Ramesses V

Preceded by: Ramesses IV	Pharaoh of Egypt 20th Dynasty	Succeeded by: Ramesses VI
Ramesses V
Prince: Amunherkhepeshef
Obelisk with cartouche of Ramesses V at the Archaeological Museum, Bologna.
Reign
1149-1145 BC (4 years)
Royal Titulary Praenomen Usermaatre-Sekheperenre The Justice of Re is Powerfull, Re has Manifested him Nomen Ramesses-Amunherkhepeshef- Meryamun Born of Re, Amun is with his Strong Arm, Beloved of Amun Horus name Kanakhte-Menmaat Strong Bull, Eternal Ma'at Golden Horus Userrenputmiatum Rich in years, like Atum
Legacy
Father	Ramesses IV
Mother	Duatentopet
Consort(s)	Henutwati, Tawerettenru
Died	1145 BC
Burial	KV9

For other pages by this name, see Ramesses or Amunherkhepeshef.

Usermaatre-Sekheperenre Ramesses V (r. 1149-1145 BC) was the fourth Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty during the New Kingdom of Egypt. He was the son of Ramesses IV and Queen Duatentopet. His name prior to assuming the crown was Amunherkhepeshef (transliteration: ỉmn-ḥr-ḫpš.f, meaning: "Amun is with his Strong Arm"), probably after his uncle Crown Prince Amunherkhepeshef.

Family

See also: 20th Dynasty Family Tree.

The Wilbour Papyrus, a document dated to the reign of Ramesses V, mentions two queens named Henutwati and Tawerettenru. They are therefore both thought to be his wives. However, Ramesses V is not known to have produced any offspring.

Dates and Length of Reign

Ramesses V is known to have had a reign of almost four full years. The Wilbour Papyrus is believed to date to Year 4 of this king's reign.

Burial and Succession

Ramesses V was buried in his KV9 rock-cut tomb in the Valley of the Kings, which was later accomodated for the additional burial of his direct successor Ramesses VI. An ostracon records that Ramesses V was only buried on III Akhet day 2 in Year 2 of Ramesses VI, which was highly irregular since Egyptian tradition required a king to be mummified and buried precisely 70 days into the reign of their successor.

Mummy

Mummyhead of Ramesses V (Smith 1912).

The mummy of Ramesses V was found in 1898 to have been re-buried in side chamber Jb of the KV35 royal cache. The mummy seemed to indicate that he suffered and subsequently died from smallpox, due to lesions found on his face. He was thought to be one of the earliest known victims of the disease. Grafton Elliot Smith commented that Ramesses V had been much younger at death than his predecessor, and noted that his body had been very well preserved. Salima Ikram and Aidan Dodson place his age at death in the early thirties.

In April 2021 his mummy was moved from the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities to National Museum of Egyptian Civilization along with those of 17 other kings and 4 queens in an event termed the Pharaohs' Golden Parade.

See also

• 20th Dynasty Family Tree
• KV9

Bibliography

• Clayton, P., 1994: Chronicle of the Pharaohs. Thames & Hudson, London.
• Dodson, A./Hilton, D., 2004: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson, London.
• Hopkins, D.R., 1980: Ramses V: Earliest known victim? Wayback Machine.
• Hornung, E., 1997: The Pharaoh. In: Sergio Donadoni and Robert Bianchi (ed.): The Egyptians. University of Chicago Press.
• Ikram, S./Dodson, A., 1998: Mummies in Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson, London.
• Smith, G.E., 1912: The Royal Mummies. (2000 reprint ed.). Bath, UK: Duckworth.

Predecessor: Ramesses IV

Pharaoh of Egypt Twentieth Dynasty

Successor: Ramesses VI