334 RaiDynasty in the VALLEY OF THE KINGS. Rahotep restored the
temples of MINand OSIRISat KOPTOS and ABYDOS. His
pyramid was erected at DRA-ABÚ EL-NAGA, the oldest sec-
tion of the necropolis of Thebes.
Rai(fl. 16th century B.C.E.)Court woman of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty
She served in the reign of ’AHMOSE(1550–1525 B.C.E.), as
a wet nurse of Queen ’AHMOSE-NEFERTARI. Rai was buried
in Thebes in a newly made coffin of sycamore wood. Her
original coffin was used to bury Princess ’AHMOSE-IN-
HAPI. Rai’s remains were discovered at DEIR EL-BAHRIin
- Her mummy clearly shows that she was a graceful
and delicate woman with abundant masses of hair, woven
into braids.
See also MORTUARY RITUALS.
Raia (fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Nine-
The mummified head of Seti I
Raia’s daughter, Queen TUYA, probably married Seti I (r.
1306–1290 B.C.E.) before he became pharaoh. Raia’s hus-
band, Ruia, was a lieutenant of charioteers in the army of
Ramesses I before he was asked by HOREMHABto found a
new royal line. She was buried in Thebes.
Ramesses(fl. 13th century B.C.E.)Prince of the Nine-
teenth Dynasty
He was the son of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) and
Queen ISETNOFRET(1) and campaigned with his father in
NUBIA, serving as a charioteer. A general and the
appointed heir to the throne from Ramesses II’s regnal
years of 40–50, Prince Ramesses died before inheriting.
He followed AMENHIRKHOPSHEF(2)in the line of succes-
sion. Prince Ramesses was depicted at ABU SIMBEL. He
denoted funerary items for the APISbulls and conducted
inquiries into a legal matter concerning the mortuary
temple of TUTHMOSIS I.
Ramesses I (Menpehtiré)(d. 1306 B.C.E.) Founder of
Golden tableware from the Nineteenth Dynasty
He reigned only from 1307 B.C.E. until his death. Chosen
as the successor by HOREMHAB, Ramesses I served for a
time as coregent while Horemhab lived and then began
his own royal line. The son of an Egyptian military com-
mander, a commoner named Seti, Ramesses I was born in
AVARIS, the former capital of the HYKSOSin the eastern
Delta. Joining the army, Ramesses I fought at the side of
Horemhab and became a commander of troops, superin-
tendent of cavalry troops, a royal envoy, superintendent
of “the Mouths of the Nile,” the branches of the river in
the Delta, and a full general.
In time, Ramesses I served as Horemhab’s VIZIERand
high priest of AMUN, a rank that placed him in command
of all the cults and temples of the nation. When
Horemhab died childless, Ramesses I was installed as the
deputy of the throne, becoming the heir. His wife SITRÉ
was the mother of SETI I. As Ramesses I was quite elderly
when he succeeded Horemhab, Seti I was already a mili-
tary commander.
The name Ramesses was translated as “Ré Fashioned
Him,” and his throne name, Menpehtiré, was translated
as “Enduring Is the Might of Ré.” In his first months
of power, Ramesses I restored the great temple of KARNAK
in THEBES, completing the second PYLON and a vesti-
bule. He also added a colonnaded hall. Ramesses I named
Seti I as his coregent and died only 16 months after his
coronation.
At WADI HALFA, a stela bears his name and commem-
orates his temple offerings. Ramesses I conducted a
Nubian campaign, probably led by Seti I in his name. His
tomb was prepared in the VALLEY OF THE KINGSbut was
not completed. It has a double row of stairs, a burial
chamber, and three annexes. Portraits of the goddess
MA’ATdecorate the entrance. The burial chamber contains
a yellow granite sarcophagus with figures of the goddess
Isis on the ends. Paintings were used instead of cut reliefs
as tomb adornments. Ramesses I’s mummified remains
were moved to DEIR EL-BAHRIin later eras and were dis-
covered in the cache there. Ramesses I also had a tomb in
Avaris, unused and probably built for him before he
ascended the throne.Ramesses II (Userma’atre’setepenré)(d. 1224 B.C.E.)
Third ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty, called the Great
He reigned from 1290 B.C.E. until his death, one of the
longest-lived pharaohs of Egypt. The son of SETI Iand
Queen TUYA, Ramesses II was introduced early to the mil-
itary careers of his family. His grandfather, RAMESSES I,
and his great-grandfather, Seti, had been commanders in
the field. Ramesses II accompanied his father in a Libyan
campaign when he was a teenager. He also went to war in
the Mediterranean and Palestine regions.
He became the coregent in the seventh year of the
reign of Seti I, who reportedly said: “Crown Him as king
that I may see his beauty while I live with him.” His
throne name meant “Strong in Right Is RÉ.” He also con-
ducted a Nubian campaign, accompanied by two of his
own sons, at age 22.
In Egypt, he aided Seti I in vast restoration programs
up and down the Nile. Together they built a new palace at
PER-RAMESSES, the new capital founded by Ramesses I in
the eastern Delta. Wells, QUARRIES, and mines were also
reopened.
Inheriting the throne, Ramesses II completed his
father’s buildings and began to restore the empire. He
made promotions among his aides, refurbished temples
and shrines, and campaigned on the borders of the land.
He then began a war with the HITTITESthat would last for
decades. This war opened with the Battle of KADESH,a
military campaign commemorated in the Poem of PEN-