Merneptah

Quartigod thirteenth son of Ramesses II by Isetnofret who acceded as pharaoh c. 1213 BCE at advanced age after the deaths of his twelve elder brothers. Defeated the combined Libyan-and-Sea-Peoples invasion at Perire (year 5, c. 1208 BCE); commemorated the victory on the Merneptah Stele — which contains the canonical-earliest extra-biblical attestation of the name "Israel," the foundational-archaeological reference-point for the Late Bronze Age Israelite-emergence problem in modern scholarship.

Parentage

• Ramesses II
• Isetnofret

Children

• Amenmesse
• Seti II
• Tausret

Powers

• Repel the Libyan and Sea-Peoples invasion at Perire
• Reign as the living Horus, son of Ramesses II

Relations

• father: Ramesses II
• mother: Isetnofret
• sibling: Khaemweset
• half sibling: Amunherkhepeshef
• spouse: Isetnofret II

Sources

• Merneptah Stele (Cairo Egyptian Museum CG 34025, the "Israel Stele"); Karnak Cour de la Cachette inscriptions; Theban Tomb KV8 (his royal tomb); Abu Simbel reliefs; Aswan Stela; Anastasi Papyri
• Abu Simbel reliefs