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The Harem Conspiracy
The Murder of Ramesses III
Susan Redford (Author)
9780875806204
Paperback / softback, published 28 August 2008
200 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.454 kg
A superb study of an intriguing topic. An appealing reconstruction, vivid and convincing.... This book will prove irresistible to enthusiasts of ancient Egypt. An educational and enjoyable venture into the intrigue and mystery of the times.
For more than three thousand years, the mysterious events surrounding the death of Ramesses III have puzzled historians and students of ancient Egypt. Now, archaeologist Susan Redford investigates the circumstances of the ancient pharaoh's death and discovers among the women of his harem the threads of a murder conspiracy. From new translations of ancient papyri and careful readings of temple carvings, Redford identifies the suspects in the assassination—wives, concubines, and attendants. She evaluates the evidence against them and outlines a possible murder plot that turns upon a shocking revelation about the pharaoh's immediate family. On the basis of new discoveries relating to the identity of Ramesses III's queens and their sons, she uncovers a primary motive for regicide and presents persuasive evidence of a palace revolt. Divisions between clans and rival lineages, she argues, gave rise to a plot to murder the king. Richly illustrated with thirty photos and diagrams, Redford's groundbreaking investigation of the plot to murder "the last of the great pharaohs" offers an extraordinary vision of the ancient Egyptian world.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations and Tables
Acknowledgments
Egypt's Imperial Age: An Historical Overview by Donald B. Redford
Introduction: Evidence of a Conspiracy
1. Murder at Court
2. A House Divided
3. The Royal Harem
4. All the King's Men
5. Mansion of Millions of Years
6. "The Hawk Has Flown to Heaven"
7. "United with Eternity"
Epilogue: "Of Whom Is Pharaoh Still Master?"
Appendix A: Dramatis Personae
Appendix B: The Calendar
Notes
Bibliography
Index