摘要
A systematic examination of Ramesses Ⅱ's large family of over 100 children and at least a dozen wives reveals that the Great Royal Wives Nefertari and Isetnofret, along with their children, enjoyed a privileged status within the hierarchical structure of the royal family. Nefertari owed her supreme status to being mother of Ramessse Ⅱ's first born son Amunhirkhopeshef, while Ramesses Ⅱ was still crown prince under Sety I. Isetnofret's sons and daughters were also favored because she gave birth to the second born son Prince Ramesses Jr. Isetnofret herself did not enjoy prominence on the monuments until after the death of Nefertari, nor was she buried in the Valley of the Queens. The remaining offspring of these wives also benefited from the prestige of their mothers and eldest brothers. Other early wives gave birth to the majority of Ramesses Ⅱ's children, but these women are now completely anonymous. Other attested wives of the king include his five daughter-wives and two Hittite Princess-brides. No other Egyptian wives are known for Ramesses Ⅱ. Monumental sources that privilege Queen Nefertari, and the children of both Nefertari and Isetnofret, reveal a hierarchical structure of the royal family.
Introduction： The Great Family of Ramesses II 2Among his many achievements that have marked Ramesses II as one of Egypt＇s greatest pharaohs, his multiple wives and his stupendous progeny of approximately 100 children stands as one of the most remarkable.3 By comparison with all other pharaohs, he appears unique, from the surviving evidence at least. In fact, we know of more royal sons of Ramesses II than of all the kings of Egypt＇s Eighteenth Dynasty.4 Indeed, the numbers of royal children that appear in the unprecedented monumental processional lists of his sons and daughters on several of his Egyptian and Nubian temples prompted Marjorie Fisher in her recent study of his sons to suggest that many of these princes may have been his grandchildren instead.5
