Mentuemhat, however, defected to Taharqa, who had
been forced to flee from Egypt and was regrouping to
regain control. When Psammetichus I founded the
Twenty-sixth Dynasty, Mentuemhat acknowledged his
sovereignty. He also sponsored Princess NITOCRIS(2), the
daughter of Psammetichus I, as the Divine Adoratrice of
Amun or GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN. He ruled from ASWANto
HERMOPOLIS MAGNAand had three wives.
A black granite bust of Mentuemhat was discovered
at KARNAK, and a standing statue depicts him as a robust,
powerful man. Other private monuments display a high
degree of artistic skills in the period. His tomb was
erected at ASASIFin Thebes. This burial site is a rock-cut
complex with outer courts and pylons. A single sloping
passage leads to an incomplete chamber. The tomb is
beautifully painted and the burial chamber is at the bot-
tom of a shaft. There is a sun court, as well as side
chapels, a portico, and a stairway. The ceiling decorations
depict astronomical designs. Mentuemhat also erected a
MORTUARY TEMPLE, with the separate chambers using dif-
fering style of decorations.
Mentuemzaf (Djed’ankhré)(fl. 17th or 18th century
B.C.E.)Ruler of the Thirteenth Dynasty
The actual dates of his reign are unknown. A monument
honoring Mentuemzaf was discovered at DEIR EL-BAHRI,
opposite Thebes. His son resided apparently at AVARIS, the
seat of the growing power of the HYKSOS, or Asiatics, who
were consolidating their hold on the eastern Delta. A sec-
ond monument of Mentuemzaf was found in GEBELEIN.
Menwi See MENHET.
Menyu A god of ancient Egypt, called “the Lord of the
Desert,” Menyu was believed to be the son of ISISand was
revered in KOPTOS, worshiped as Neb-Semt, or desert
deity. He was depicted in some periods as a warrior bull
god. Menyu was also a deity of regeneration. He is listed
on the PALERMO STONE.
Menzala This is a lake in the Delta region of ancient
Egypt. The lake is located near the Damietta branch of
the Nile. Menzala is one of the few remaining bodies of
water in the Delta, where the Nile had seven separate
branches and the water levels of the lakes were higher.
Mereneith See MERNEITH.
Merenptah (Baenre’hotepirma’at)(d. 1214 B.C.E.)
Fourth ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty
He reigned from 1224 B.C.E. until his death. Merenptah
was the son of RAMESSES IIand Queen ISETNOFRET(1). He
was actually the 13th son designated as the royal heir. His
older brothers died before they could receive the throne
from their long reigning father (1290–1224 B.C.E.). Active
militarily while a prince, Merenptah was apparently in his
50s when he became pharaoh.
A KARNAKinscription and the ATHRIBIS STELAgive
accounts of the difficulties he faced upon taking the
throne. The Cairo Column also adds details. Merenptah
faced a combined force of Libyans, Libu, Tekenu, and
MESHWESHin the fifth year of his reign in the western
Delta and defeated them. He then met the Libyans and a
contingent of SEA PEOPLES, including the MESHWESH,
Kehek, Sherden, Shekelesh, Lukka, Tursha, and Aka-
washa, repelling them. A major battle was fought at
Per-yer in the Delta and then at “the Mount of the Horns
of the Earth” in the Libyan Desert. Mauroy, a Libyan
leader, fell in this battle, as Merenptah used chariots,
infantry units, and archers to repel the enemy. More than
6,000 of the enemy died, and their families were taken
captive.
Merenptah’s chief consorts were ISETNOFRET(2) and
TAKHAT(1). His sons were SETI IIand probably AMEN-
MESSES. He built a royal residence at MEMPHIS and
restored temples elsewhere. He also aided the HITTITES,
who were suffering from a severe famine. Seti II was
made coruler before Merenptah died, probably in his
early 70s. At his death he was corpulent, bald, and stand-
ing five feet seven inches tall. His tomb in the VALLEY OF
THE KINGSon the western shore of THEBESwas designed
with five corridors and contained halls, side chambers,
and annexes. This highly decorated tomb held a SAR-
COPHAGUS of red granite. The lid of the sarcophagus
depicted the BOOK OF THE GATES, a mortuary document.
Another alabaster sarcophagus was also discovered on the
site. The tomb had a trench dug in front of it to protect it
from seasonal floods.
The mummy of Merenptah was found in the royal
mummy cache in the tomb of AMENHOTEP IIin 1898.
Merenptah suffered from arthritis and calcification of the
arteries. He had severe dental problems and evidence of
prior fractures of the thigh bones. Merenptah’s mummy
was encrusted with salty nodules, probably caused by the
embalming process.Merenré I (Nemtyemzaf)(d. 2246 B.C.E.) Third ruler
of the Sixth Dynasty
He reigned from 2255 B.C.E. until his death. Merenré was
the son of PEPI Iand Queen ANKHNESMERY-RÉ(1). His wife
was Queen NEITH(2) or Nit, who married PEPI II, and his
daughter was Ipwet. Merenré I ruled only nine years, and
he built a pyramid in SAQQARAbut never finished the site.
Merenré I also exploited the mines of SINAI, the quarries
of NUBIA(modern Sudan), and the mines of ASWANand
HATNUB, and he visited ELEPHANTINE Island at ASWAN,
appointing a governor for the region. He maintained as
well the services of General WENI, who had been an offi-
cial in the reign of Pepi I.238 Mentuemzaf