Alabaster Block, inscribed with the names of King Ramesses II and his son, Prince Khaemwaset.

Alabaster Block, inscribed with the names of King Ramesses II and his son, Prince Khaemwaset. (Memphis, 19th Dynasty)

 

Manchester Museum

 

 Alabaster Block (Acc. 4947) Relief from Foundation Deposit, Memphis. Travertine ('Egyptian alabaster') brick-shaped relief with incised hieroglyphs, filled with blue pigment. Hieroglyphic inscriptions give the names of king R

amesses II and one of his sons, and heir, the high priest, Prince Khaemwaset. 6.8 x 14.0 x 9.2 cm New Kingdom (Dyn. 19) Memphis (Mit Rahina), Lower Egypt Acquisition: British School of Archaeology in Egypt (Donation) Khaemwaset undertook server all building projects for his father, and restored several older monuments, including the pyramids at Giza and Saqqara. He is sometimes refered to as 'The First Egyptologist' Bibliography W M Flinders Petrie, "Memphis I." (BSAE, London 1909) (Excavation 1908) PL. XIX Pg. 8 "The Monuments XIX Dynasty. Over the region now occupied by the pond near the West Hall, there has been a building of Ramessu II, now entirely destroyed. Only the west side of its foundation is left, and in the sand bed of it a foundation deposit was found, shewn on Pl. XIX. The large block of alabaster has the cartouches of Ramessu II on both of the faces, and the inscription of "the high priest of Ptah, the royal son, Kha-em-uas" on both of the edges. The lesser tablet of green glazed pottery has similar names on the faces and edges; and the black granite tablet has the names of Ramessu on one face, and that of Khaemuas on the other face. These are some of the finest deposit blocks that are known; they rest now at Manchester."

 

public domain