In The Twelfth Dynasty Egyptian Literature
A Reconstruction
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In The Twelfth Dynasty Egyptian Literature
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They still had three other children, not counting the fugitive Sinuhe. The priest Khuni, and their oldest, a sister, Meri were full siblings with Sidiptu. The young king, Sesostris, was Neferty’s son and was Seni’s grandson.
Sesostris became somehow forgiving and benevolent as the sole ruler. The royal family’s grief united them, none wishing to gloat or recall past actions that deserved repayment. The grieving couple still had their oldest child, Meri, who had married Amenemhet after he had released her mother. Meri had offered herself in place of her mother as queen. “Am I not the same royal stock as my mother? I can stand next to you and be a younger queen more suitable for a king so great as you. Let the old one go free, I have more energy and can give you more royal children.” Both her mother and the king accepted her offer with relief. Meri enjoyed being queen. But her presence failed to command the awe and respect her mother’s did. And even Sidiptu radiated liveliness and beauty more than Meri did. But Meri enjoyed thinking that perhaps one of her sons would some day rule alone, listening, however, to her advice. She had ignored Sidiptu’s existence, seeming a bit irritated by her. They did grow up more than a few years apart. Perhaps the younger girl reminded the older that she indeed was older. Then, when Amenemhet elevated Sesostris as co-regent, Meri controlled her reaction of displeasure. She had hoped that one of her sons would please the king more than Sesostris did. And when Amenemhet died, Meri approached Sesostris with the same suggestion, that he marry her. She was still young enough. He did marry her. Perhaps she was not as irritating to the king as Sidiptu had been. Her white skin mattered little to him. Perhaps he agreed with the taking-of-the-previous-king’s-wife theory. Many believed that the royal line was matrilineal, rather than patrilineal, so a little double insurance of the royal line seemed to be good idea. The successionists were so picky in their arguments. Meri bore Sesostris a son, Amenemhet II. Her previous children moved lower down the succession line. |
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