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Bintanath

Bintanath (also spelled Bint-Anath or Bentanath) was an ancient Egyptian royal figure of the Nineteenth Dynasty, serving as both and to her father, (r. 1279–1213 BCE). Born to and his secondary wife , she was elevated to the prestigious role of , bearing titles such as Lady of the Two Lands and Sovereign of , which underscored her elevated status within the royal court. As Ramesses II's eldest daughter and likely favorite among his over 100 children, Bintanath played a prominent role in the pharaoh's extensive family and monumental legacy. Her name, meaning "Daughter of Anath" after the goddess, reflects cultural influences in the New Kingdom court. She is prominently depicted alongside her sister Nebettawy on the facade of the Great Temple at , symbolizing her integration into the divine and royal imagery propagated by her father to affirm his power. Bintanath's tomb, QV 71 in the Valley of the Queens, features a richly decorated program drawing on netherworld cosmology, including unique depictions of an unnamed —possibly her daughter—in the sarcophagus chamber, distinguishing it from other Ramesside queens' tombs. She survived into the reign of her brother (r. 1213–1203 BCE), during which she died and was interred in QV 71, evidenced by a statue later usurped by him bearing her titles.

Family and Early Life

Parentage and Birth

Bintanath was the eldest daughter of Pharaoh , who ruled from approximately 1279 to 1213 BCE, and his second principal wife, . Her birth took place during the reign of (c. 1294–1279 BCE), Ramesses II's father, at a time when Ramesses served as , positioning Bintanath among his earliest offspring. The etymology of her name, Bintanath (alternatively spelled Bentanath or Bint-Anath), derives from and translates to "Daughter of Anath," honoring the Canaanite warrior goddess Anath, whose cult had gained traction in through interactions with Levantine regions. This naming choice underscores the incorporation of foreign deities and cultural influences into the Egyptian royal nomenclature during the New Kingdom. Bintanath's origins reflect the early years of Ramesses II's long tenure, a period marked by consolidation of power following Seti I's campaigns and the elevation of Isetnofret's lineage within the royal household. Isetnofret, as one of Ramesses II's two foremost wives alongside Nefertari, represented a branch of the family that achieved significant visibility through its progeny and roles in state affairs. Ramesses II fathered over 100 children across his many unions, yet the prominence of Isetnofret's descendants highlighted the strategic importance of her position in the dynasty's structure.

Siblings and Family Dynamics

Bintanath was the eldest daughter of and his second principal wife, , positioning her as a key figure among the royal offspring born to this union. As the oldest daughter overall, she held a prominent status within the extensive , surpassing many half-sisters in visibility and rank during her father's long reign, though she was not the eldest child, with older half-brothers from Ramesses II's first wife, . Her known full siblings included three brothers: Prince Ramesses, who rose to the position of after the death of his elder half-brother but predeceased their father around the 50th year of his reign, likely in his forties; Khaemwaset, the fourth son overall and a celebrated for his restorations of ancient monuments, earning him the modern epithet of the "first Egyptologist"; and , the thirteenth son who outlived his numerous siblings and succeeded as . No confirmed full sisters are attested, though some scholars suggest Nebettawy may have been another daughter of ; the name Isetnofret was used for other royal women in the New Kingdom, such as a possible younger daughter of the same name. Within the family dynamics of Ramesses II's 66-year reign, Bintanath and her full siblings from enjoyed rising prominence, particularly after the death of around the 25th year of the reign, when Isetnofret's line assumed greater precedence over the children of earlier wives. This shift highlighted the survival and achievements of Isetnofret's offspring—such as Khaemwaset's scholarly pursuits and Merneptah's eventual succession—contrasting with the earlier dominance of Nefertari's children, including half-sisters like , who also achieved high status but were overshadowed in by the enduring influence of Isetnofret's branch. Bintanath's elevated rank as eldest daughter underscored the strategic importance of this maternal line in maintaining amid the pharaoh's vast progeny of over 100 children.

Queenship and Roles

Marriage to Ramesses II

Bintanath, the eldest daughter of and his secondary wife , was elevated to the status of through her to her father around the 25th year of his reign, circa 1254 BCE. This union transformed her from a royal princess to a principal , a transition documented in inscriptions and monumental art from that period. Such marriages between pharaohs and their daughters were a hallmark of New Kingdom royal practice, particularly under , who wed at least three of his daughters in this manner to emulate the divine sibling unions of gods like and . These unions served to consolidate dynastic power, preserve the purity of the royal bloodline, and reinforce the pharaoh's divine kingship by mirroring mythological precedents that underscored eternal legitimacy and authority. In Bintanath's case, the marriage aligned with 's strategy to strengthen internal court alliances during the latter half of his long reign, positioning her as a key figure in the royal household. There is no archaeological or textual confirming children born from Bintanath's to , and claims of a bearing her name have been rejected by scholars due to lack of supporting inscriptions or genealogical links. This absence highlights the primarily symbolic and political nature of such unions, which elevated Bintanath's influence in court politics without producing that might complicate succession dynamics in 's extensive family. Her new status as queen facilitated her involvement in diplomatic and ceremonial roles, contributing to the stability of the regime in its later decades.

Titles and Official Duties

Bintanath, as the eldest daughter of and , was elevated to the position of (ḥmt-nswt-wrt) around the 25th year of her father's reign, following the death of the principal queen . This promotion marked her transition from to consort, retaining her foundational title as King's Daughter (s3t-nsw). She also held the titles Hereditary Princess (irt-pʿt), signifying her royal lineage and potential claim to legitimacy, and Lady of the Two Lands (nbt-t3wy), emphasizing her authority over unified . In addition to , Bintanath bore the epithet (ḥnwt-šmʿw-mḥw), reflecting her symbolic dominion paralleling the pharaoh's. These titles underscored her elevated status within the royal court, positioning her as a key figure in maintaining dynastic continuity during Ramesses II's long reign. Unlike , whose prominence was unparalleled in the early years, Bintanath's role emerged as secondary yet prominent after year 25, filling the vacuum left by the chief and ensuring the stability of the royal household. As , Bintanath fulfilled ceremonial and religious duties integral to queenship, including participation in rituals and festivals that reinforced the pharaoh's divine rule. She served as a priestess, where her presence in sanctuaries symbolized and for the . Her involvement extended to supporting Ramesses II's extensive building projects, acting as a visible emblem of divine legitimacy and familial unity, thereby bolstering the deification efforts of the royal line.

Depictions and Monuments

Temple Representations

Bintanath's earliest known temple depiction appears in , dating to Year 3 of Ramesses II's reign (c. 1276 BCE), where she is shown as a standing alongside her mother, , in a scene on the interior face of the pharaoh's new . In this relief, Bintanath is portrayed in a context, emphasizing her position within the royal family during the early years of her father's rule, contributing to the of dynastic continuity and divine favor. In the temples, Bintanath features prominently as queen in both the Great Temple and the Small Temple dedicated to and . She is depicted on the facade of the Great Temple, flanking a colossus of alongside her sister Nebettawy, with inscriptions identifying her both as King's Daughter and King's Wife, underscoring her elevated status. Inside the temples, reliefs show her participating in offering scenes to deities such as and Ra-Horakhty, as well as presenting offerings to himself, symbolizing her role in royal cultic practices and the pharaoh's deification. These representations highlight her integration into the Nubian monuments' , reinforcing 's imperial power and familial harmony. Additional depictions in other Theban temples, such as Karnak, portray her in similar processional contexts, often leading or accompanying royal figures in festivals honoring gods like Amun, which served to propagate the legitimacy and piety of the royal lineage. Throughout these temple representations, Bintanath's iconography incorporates symbolic elements typical of Great Royal Wives, including the vulture headdress representing Nekhbet, the protective goddess of Upper Egypt, and the uraeus cobra on her brow signifying royal authority and divine protection. These motifs, combined with her titles as Great Royal Wife, emphasize her role in the religious and political propaganda of Ramesses II's reign, portraying her as a mediator between the pharaoh and the gods.

Statues and Inscriptions

Several commemorative statues depicting Bintanath have been discovered at major sites across , including , , and , frequently shown in association with or her mother , and dating primarily to the later years of his reign in the 19th Dynasty. These three-dimensional artifacts highlight her prominence as both princess and , often portraying her in royal attire and emphasizing her familial and divine connections. In , excavations uncovered two sandstone colossi originally from , where Bintanath accompanies , underscoring her role in royal during the relocation of monuments to the in later periods. These statues were likely reused in Tanis during the Third Intermediate Period, reflecting the enduring prestige of Ramesside royal imagery. A notable example from is a colossal , discovered at Mit Rahina near the of , where Bintanath is carved in relief behind the king's left leg, holding a scepter and wearing the headdress of queenship; her brother Khaemwaset appears on the right. This artifact, standing over 11 meters tall, dates to Ramesses II's reign and originally guarded the temple entrance, symbolizing divine protection and familial . At , a now in the Grand Egyptian Museum in depicts Bintanath at the feet of , with inscriptions invoking her devotion to Amun-Ra. Another Karnak in the Great Court similarly shows her at his feet. Bintanath is also depicted on statues at es-Sebua and in family stelae from various sites. Dedicatory inscriptions on these statues often highlight Bintanath's piety toward deities like , portraying her as "one who loves " and participant in sacred festivals at , such as the procession, where she is named alongside in offerings to the god. For instance, a fragmentary sandstone statue from (British Museum EA 697) bears her and titles like "King's Daughter, ," with texts expressing loyalty to the divine order and the . Such reinforces her cultic role without delving into temple wall scenes.

Death and Burial

Circumstances of Death

Bintanath died during the reign of her brother , who succeeded their father and ruled from approximately 1213 to 1203 BCE. This places her death in the early years of Merneptah's reign, after she had served as a prominent for decades. This is evidenced by a statue originally depicting her as , which was later usurped by Merneptah and mentions her titles. No specific is documented in surviving records, and scholars infer natural causes based on her advanced age, consistent with the lifespan of women in the New Kingdom. The ancient Egyptian royal family faced high mortality rates from infectious diseases, complications of , and other health issues prevalent in the Valley environment, which likely contributed to Bintanath's end despite her privileged status. Merneptah's reign maintained the stability inherited from , with successful military campaigns against Libyan incursions and , providing a secure context for royal funerals and commemorations. Notably, unlike the deaths of major figures such as himself, which were marked by extensive inscriptions and rituals, Bintanath's passing lacks any dedicated contemporary accounts or memorials, reflecting her somewhat diminished prominence in the later dynasty.

Tomb in the Valley of the Queens

Bintanath's tomb, designated QV 71, is located in the Valley of the Queens at , on the north side of the main and adjacent to tombs QV 68 and QV 66. This rock-cut structure exemplifies New Kingdom royal for elite women, featuring a multi-chamber layout designed to facilitate the deceased's journey to the . She died during the reign of her brother and was interred here. The tomb's entrance consists of a steep, divided stairway with an integrated ramp (A), descending to a rectangular pillared antechamber (B) oriented to the main axis. Antechamber B includes three side chambers—two to the west (Bb and Ba) and one to the east (Bc)—with Ba accessible via a stairwell and featuring a vaulted ceiling that has since collapsed. A subsequent stairwell (C) connects to the burial chamber (C), aligned on an east-west axis and equipped with benches along the walls and a central pit; a small side niche (Ca) adjoins this chamber. Decorations throughout emphasize funerary themes, with the antechamber ceiling painted with stars evoking the night sky, and walls depicting Bintanath offering to deities such as , , and . Side chambers illustrate protective and sustenance motifs, including and the , while the burial chamber portrays Bintanath alongside an unnamed princess making offerings to gods like and ; much of this area suffered fire damage in antiquity. Gateways feature disks, protective texts, and figures of deities including Serqet and Ma'at. The burial chamber's sarcophagus pit originally housed a red granite mummiform , now in the Cairo Museum (JE 47370), inscribed for Bintanath but later usurped during the Third Intermediate Period, Roman era, and times for other burials. No remains identified as hers have been recovered from the tomb. Recent scholarship has focused on the tomb's iconography, particularly a 2024 analysis of the unnamed princess depicted twice in the burial chamber, which highlights the tomb's unique programmatic elements, such as dual female figures in a cosmographic context. This study addresses interpretive gaps by proposing symbolic rather than literal readings of the scenes, emphasizing broader Egyptian funerary decorum and potential evidence of tomb-sharing practices atypical for the Valley of the Queens. The tomb was first documented in 1826 by Robert Hay, excavated by a Franco-Egyptian team in 1971–1972, and further studied by the Theban Mapping Project in 1981, revealing its structural integrity despite damage from collapses, fire, and later reuse.

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