Fall of the House of Ramesses, Book 3: Tausret

by Max Overton

Siptah nodded, his eyes wide as he stared at everything that was going on. "Wh...what do I do?"

  "I will tell you."

  Hem-netjer of Amun, Mahuhy, who had formerly been Royal Secretary, took up his position in front of the Ka statue. He washed the statue with purified water and then with sanctified oil, while the other priests chanted the sacred phrases that would centre the attention of the spirit of the dead king on the statue. Mahuhy finished the lustrations and wiped his hands on a clean linen cloth before accepting a spooned blade of rose quartz from an acolyte. He held the Pesheskef out to Siptah who, prompted by Tausret, took it.

  "Hold the tip to the lips of the statue," Tausret murmured.

  Siptah had to reach up to do it and Tausret whispered the ancient prayers for the boy to repeat. "Your mouth was closed, but I have set in order for you, your mouth and your teeth. I open for you your mouth; I open for you your two eyes. I have opened for you your mouth with the instrument of Anapa. I have opened your mouth with the instrument of Anapa, with the implement with which the mouths of the gods were opened."

  One of the priests took the Pesheskef, and Mahuhy handed Siptah an adze made of 'that which falls from heaven', the Seb Ur sceptre, which gleamed coldly in the light of the oil lamps. Again Siptah reached up and touched the statue's lips, and once more Tausret whispered the required phrases.

  "Heru, open the mouth! Heru, open the mouth! Heru has opened the mouth of the dead, as he in times of old opened the mouth of Asar, with the iron which came forth from Set, with the iron instrument with which he opened the mouths of the gods. He has opened your mouth with it. You shall walk and shall speak, and your body shall be with the great company of the gods in the Great House of the Atum, and you shall receive there the ureret crown from Heru, the lord of mankind."

  Finally, the Ur Hekau sceptre was passed to the boy-king. This was a strangely sinuous piece of polished carved wood with a ram's head at one end, surmounted by the royal uraeus. Siptah touched the tip to the Ka statue's lips and eyes four times, while reciting the words Tausret whispered to him.

  "I declare that I have secured for you all the benefits which accrued to the god Asar from the actions of Nut, Heru, and Set, when he was in a similar state. It has been said that every dead man hopes to be provided with the Hekau, or words of power, which are necessary for him in the next world, but without a mouth it is impossible for him to utter them. Now that the use of the mouth, has been restored to you, I must give him not only the words of power, but also the ability to utter them correctly and in such wise that the gods and other beings will hearken to them and obey them; I touch the Ur Hekau instrument four times on the lips and eyes and these four touches of the Ur Hekau instrument endow you with the faculty of uttering the proper words in the proper manner in each of the four quarters of the world."

  The Ka statue, its eyes and mouth opened so the spirit of the dead king could once more enjoy the good things of the world, and also utter the protections necessary for its continued existence, was carried into the depths of the tomb and set about with offerings of food and drink. Beer and wine, baskets of grain, baked bread and roasted meats, piles of fruit and vegetables waited for the dead king's feasts in the afterlife, and ushabtiu set up in readiness. These tiny figurines represented the servants that would wait upon the king should he be called on for any work to be performed. Spells written on the figurines would magically awaken them when their services were required.

  Tausret left Siptah in the care of his uncle Bay and walked deep into the tomb, to the chamber where lay the sarcophagus. Ignoring the priests still in attendance she put her arms out, pressing close to the cold granite, her tears now falling freely.

  "Wait for me, my beloved Seti. Wait for me in Sekhet Hetepet, the Field of Peace. Wait for me in Sekhet Iaru, the Field of Reeds, wherein lie all manner of good things prepared by the gods for those they love. It may be many years before I join you, but join you I will, O my beloved Seti."

  She turned away and passed back through the long corridors and chambers to the outside world. Behind her the masons closed up the tomb and the priests of Amun tied the doors closed with sacred linen cords, washing them with purified water and fastening them with holy knots. Finally, on the outermost brickwork, the masons applied a layer of plaster and Remaktef, the Scribe of the Place of Truth affixed his seal. Slaves moved in to fill the entranceway with rubble, packing it in tightly and sweeping the sand to obscure any sign that a tomb lay in the rock beneath the valley floor. Now it was only the presence of guards that hinted at a hidden tomb, but soon they too would disappear, leaving only the guards at the valley entrance to watch over the sleep of dead kings.

  The stars wheeled in the darkened body of Nut and now, with dawn approaching, the royal party stumbled back down the valley, past the workmen's village to where chariots waited to carry them to the river and the ferry. A day would pass between the burial of the old king and the coronation ceremonies, and already Siptah was asleep in the arms of his uncle Bay.

  ***

  The day of the coronation dawned with young King Siptah in place before the Great temple of Amun. Crowds had gathered to watch the public aspects of the ceremony, but most displayed a reluctance to become too involved. Men had been born, lived and died between the coronation of Usermaatre Ramesses and his death and then in the space of twelve years, three more kings had ascended the throne of the Two Kingdoms. Now a fourth one presented himself before the god and many men wondered how long this one would last. It seemed as if the gods of Kemet could not make up their minds as to who would join them.

  Siptah shivered with the chill of the early morning as he waited for the ceremony to begin. He was clad in a simple white kilt, barefoot and without adornment, and hungry. The young boy had eaten his last meal the previous night and would not eat again until he became god-on-earth. Tausret and Bay stood off to one side and Siptah stole glances at them, looking for signs of encouragement. All he received was a small nod from his uncle. He had been thoroughly coached in what he must say and do, but there were gaps in his knowledge, lacunae where the secrets of the temple allowed no foreknowledge.

  A single ram's horn sounded within the temple, a mournful cry calling a boy to his destiny. Siptah started forward and almost fell as his withered left leg buckled under him. He swiftly recovered but as he limped through the gateway of the pylon into the courtyard, a murmur ran through the crowd of onlookers, and many muttered about the ill omen at the start of the king's reign.

  Priests of every god awaited Siptah in the courtyard, but it was Mahuhy, the Hem-netjer of Amun who led him to the Lake of Cleansing. Here four men dressed as gods with golden masks over their faces, took charge of the boy. They stripped him of his kilt and ritually cleansed him, pouring water over him from golden vessels. Other priests dried him with clean linen and dressed him, and then men representing Atum and Heru guided him forward into the Hall of Jubilation. Siptah gaped in awe at the dazzling displays of silver and gold and at the carved columns marching in serried ranks into the shadowed interior of the temple.

  Despite the warnings he had received, Siptah was unprepared for the presence of Wadjet, the cobra protector of the kings of Kemet. When she emerged from her shrine, her black length rasping against the tiles, her black eyes expressionless and her flickering tongue tasting his fear, he could not help himself. He screamed and drew back, and the snake struck at him with fangless jaws. Priests muttered in the shadows at the terrible omen and one hurried forward to comfort the crying child as another carried the cobra back to its shrine.

  A priest hurried to fetch the Iunmutef and apprised him of the situation. "What do we do, holy one?"

  "You continue the ceremony," the Iunmutef said. "What else?"

  "But Wadjet has rejected him. The boy cried out in fear."

  "Is the child dead? Did Wadjet strike with her fangs?"

  "No, of course not, holy one, but..."

  "But nothing. Admittedly, the omens are not good but do you want to
be the one who tells the Regent she must choose another king? Besides, he may still be accepted as king. Bring him through and let the ceremony continue."

  Iunmutef the Pillar, as a representative of Heru, took the child in hand and set the crowns of Kemet upon Siptah's head--the white Hedjet crown, the red Deshret crown, Padsekhemty crown, the Ibes crown, the Nemes headdress and Seshed headband, finally setting the blue leather Khepresh crown on the boy's head. With each new crown, the priests uttered cries of exultation, forcing away the horrors of the bad omen and praying that the gods would accept the new king.

  Atum and Heru of the Horizon led Siptah into the Holy of Holies deep within the temple and there, in the dim red light of the innermost sanctuary, presented the king to the god Amun. While Siptah knelt in shivering awe, the man playing the part of the god lifted the crown and replaced it.

  "Accept this crown from your father Amun."

  The god had now accepted him and all that remained was for the assembled people to see him placed on the throne and given his names. Priests of all the gods thronged around the little boy and guided him, limping, to the raised throne in the open temple courtyard. Five priests came to the fore and each addressed Siptah in turn, intoning the royal names by which the boy-king would now be known.

  "Let Heru empower you," cried the first priest. "Your name in Heru shall be Kanakht Meryhapi Sankhtanebemkafraneb, Strong Bull, Beloved of Hapi, who causes the whole land to live by means of his Ka every day."

  "Nekhabet and Wadjet name you also," the second priest said. "Your name of Nebty shall be Saaiunu--Made Great in Iunu."

  "The gods recognise you as their son on earth," said the third. "Heru Nebu names you Aami Itefre--Great like his father Re."

  "Nesut-byt--King of Ta Mehu and Ta Shemau, North and South," cried the fourth priest. "Sekhaienre Meryamun--He whom Re causes to appear, beloved of Amun."

  "Sa-Re--Son of Re," the fifth priest said. "Ramesses-Siptah--Re fashioned him, son of Ptah."

  A sigh of relief swept through the people in the forecourt. At last they had a king again who was consecrated to Amun and through their god to the city of Waset. They could see before them a Kemet united again. Userkheperure and Menmire had fought to the death and destroyed the Ma'at of the Two Kingdoms, but now, under the reign of Sekhaienre Siptah, they could look forward to a restoration of all the good things--a time of peace and prosperity.

  Chapter 7

  Chancellor Bay speaks:

  I am exhilarated. I am in Waset and I have just seen my nephew raised to become god-on-earth. I am now uncle to the King of Kemet. My star edges closer to the central point about which the body of the goddess Nut revolves. A thousand years ago--so the priests tell us--a star within the body of the Snake stood at the centre of the night sky and all other stars danced in attendance. This star represented the King of Kemet, receiving the submission of the kings of the Nations. Now another star takes its place, a star which can only be that of my sister's son Siptah. My own star is close by and who knows, maybe the gods will select it to follow upon my nephew's reign?

  It is not beyond the bounds of possibility for already the seemingly impossible has come to pass. I thought that when I threw in my lot with Userkheperure against my sister's husband King Menmire, that all I could reasonably hope for was a position of power within the court of Men-nefer. That came to pass when I was elevated to the high station of Chancellor of All of the Lands of Kemet. But then Userkheperure died and I saw my influence shredding and falling away. I thought to transfer my allegiance back to Menmire, but he was captured and soon died in captivity. To whom could I now look for preferment and position? Tausret was only Queen and her son an infant, while Menmire's son was a child.

  I do not doubt that Menmire was executed, despite the story being put about that first a rescue was attempted, and then someone broke into the royal apartments and killed him. It can never be proved--and I dare say no longer matters. Queen Tausret has taken control of Kemet and is king in all but name.

  I spoke to as many people of influence as I could in the dark days following Userkheperure's death and managed to convince a handful--Tjaty Hori, Legion Commanders Emsaf and Panhesy, and even General Iurudef--that there was an alternative to raising an infant to the throne. Only Panhesy displayed a natural sympathy for the line of Menmire, but I was able to play upon the fears and expectations of the others and at length convince them that Siptah was the logical choice to bring peace to the Kingdoms.

  It was a calculated risk, for I knew that Queen Tausret would never give up her son's claim to the throne, and to be seen to openly oppose her was to gain her enmity. It was accomplished though, and Siptah is king, while Tausret maintains her position of strength as Regent. Tausret's baby son is made heir, but so many things can change. Only the gods know what the future holds. When the time comes, and after Siptah is settled on the throne, then we shall see what can be changed. I must find Siptah a wife and get him to produce a son. Every man wants his son to succeed him and Siptah will be no different. The strength of the House of Ramesses will flow through the line of Menmire Amenmesse rather than through the line of Userkheperure Seti. They were both the sons of Baenre Merenptah after all.

  Meanwhile, Siptah's position is by no means secure. If anything was to happen to him, Tausret would rule as regent until Seti-Merenptah came of age. He is king, but a king with little power, and few friends. In fact, the only person Siptah can truly rely on is me. Thus, I must ensure that I am there to protect him, and the only way I can do that is to become powerful. I am already Chancellor and Treasurer; I have the status of being Uncle to the King; I must become regent.

  I do not fool myself that Tausret will allow that, but as Siptah grows in maturity and power, he will be able to effect change, and as a first step I can become co-regent with the Queen. I am responsible for bringing him to the throne after all, so I shall play on my role as Kingmaker--'he who establishes the king on the throne of his father'. The stronger Siptah becomes, the stronger I become and the weaker Tausret grows.

  So what must I do now? I feel that these days in Waset with Siptah still bemused by his elevation to the throne are my best opportunity to strengthen my position. I shall approach him in the guise of the kindly uncle and talk to him of his father, of his childhood, and of his mother. At the moment he is alone, but soon will come the sycophants, those seeking to advance through false friendship, and I must be there to protect him. He will foster my own advancement if I ask it, and if I can show myself as a true friend and support, I will gain much.

  I must, of course, temper my thirst for power with caution, for Queen Tausret still holds the reins of government tightly in her fists. So I will dissemble, putting myself forward for the arduous task of guiding the young king, and prove myself indispensable. When Tausret is convinced that I seek only what is good and true for Kemet, then I will be able to turn the king's head and secure for myself the position of Regent in her place.

  Chapter 8

  Year 2 of Sekhaienre Ramesses-Siptah

  "Tell me another story, Uncle Bay."

  Bay regarded the small boy fidgeting on the ground beside him with affection. They sat beneath the deep shade of a tamarind tree in the grounds of the western palace, alone except for the brace of Kushite guards waiting just out of earshot. After the coronation, Tausret had made the decision to spend some time in Waset before returning to the north as she appreciated the need to settle the southern city down after the recent troubles. She and Tjaty Paraemheb strove to dispense justice, while the presence of the young king placated the many people who still looked fondly on the recent reign of the king's father.

  The Chancellor had been the one to point out that the eastern palace, within the city itself, held painful associations for Siptah, as it was where his father had been held prisoner and later killed. He suggested that the western palace, though long disused, could be easily refurbished. It was close by moreover, and the king could swiftly be brought into the city for any of
ficial functions. Bay volunteered to act as a mentor and tutor for the young boy, and Tausret, distracted by her many duties, saw no harm in it.

  Bay organised tutors to school the young king in mathematics, writing, history, and the proper study of the gods, while he guided Siptah in matters of law and personal history himself. Siptah took to his lessons avidly, but his favourite classes were the informal ones with his uncle where he found out who he was and where he fitted into the grand scheme of things. Stories were a good way of imparting this knowledge, and if not everything he heard was the complete truth, at least it served to bolster the young king's confidence.

  "What would you like to hear about?" Bay asked. "Another tale of your grandfather Baenre Merenptah fighting the Ribu at Perire? Or perhaps of your great-grandfather Usermaatre Ramesses at the Battle of Kadesh?"

  "I've heard all those." Siptah dug into the dark earth beneath the tamarind tree with a short stick. "Tell me about my mother. How did she meet my father?"

  "Ah, now that was a love story. Your mother Suterere was my younger sister, and we were brought into Kemet by Usermaatre when he captured our parents during one of his campaigns. We all served in the palace at Per-Ramesses and later..."

  "They were slaves?" Siptah frowned. "I am descended from slaves?"

  "Not in the least," Bay assured him. "Our father was descended from the kings of Amurri, so you could say your mother was a princess of sorts. I mean, she was captured by Usermaatre and brought into Kemet to serve him as a servant, but she was still royal."

  "Why didn't he take her to wife then? He married other foreign women."

  "Your mother had not yet been born, otherwise he assuredly would have. She was a real beauty, but as a humble palace servant she escaped the notice of anyone important until she and I came to serve in the palace in Kush. There, your father caught sight of her and fell in love."