I'm writing a book (a novel) about Ramses the Third and the harem conspiracy. It's going to start with the battle he had with the Sea Peoples, and then it's going to transition to later in his reign when the conspiracies started. It will end with the end of the trial, and I'll add something creative to the end too, like maybe Ramses' funeral.

I was wondering if you could provide me with any informations on the follorwing: customs in the royal court, the children and wives of Ramses III and when they lived/died, and anything else that may be important. I especially need info on what it is like in a harem.

Also, I was wondering if anyone had a translation of the Harris Papyrus.

Hi Ramses!
After the sea wars of Ramses III he returned home and he devoted a lot of time for building. You know he had a famous death-temple (I don't know it's English name exactly) in Medinet Habu. He started to build it a few days after when he started to be a pharaoh and he finished it in the 12th year of his domination. The temple's like Ramses the second's and his king names are the same, too. He named his sons after his big ancestor 's childeren (so you only have to search for Ramses II's children!) So, the enemy on Egypt's borders didn't hindered his great buildings. We can hear about an expedition to Punt - it was the first since Hatshepsut's famous undertaking - and another to Africa, Timna for its copper. But nothing was okay in Egypt then. After Ramses began his rule, there were corruption and every kind of misuses, so Ramses had to scrutinize his temples in all Egypt. I don't know the exact translation of the Big Harris Papyrus, but I know what is it about: it tells the big land grants which he sent to Thebes, Heliopolis and Memphis' temples. In the end of his rule, the useful land's 1/3 part was in the hand of the temples and the priesthood. The state lose its control of the income. The grain's price began to be very-very high and our history's first strike started in the 29th year of his domination. The Libian nomads made things worse around Thebes. Not so far, Ramses was a victim of a criminal attempt. Maybe, the criminal was a member of the harem; probably in Per-Ramses. There was an official called Pairy who was one of the harem-holders (it's not a real word but I can't say better). Pairy was an only from all those officials who had a plan to kill Ramses. The main character in this crime was Ramses' wife, Tiy. (She was the leader of the conspirators). Tiy and the officials wanted Pentaweret, Tiy's son for king. The plan was to kill Ramses during the festival of Opet. But their plan didn't work: we can see in Ramses' mummy that nobody killed him, and after him, Ramses IV ruled Egypt, not Pentaweret. We don't know exactly when did it happen. But we know from the papyruses that the state wanted the conspirators to kill themselves. (You know, they want them to be self-murderers). I'm still looking for information about Ramses' wives and the royal court, so wait please with patience. Hope I could help.

Some more information about Ramses III:

nice costums here:


Wives:
Tiy, Titi, Isis

For more information, check out this site:


Cheers, Lostris