 |
| Rule | 20th Dynasty: 1186 - 1155 BC. |
| Predecessor | Father Setnakhte |
| Mother | Tiy-merenese |
| Nomen | Birth name: Ramses: Ra has fashioned Him |
| Praenomen | Throne name: Usermmatre-Meryamun: Powerful is the justice of Ra, beloved of Amun |
| Consorts |
Isis Ta-Hemdjert
Queen Titi: She is buried in Valley of the Queens VQ 52, and had a multitude of important titles that are engraved in her tomb including "Mistress of the Two Lands" and "Chief Royal Wife"
Queen Tey
|
| Capital city | Avaris (Pi-Ramesse) |
| Reign |
The most influential and important ruler of the 20th Dynasty, and the last Pharaoh to rule the country with a substantial authority.
During his reign Egypt was attacked three times by foreign.
Twice the Libyans attacked, and one time the 'Sea People' who set out from the Aegean Islands and Asia Minor,
Ramses III defeated his enemies in all the wars, but the victory against the 'Sea People' was only partial
The heavy cost of these battles exhausted Egypt's treasury and contributed to the decline of the Egyptian Empire in Asia.
Hekla 3 Eruption
The Hekla 3 eruption at Iceland, threw about 7.3 km3 of volcanic rock into the global atmosphere, preventing sunlight from reaching the ground and hampered global plant growth for two full decades
This was a time when all old empires in the world were weakened by failed harvests
It is recorded in the Great Harris Papyrus, that many people throughout the region were made homeless, and people were scattered by battle all at one time
Due to the consequences of this event, at the 28th year of his reign, Ramses III was unable to provide a constant supply of grain rations to the craftsmen of the Deir el-Medina community.
A famine and the inability of the government to pay workers caused problems during the latter part of his reign, the workers on royal projects went on strike for the first time in Egyptian history
Construction Projects
He built important additions to the Temple at Karnak
His mortuary temple at Medinet Habu is one of the largest temples in Egypt, it was inspired by the Ramesseum of Ramses II,
and included the Pharaoh's palace, administrative buildings and accommodations for priests.
The Harem Conspiracy Papyrus, shows that there was a plot against his life instigated by Tey, one of his two principal wives,
over whose son would inherit the throne. Isis's son, Ramses IV, was the eldest and the chosen successor by Ramses III rather than Tey's son Pentawere.
A total of 38 people were sentenced to death, while Tey and her son Pentawere were deprived from having a proper funeral to prevent them from enjoying an afterlife
It is not clear if Ramses III was in fact killed by the conspirators, and that his son Ramses IV, set up the tribunal.
Ramses III's death marks the end of an era, and was the last of the great Pharaohs, Egypt began to suffer economic problems and was unable to exploit the revolution of the Iron Age because the country had no sources of ore.
From this time onwards others would determine the destiny of the Mediterranean world. The Persians, Greeks and finally the Romans were to become the new powers
|
| Burial | Valley of Kings - KV 7 |
| Successor | Son Ramses IV out of Isis Ta-Hemdjert |
| Wikipedia | Ramses III |
|
