eRelief of Ramesses I
PeriodNew Kingdom, Ramesside
DynastyDynasty 19
Reignreign of Seti I
Dateca. 1295–1294 B.C.
GeographyEgypt, Northern Upper Egypt, Temple of Sety I, north of NE corner, Chapel of Ramesses I, Abydos (Umm el-Qaab, Tell el-Manshiya, others)
MediumLimestone
Credit LineGift of Dikran G. Kelekian, 1912
Accession Number12.186.2a–c
Description
Additional Views (Total: 1)
Provenance
DescriptionRamesses I, first king of Dynasty 19, was a military officer from the eastern Delta. He served as a general and vizier under Haremhab, last king of Dynasty 18, and was designated by him as his successor. Probably quite old when he became king, most of his monuments were finished by his son, Seti I.
On the North wall, shown here, Ramesses I is shown as the deceased king, assimilated into Osiris himself. Ramesses's image is seated before a table and piles of offerings (11.155.3a). Beneath is a platform whose central support is the symbolic union of Upper and Lower Egypt; on either side, Nile gods bring vases of fresh water symbolizing "life, all happiness, all food, all provisions."
Immediately above the offerings is the end of a tabular list of offerings; its beginning occupied most of the upper register, which is now lost. This is followed by a long series of spells (12.186.2a–c), originally from the Pyramid Texts (Old Kingdom, ca. 2400 B.C.), designed to ensure that "the mouth of the Son of Re, Ramesses, shall not thirst, nor shall it hunger."
The lower part of this wall contains two small registers depicting the rituals that accompanied the presentation of these offerings.
ProvenanceDiscovered at Abydos near the temple of Sety I, 1910. Purchased by J. P. Morgan and presented to the Metropolitan Museum, 1911.
Additional Views
Alternate Image