Bent'anta


A Statue possibly of Bent'anta,
stands in front of the legs of Ramesses II's
Colossi at Karnak

Bent'anta (Bintanath, Bint-Anath, Bintanat) is buried in tomb 71 in the Valley of the Queens. Queen Bent'anta may have become one of Ramesses II's consorts, perhaps after the death's of the king's principal wives and specifically, the death of her mother who was probably Istnofret. One curios aspect of this queen is that her name is distinctly Syrian, and means "Daughter of Anath". We are uncertain of a statue of her, that might instead be of Nefertari, located at the feet of the colossal granite statue of Ramesses II in the first courtyard of the temple at Karnak see per attachement:
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories ... queens.htm

But I actually found this very interesting as well.
seems there is something
to this thought
of your's Kiya.

The principal wives of Kings were almost always of royal blood and were often either the full or half sister of the king. These incestuous marriages, which we find few if any examples of in the general population, had several practical benefits to the crown ruler. They kept outsiders at arms length from the royal family, and produced at least a limited number of royal children eligible to inherit the thrown. Furthermore, they also ensured that a suitably trained princess would be placed in the most important role available to an Egyptian woman: that of queen. In fact, while the king could marry a commoner, or for that matter, whoever he wished, royal females could not marry below their royal status, and therefore the field of potential bridegrooms beyond their brother (or sometimes father) was extremely limited. Egyptian princesses were even denied marriage to foreign royalty, who might later claim some justification to the thrown of Egypt.

Interesting No?

Statement: I realize you guy's think I'm different; which I will admit. And in so saying as strange as it may seem to hear, "but my father in this lifetime was the same as an Egyptian Lifetime. We have a bond that goes well beyond the ordinary. There is no otherway to explain how I feel so connected to one in another time (lifetime) as it has been made significant in this one. I know, I know, I'm strange. So be it. Still it does not change the reality for either of us in common bond. Ya know what I'm saying. So, of coarse I'm all about the Hatshepsut standing next to her Father on the throne in her very early teen's.
Yes, Kiya I probably found it where you did. Interesting topic don't you think?

I found this interesting:
http://portaljuice.com/ramses_ii.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramses_II

Hm I would imagine rameses would end up with a lot of grand children. What of those of Nefertari's children? with Amun-her-khepchef (spelling?) being crown prince for over 20 years, I would think that would give him time to produce some children. yett they aren't mentioned?

Dodson mentions in his book about the royal families that Merneptah may have married Isetnofret III - the daughter of Khaemwaset - and not his sister.
For as far as I can tell they don't really know the parentage of Merneptah's wives.
Merneptah may have also married a Bintanath, but that could also have been a sister or a niece of his (as mentioned above). Seems they tried to keep it in the family though


I wonder if the royal princes could have married half-sisters who were offspring of lower ranked wives of Ramses? The princes would have had close to 50 sisters and half sisters to choose from.

I always thought it funny that Prince #23. Simentu married Iryet, the daughter of Benanath, A Syrian ship’s captain. So at least one dated outside the royal palace

I for the life of me can't remember if I mentioned it on this board, but there's a statue mentioned on the Griffith Institute website:

Kaemweset, Fan-bearer of the Lord of the Two Lands, and wife Renpeten(t)opet, Royal sistrum-player of (the statue of) Usermaetre-setepenre (Ramesses II) Montu in the Two Lands

Now Khaemwaset may have been a common enough name but I always wondered if this could be our famous prince.
The title of the wife is rather interesting as well: Royal sistrum player.