household. Meryré was the son of the high priest of ATEN,
Meryré (1), and Tener. His unfinished tomb at ’Amarna
depicts Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and SMENKHARÉ. Meryré (2)
disappeared after Akhenaten’s death, probably hiding to
avoid the vengeance of HOREMHABand other Amunites,
who sought to obliterate all traces of the ’Amarna inter-
lude. His burial site has not been identified.Meryré (3)(fl. 13th century B.C.E.)Prince of the Nine-
teenth Dynasty
He was the eleventh son of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224
B.C.E.). Meryré is depicted in a LUXORtemple relief as part
of Ramesses II’s KADESHmilitary campaign. He is shown
leading prisoners during that encounter, which took
place in Ramesses II’s fifth regnal year.Meryré 241