Ramses III met an untimely and unpleasant end. A plot laid by one of his minor wives, Queen Tiye succeeded in killing her husband by having his throat slit.
At the time of his death Ramses III was about 65 years of age. Imaging of Ramses III’s mummy revealed that his windpipe and major arteries were slashed, leaving a wound 2.75 inches wide and going through nearly as deep as the spine. The resulting cut severed all of the soft tissues at the front of his neck.
Queen Tiye, together with many others, plotted his end, in the hopes of her son Prince Pentaweret (or Pentawer) then taking the throne.
This plot involved many magic spells and wax effagies, in order to increase the plots chance of success. It seems the assassination attempt was successful but ultimately it cost all those that were involved, their lives.
The guilty were put to death and it is suspected that Prince Pentaweret was forced to commit suicide, being a noble his forced suicide, probably by poision; would have been an easier death sentence than those of lesser status. It has also been suggested that Pentaweret hung himself. This does seem a much lighter punishment considering his crime; as poison would have been far more painful a death compared to hanging, which is far quicker. Perhaps at some point in the future conclusive evidence will reveal the truth about how he actually died.
Other members of the conspiracy would have been burned alive and their ashes discarded in the street. In ancient Egypt with such a great emphasis on preserving the body to ensure the soul entered into the afterlife; meant that death in this manner was the most severe of punishments. So not only did they have the ordeal of an agonising death but in addition their souls were deprived of an afterlife. Prince Pentaweret therefore had a chance of an afterlife as result of his body being preserved.
Prince Pentaweret’s Mummy
His mummy is suspected to be that of the one found buried Deir el-Bahari, situated near Queen Hatshepsut’s temple.
Known as unknown man E, found in a cache. The face of the mummy appears contorted and the mouth is open, as if screaming. The age of the mummy is between 18-20 years old at death. The mummy was buried without the organs or the brain being removed, which was not normal practice. Instead all his internal organs remained in situ and the body was embalmed quickly and without the usual care. Resin was normally poured into the nasal cavity after the brain had been removed, in this case the resin was poured down the throat. In addition the body was placed in a cedar box, which had been roughly carved. Other unusual details were the red appearance of the skin and the body was wrapped in a impure goat’s skin, which at the time was considered impure. DNA tests were carried out on the mummy and the results show that this mummy was indeed a son of Ramses III.
Considering the rough way in which he was embalmed and buried suggests he died in disgrace and it is therefore very likely that this is the body of Prince Pentaweret.
Harem Conspiracy Papyrus
Both Queen Tiye and Prince Pentawere were named in the papyrus, which is over 3,000 years old. However other members of the conspiracy were not specifically named only in ways such as, Mesedsure, which means Re hates him, suggesting the gravity of their crimes. Also according to the papyrus Queen Tiye wished her son to ascend the throne of Egypt.
This was not a conspiracy made by a few but a conspiracy involving at least 40 people and they were tried as a group, rather than individually. Members of this conspiracy included harem officials and many of these were close to the king. The plot was not only the assassination of the king but in addition they planned to incite a riot outside the palace to assist in their intended coup. The plot seems to have been discussed and planned in one of the conspirator’s homes in Piramesses.
The plan consisted of assassinating the king during the annual Opet Festival at Thebes. Various magical spells were used, as well as wax figurines, which were smuggled into the harem.
Fourteen officials made up a panel of judges, which included treasury officials, standard bearers, butlers, scribes and a herald.
The panel of judges had complete power over whatever penalty they deemed to carry out on the conspirators. It may well have been Ramses IV who arranged this tribunal, as it seems Ramses III would certainly not have survived, after receiving such a severe injury.
All the conspirators were not surprisingly condemned to death. In total there were 27 men and six women included in the plot.
The trials were split into three, the first consisting of 28 of the conspirators. Amongst them were the ring leaders of the plot. They were found guilty and put to death.
The second trial consisted of 6 people, who were condemned to death and forced to commit suicide within the court room.
The final trial consisted of 4 individuals, including Queen Tiye herself and almost certainly included in this six was her son, Prince Pentawere. These four people were also condemned to death but allowed to commit suicide in their prison cells.
The fourth trial which was not directly related to the conspiracy; surprisingly involved three of the judges and two officers. Whilst carrying out their investigations into the murder plot against the king these officials, together with a general named Peyes; consorted (which involved drinking) with several of the women known to be involved in the plot against the king. Only one of the judges was found to be innocent and the remainder of the accused were punished by having their ears and noses amputated. In order to avoid this mutilation, one of the accused judges called Pebes, committed suicide before his punishment could be administered.
The plot ultimately failed to achieve the desired result. Ramses III was succeeded by his chosen successor, Amonhirkhopshef.
The original papyrus known as the ‘Judicial Payrus’, containing the record of these trials in now held in the Turin museum.