Smendes 377Sitiah(fl. 15th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty
She was a consort of TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.)
and held the rank of Great Wife. Sitiah received this rank
upon the death of NEFERU-RÉ, as late as Tuthmosis III’s
22nd regnal year. A commoner, and the daughter of the
royal nurse Ipu, she either did not live long or retired to
the harem villa at MI-WERin the FAIYUMat a young age.
She bore no heirs. Sitiah was replaced by MERYT-RE-HAT-
SHEPSUT.
Sit-Kamose(fl. 16th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Eighteenth Dynasty
She was a princess of Thebes in the reign of ’AHMOSE I
(1550–1525 B.C.E.), or possibly KAMOSE(r. 1555–1550
B.C.E.) of the Seventeenth Dynasty. Her mummified
remains were discovered at DEIR EL-BAHRIin 1881. The
priests of the Twenty-first Dynasty (1070–945 B.C.E.)
placed them there after finding her tomb vandalized. A
large woman, Sit-Kamose’s mummy was packed with
linens. She was placed in a sycamore coffin and garlanded
with flowers.
Sitré(fl. 14th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the Nine-
teenth Dynasty
She was the consort of RAMESSES I(r. 1307–1306 B.C.E.),
an elderly commoner when Ramesses I founded the
Nineteenth Dynasty. Sitré was the mother of SETI Iand a
military woman, having moved with Ramesses I during
his career and having supported him as he rose in rank.
She died in the reign of Seti I, much honored by the
court. She was buried in the first tomb in the VALLEY OF
THE QUEENS, and her gravesite had a hall and an unfin-
ished burial chamber. Paintings on the walls depict her
making offerings to the gods of Egypt.
Sit-Sheryet(fl. 22nd century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Eleventh Dynasty
She was the consort of MONTUHOTEP I(r. c. 2130 B.C.E.),
ruling in Thebes. Her son was Prince Herunefer, and she
died soon after he was killed in a battle in HERAKLEOPO-
LIS.
Sit-Weret(fl. 19th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the
Twelfth Dynasty
She was a lesser-ranked consort of SENWOSRET III (r.
1878–1841 B.C.E.). Sit-Weret was buried in the royal mor-
tuary complex of Senwosret III at DASHUR.
Siwa One of the oases in the LIBYAN DESERT, the most
honored of the fertile islands, Siwa is situated west of
ALEXANDRIAin the Delta area and served as a famous reli-
gious destination for centuries. ORACLESat the temple of
AMUNdrew countless pilgrims, and the religious houses
there were well endowed. ALEXANDER III THE GREATvisited
the temple of the oracle in 331 B.C.E., and was crowned
there as the son of AMUN, a true pharaoh. This temple
was originally stolid and plain. During the Ptolemaic
Dynasty (304–30 B.C.E.), however, half columns, courts,
antechambers, and a sanctuary were added or refur-
bished. In an earlier era, AMASIS(r. 570–526 B.C.E.) had
dedicated new additions.
A second temple dedicated to Amun, called Umm
’Ubayda, was located near the rock of Aghurmi at Siwa.
Another site, Ain el-Gubah, called “the Spring of the
Sun,” is ancient in origin. A necropolis served Siwa at
Gebel el-Mawta, or Qarat el-Mussaberin, the “Ridge of
Mummies.”
CAMBYSES(r. 525–522 B.C.E.), the Persian conqueror,
sent a rather large force to Siwa Oasis, having heard of
the wealth of the region, known for wines and dates as
well as religious ceremonies. This Persian army marched
into the desert and disappeared. The entire force was lost
and this disappearance remained a mystery. Recent exca-
vations in the area, however, may have uncovered the
Persian soldiers and their equipment. In the Greco-
Roman era, Siwa Oasis was named Jupiter Ammon.sma It was an AMULETof ancient Egypt, designed as a
phallus. The symbol denoted unity.sma-tawy (sema-tawy) It was the symbol of the uni-
fied Upper and Lower Egypt. The insignia was fashioned
out of the signs of the Two Kingdoms, the entwined
PAPYRUSand LOTUS. The sma-tawyappeared on thrones,
sacred barks, or in the decorations in palaces and tem-
ples.Smendes (1) (Nesbenebded, Hedjkheperre’setepenré)
(d. 1044 B.C.E.) Founder of the Twenty-first Dynasty
He reigned from 1070 B.C.E. until his death. Smendes
had served RAMESSES XI(r. 1100–1070 B.C.E.), the last
ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty, and took the throne
when the Ramessid line ended. In order to consolidate
his claims, Smendes married Princess TANTAMUN(2), the
daughter of Ramesses XI. Smendes is derived from Nes-
benebded, his commoner name. He was a native of
Djedet in the Delta.
Smendes established his capital in TANIS, as HERI-
HOR, the high priest of Amun in Thebes, played the role
of coregent. In Smendes’s 16th regnal year, PINUDJEM
(1), the new high priest of Amun, openly displayed pha-
raonic titles and rituals. Smendes’s sons were PSUSENNES
Iand Amenemnisu, and his daughter was HENUTTAWY.
He resided at MEMPHISand constructed the enclosing
wall in KARNAK and LUXOR. An inscription attesting
to his reign was discovered at GEBELEIN. He was buried
in TANIS.