| Ramesses I | |
| |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Ramesses I (also spelled Ramses or Rameses) |
| Age | ~52 |
| Sex | Male |
| Status | Pharaoh (reigned 1307-1306 BC), Founder of the 19th Dynasty |
| Height | |
| Source | |
| Culture | Egyptian |
| Date(s) | 1290 BC |
| Site | unknown |
| Current Location | |
| Location | Egypt |
| Catalog # | |
Menpehtyre Ramesses was the founding pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty. He became pharaoh upon the death of Horemheb in about 1820 BC. He took the name Ramses, which meant “Ra has fashioned him.” Ramses I reign lasted approximately one and a half years. His family included his son, Seti I and grandson Ramses II; both of whom lead Egypt to new heights of power.
Mummification[]
He was buried in a small but richly painted tomb in the Valley of Kings at Thebes. His tomb was discovered in 1817 by Italian explorer Gionabbi Battista Belzoni but his mummy was missing. From archaeological and textual evidence it was determined that Ramses had been reburied elsewhere after his tomb had been violated. In 1881 the cache of Deir el-Bahri, the site of his reburial, was discovered but his coffin was empty. In 1827, in attempt to corner the tourism market of Niagra Falls, a man named Thomas Barnett commissioned his son to travel to Egypt to purchase artifacts to fill the "Niagara Falls museum and Daredevil Hall of Fame." It is believed to be highly likely that the mummy of Ramses I was among these purchases. It was only after the closure of the Niagara Falls museum and sale of its artifacts in 1999 that the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta was able to identify Ramses I. In 2003 Ramses I made his final journey back to Egypt.
Studies[]
Egyptologists estimate that Ramses was about 50 years old at the time of his ascension. His only known child, Seti I, served as the vizier and leader of Egypt’s military campaigns during Ramses’ rule. He ruled for between 16 to 24 months, leaving the throne to his son upon his death.