Harem Conspiracy
Pharaoh Assassination Conspiracy
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Thebes, Egypt
TIME PERIOD
1155 BC
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
The Harem Conspiracy was a successful plot to assassinate Pharaoh Ramesses III in 1155 BC, orchestrated primarily by his secondary wife, Tiye, who sought to place her son Pentawer on the throne instead of the designated heir, Ramesses IV. The assassination occurred on the 15th day of the second month of Shemu, during the Beautiful Festival of the Valley, at the royal harem in the Western Tower of Medinet Habu, Thebes. Key conspirators included court official Pebekkamen and several other officials and servants who facilitated the plot. Although the assassination was successful, the conspirators failed to secure the throne for Pentawer, leading to their arrest, conviction, and execution. Investigative findings indicate that the conspiracy was well-coordinated, leveraging the festival's distractions to execute their plan.
The Harem conspiracy involved a plot orchestrated by Tiye, one of Ramesses III's secondary wives, who aimed to place her son Pentawer on the throne by assassinating the pharaoh. The conspiracy was led by court official Pebekkamen and successfully resulted in the murder of Ramesses III; however, the plot ultimately failed to secure the throne for Pentawer. Following the assassination, the main conspirators were captured, tried, and executed for their roles in the coup.
The Harem Conspiracy: A Tale of Betrayal and Power in Ancient Egypt
The Plot to Murder a Pharaoh
In the year 1155 BC, a sinister plot unfolded within the heart of ancient Egypt. The target was none other than Pharaoh Ramesses III, a ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty, who had ascended to the throne following the heroic actions of his father, Setnakhte. Ramesses III, destined to lead from birth, was in the midst of celebrating the Heb-Sed festival in Thebes—a rejuvenation ritual marking three decades of his reign—when betrayal struck.
The mastermind behind the conspiracy was Tiye, a minor wife of the Pharaoh. Her ambitions for her son, Pentawer, pushed her to orchestrate a coup d'état to usurp the throne from the chosen successor, Ramesses IV. Tiye's plot was intricate, involving the recruitment of key figures within the court, including Pebekkamen, a pantry chief whose role was pivotal in disseminating subversive messages.
The Conspiracy Unfolds
On a day marked by the Beautiful Festival of the Valley, when the city was abuzz with celebrations, the conspirators made their move. Ramesses III was likely within the confines of the royal harem at Medinet Habu's Western Tower. Tiye, leveraging her influence, had rallied a network of officials and servants to execute her plan. Pebekkamen spread the word, urging rebellion against the Pharaoh:
"...Stir up the people! Incite enmity in order to make rebellion against their lord!"
Assisting him were Mastesuria, a butler; Panhayboni, the overseer of cattle; Panouk, the overseer of the harem; and Pendua, a clerk. With access to the harem restricted, Panhayboni enlisted Pairy, the overseer of the King's treasury, to secure a pass for the conspirators.
The King's Fate
For years, it was believed that Ramesses III survived the initial assassination attempt, only to succumb later. The Judicial Papyrus of Turin, a record of the trials of those involved, initially fueled this belief. However, a modern CT scan of his mummy revealed the gruesome truth: Ramesses III's throat had been slashed to the bone, severing vital structures. The swift nature of this injury confirmed his immediate death, aligning with the theory that the subsequent trials were carried out under the decree of Ramesses IV, his son.
The Trials
In the aftermath of the assassination, Ramesses IV ensured justice was served. He appointed twelve magistrates to oversee a series of five trials. The trials resulted in the execution of twenty-eight conspirators, including Pebekkamen, Mastesuria, Panhayboni, Panouk, Pendua, and Pairy. Others who were complicit, like Pentawer, were given the option to end their own lives. Notably, four individuals, including two judges and a police captain, were disfigured by having their ears and noses removed for their involvement with the accused women. The fate of Queen Tiye remains unrecorded.
The Mystery of Unknown Man E
A mummy, dubbed 'Unknown Man E,' likely belonged to a son of Ramesses III. This body, unlike others, was wrapped in a goatskin considered ritually impure, and placed in an unmarked coffin. Genetic analysis confirmed a significant familial link, sharing the same Y-chromosome haplotype and half the autosomal DNA with Ramesses III. The evidence strongly suggests this was Pentawer, Tiye's ill-fated son.
Sources
- Redford, Susan. The Harem Conspiracy. Northern Illinois Press, 2002.
- Goedicke, Hans. "Was Magic Used in the Harem Conspiracy against Ramesses III?" The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1963.
- de Buck, A. "The Judicial Papyrus of Turin." The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1937.
- Harris, James E.; Weeks, Kent R. X-Raying the Pharaohs. Macdonald and Company (Publishers) Ltd, 1973.
- Hawass, Zahi; Ismail, Somaia, et al. "Revisiting the harem conspiracy and death of Ramesses III," BMJ, 2012.
- Hawass, Zahi; Saleem, Sahar N. Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging of the New Kingdom Royal Mummies. The American University in Cairo Press, 2016.
For more details, visit Wikipedia.
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Assassination of Ramesses III
The conspirators, led by Tiye, attempt to murder Pharaoh Ramesses III during the Beautiful Festival of the Valley.
Conspiracy Planned
Tiye and court officials, including Pebekkamen, organize a plot to place her son Pentawer on the throne.
Trial of Conspirators Begins
Following the assassination, Ramesses IV initiates trials for the conspirators and those complicit in the plot.
Executions of Conspirators
Twenty-eight individuals, including key conspirators, are executed for their roles in the assassination plot.
Pentawer's Fate
Pentawer, son of Tiye, is believed to have taken his own life following the failed coup.
Judicial Papyrus of Turin
The Judicial Papyrus records the trials and outcomes of the conspirators, documenting the events surrounding the conspiracy.
The Harem Conspiracy was a successful plot to assassinate Pharaoh Ramesses III in 1155 BC, orchestrated primarily by his secondary wife, Tiye, who sought to place her son Pentawer on the throne instead of the designated heir, Ramesses IV. The assassination occurred on the 15th day of the second month of Shemu, during the Beautiful Festival of the Valley, at the royal harem in the Western Tower of Medinet Habu, Thebes. Key conspirators included court official Pebekkamen and several other officials and servants who facilitated the plot. Although the assassination was successful, the conspirators failed to secure the throne for Pentawer, leading to their arrest, conviction, and execution. Investigative findings indicate that the conspiracy was well-coordinated, leveraging the festival's distractions to execute their plan.
The Harem conspiracy involved a plot orchestrated by Tiye, one of Ramesses III's secondary wives, who aimed to place her son Pentawer on the throne by assassinating the pharaoh. The conspiracy was led by court official Pebekkamen and successfully resulted in the murder of Ramesses III; however, the plot ultimately failed to secure the throne for Pentawer. Following the assassination, the main conspirators were captured, tried, and executed for their roles in the coup.
The Harem Conspiracy: A Tale of Betrayal and Power in Ancient Egypt
The Plot to Murder a Pharaoh
In the year 1155 BC, a sinister plot unfolded within the heart of ancient Egypt. The target was none other than Pharaoh Ramesses III, a ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty, who had ascended to the throne following the heroic actions of his father, Setnakhte. Ramesses III, destined to lead from birth, was in the midst of celebrating the Heb-Sed festival in Thebes—a rejuvenation ritual marking three decades of his reign—when betrayal struck.
The mastermind behind the conspiracy was Tiye, a minor wife of the Pharaoh. Her ambitions for her son, Pentawer, pushed her to orchestrate a coup d'état to usurp the throne from the chosen successor, Ramesses IV. Tiye's plot was intricate, involving the recruitment of key figures within the court, including Pebekkamen, a pantry chief whose role was pivotal in disseminating subversive messages.
The Conspiracy Unfolds
On a day marked by the Beautiful Festival of the Valley, when the city was abuzz with celebrations, the conspirators made their move. Ramesses III was likely within the confines of the royal harem at Medinet Habu's Western Tower. Tiye, leveraging her influence, had rallied a network of officials and servants to execute her plan. Pebekkamen spread the word, urging rebellion against the Pharaoh:
"...Stir up the people! Incite enmity in order to make rebellion against their lord!"
Assisting him were Mastesuria, a butler; Panhayboni, the overseer of cattle; Panouk, the overseer of the harem; and Pendua, a clerk. With access to the harem restricted, Panhayboni enlisted Pairy, the overseer of the King's treasury, to secure a pass for the conspirators.
The King's Fate
For years, it was believed that Ramesses III survived the initial assassination attempt, only to succumb later. The Judicial Papyrus of Turin, a record of the trials of those involved, initially fueled this belief. However, a modern CT scan of his mummy revealed the gruesome truth: Ramesses III's throat had been slashed to the bone, severing vital structures. The swift nature of this injury confirmed his immediate death, aligning with the theory that the subsequent trials were carried out under the decree of Ramesses IV, his son.
The Trials
In the aftermath of the assassination, Ramesses IV ensured justice was served. He appointed twelve magistrates to oversee a series of five trials. The trials resulted in the execution of twenty-eight conspirators, including Pebekkamen, Mastesuria, Panhayboni, Panouk, Pendua, and Pairy. Others who were complicit, like Pentawer, were given the option to end their own lives. Notably, four individuals, including two judges and a police captain, were disfigured by having their ears and noses removed for their involvement with the accused women. The fate of Queen Tiye remains unrecorded.
The Mystery of Unknown Man E
A mummy, dubbed 'Unknown Man E,' likely belonged to a son of Ramesses III. This body, unlike others, was wrapped in a goatskin considered ritually impure, and placed in an unmarked coffin. Genetic analysis confirmed a significant familial link, sharing the same Y-chromosome haplotype and half the autosomal DNA with Ramesses III. The evidence strongly suggests this was Pentawer, Tiye's ill-fated son.
Sources
- Redford, Susan. The Harem Conspiracy. Northern Illinois Press, 2002.
- Goedicke, Hans. "Was Magic Used in the Harem Conspiracy against Ramesses III?" The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1963.
- de Buck, A. "The Judicial Papyrus of Turin." The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 1937.
- Harris, James E.; Weeks, Kent R. X-Raying the Pharaohs. Macdonald and Company (Publishers) Ltd, 1973.
- Hawass, Zahi; Ismail, Somaia, et al. "Revisiting the harem conspiracy and death of Ramesses III," BMJ, 2012.
- Hawass, Zahi; Saleem, Sahar N. Scanning the Pharaohs: CT Imaging of the New Kingdom Royal Mummies. The American University in Cairo Press, 2016.
For more details, visit Wikipedia.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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Assassination of Ramesses III
The conspirators, led by Tiye, attempt to murder Pharaoh Ramesses III during the Beautiful Festival of the Valley.
Conspiracy Planned
Tiye and court officials, including Pebekkamen, organize a plot to place her son Pentawer on the throne.
Trial of Conspirators Begins
Following the assassination, Ramesses IV initiates trials for the conspirators and those complicit in the plot.
Executions of Conspirators
Twenty-eight individuals, including key conspirators, are executed for their roles in the assassination plot.
Pentawer's Fate
Pentawer, son of Tiye, is believed to have taken his own life following the failed coup.
Judicial Papyrus of Turin
The Judicial Papyrus records the trials and outcomes of the conspirators, documenting the events surrounding the conspiracy.