Seti I

New Kingdom (1552–1069 b.c.)

Dynasty XIX (1294–1279 b.c.)

Seti’s father, Ramses I, was not of royal blood. He was a trusted military man chosen as successor by Pharaoh Horemheb who had no male heir (and had ascended the throne from the military as well). Seti I was brought into the workings of the court before the death of his short-lived predecessor and was able to step into kingship with ease.

One of his building projects was a temple in Abydos, which contains a kings list. Seti effectively rewrote history in this building. He depicts himself and his son, Ramses II, adoring the names of their predecessors. They are thus symbolically placed into the royal lineage from Menes on down, making them the rightful heirs of the throne. He also excluded the names of Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, and Tutankhamun’s immediate successor, Ay. This removed from the court any association with the heresy of Akhenaten. Hatshepsut was also excluded from the list.

The greatest achievement of Seti’s fourteen years on the throne was his foreign policy. He embarked on the trail to Asia within the first year of his reign. He captured Raphia and Gaza on his way north and took Acre and Tyre before advancing on Lebanon. On subsequent campaigns he battled the Libyans and Hittites, gaining great respect for Egypt once again in the Near East.

Related exhibit piece: Lintel with Winged Sun Disk (catalog p. 164).