Merneptah c. 1213–1203 BC
Ramesses II's thirteenth son, already old when he became king. His victory stela contains the earliest known mention of Israel.
Birth name: Merneptah
mr-n-ptḥ: “Beloved of Ptah”
Sign by sign
- Stool Q3p The sound p.
- Bread loaf X1t The sound t; also the feminine ending.
- Twisted flax wick V28ḥ The sound ḥ.
- Hoe U7mr To love (as in 'beloved of Amun').
- Ripple of water N35n The sound n; also means 'of, to'.
Names of gods (Ra, Amun, Ptah) are written first out of respect, even when they are read later. Dates are approximate; we follow Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000).