| Meretseger | |||||||||||||||||
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| Great Royal Wife King's mother | |||||||||||||||||
 Meretseger with her husband Senusret III on a New Kingdom stela. British Museum, EA846 | |||||||||||||||||
| Tenure | 1879 BC – 1846 BC (reign of Sesostris III)? | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 19th century BC | ||||||||||||||||
| Died | early 19th century BC-late 18th century BC | ||||||||||||||||
| Senusret III | |||||||||||||||||
| Ancient Egyptian |
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| Dynasty | Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt | ||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Ancient Egyptian religion | ||||||||||||||||
Meretseger ("She who Loves Silence") was an ancient Egyptian queen consort.
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| Meretseger in hieroglyphs | |||||||||||
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| Era: Middle Kingdom (2055–1650 BC) | |||||||||||
Meretseger appears in sources of the New Kingdom of Egypt as the wife of Senusret III. According to that she would be the first Egyptian queen consort to bear the title Great Royal Wife, which became the standard title for chief wives of pharaohs. She was also the first queen consort whose name was written in a cartouche. [1] However, as there are no contemporary sources relating to Meretseger, she is most likely a creation of the New Kingdom. [2]
Along with Khenemetneferhedjet II and Neferthenut, she is one of three known wives of Senusret III (a fourth, possible wife is Sithathoriunet). She was depicted on a New Kingdom stele now in the British Museum (EA846) and on an inscription in Semna dating to the reign of Thutmose III. [3]
Meretseger was a Theban cobra-goddess in ancient Egyptian religion, in charge with guarding and protecting the vast Theban Necropolis — on the west bank of the Nile, in front of Thebes — and especially the heavily guarded Valley of the Kings. Her cult was typical of the New Kingdom of Egypt.
Sobekneferu or Neferusobek was the first confirmed queen regnant of ancient Egypt and the last pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. She ascended to the throne following the death of Amenemhat IV, possibly her brother or husband, though their relationship is unproven. Instead, she asserted legitimacy through her father Amenemhat III. Her reign lasted 3 years, 10 months, and 24 days, according to the Turin King List.
Amenemhat I, also known as Amenemhet I, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the first king of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom.
Nubkaure Amenemhat II, also known as Amenemhet II, was the third pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Although he ruled for at least 35 years, his reign is rather obscure, as well as his family relationships.
Great Royal Wife, or alternatively, Chief King's Wife is the title that was used to refer to the principal wife of the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, who served many official functions.
Satiah was an ancient Egyptian queen, the first Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Thutmose III.
Iset was a queen of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, and she was named after goddess Isis. She was a secondary wife or concubine of Thutmose II.
Tiaa or Tia'a was an ancient Egyptian queen consort during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. She was a "faceless concubine" during the time of Amenhotep II who withheld from her the title Great Royal Wife, but when her son Thutmose IV became pharaoh, he performed a revision of her status and gave her that title.
Sithathoriunet was an Ancient Egyptian king's daughter of the 12th Dynasty, mainly known from her burial at El-Lahun in which a treasure trove of jewellery was found. She was possibly a daughter of Senusret II since her burial site was found next to the pyramid of this king. If so, this would make her one of five known children and one of three daughters of Senusret II—the other children were Senusret III, Senusretseneb, Itakayt and Nofret.
Aat was a queen of the ancient Egyptian 12th Dynasty. Of all the wives of Amenemhat III, only her name is known to modern archaeology with any certainty.
Khenemetneferhedjet(ẖnm.t nfr-ḥḏ.t) was an ancient Egyptian queenly title during the Middle Kingdom. It was in use from the 12th to the early 18th Dynasty. During the 12th Dynasty it also occurred as a personal name. Its meaning is "united with the white crown". The White Crown was one part of the Double Crown of Egypt and is usually interpreted to have represented Upper Egypt, but it is also possible that while the Red Crown represented the king's earthly incarnation, the White Crown represented the eternal, godlike aspect of kingship.
Neferu was an ancient Egyptian queen of the 12th Dynasty. She was a daughter of Amenemhat I, sister-wife of Senusret I and the mother of Amenemhat II.
Nofret II was an ancient Egyptian queen of the 12th dynasty. She was a daughter of Amenemhat II and wife of Senusret II.
Khenemetneferhedjet I Weret was an ancient Egyptian queen of the 12th Dynasty, a wife of Senusret II and the mother of Senusret III.
Khenemetneferhedjet II(Weret) was an ancient Egyptian queen of the 12th Dynasty, a wife of Senusret III.
Udjebten or Wedjebten was an ancient Egyptian queen consort, a wife of Pharaoh Pepi II of the Sixth Dynasty.
Neferu I was the first queen consort of ancient Egyptian Eleventh dynasty. She was a wife of the Pharaoh Mentuhotep I.
Kawit was an ancient Egyptian queen consort, a lower ranking wife of Pharaoh Mentuhotep II of the 11th Dynasty. Her tomb (DBXI.9) and small decorated chapel were found in her husband's Deir el-Bahari temple complex, behind the main building, along with the tombs of five other ladies, Ashayet, Henhenet, Kemsit, Sadeh and Mayet. She and three other women of the six bore queenly titles, and most of them were priestesses of Hathor, so it is possible that they were buried there as part of the goddess's cult, but it is also possible that they were the daughters of nobles the king wanted to keep an eye upon.
Kemsit was an ancient Egyptian queen consort, the wife of pharaoh Mentuhotep II of the 11th Dynasty. Her tomb (TT308) and small decorated chapel were found in her husband's Deir el-Bahari temple complex, behind the main building, along with the tombs of five other ladies, Ashayet, Henhenet, Kawit, Sadeh and Mayet. Most of them were priestesses of Hathor, so it is possible that they were buried there as part of the goddess's cult, but it is also possible that they were the daughters of nobles the king wanted to keep an eye upon.
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