There was once a conspiracy occured in the reign of King Ramesses III, as we known from the Harem Conspiracy papyrus, about an assassination attempt upon the king in which queen Tiy was a part of the plot. Her name is provided in the text, but the other conspirators are called by names that indicate the great evil of their crime, such as Mesedsure, meaning “Ra hates him”. Tiy apparently wished for her son, called in this papyrus, Pentewere, to ascend to the throne of Egypt.
At some point during the later part of Ramesses III’s reign, there were economic problems that became most visible when the Deir el-Medina workmen failed to be paid, leading to a general strike, the first in recorded history, in the 29th year of the king’s reign.
This was not a simple conspiracy, considering that at least 40 people were implicated and tried as a group. Amongst their numbers were harem officials many of whom were close to the king. Not only had they intended to kill the king, but also to organize a revolt outside of the palace in order to facilitate their revolution.
The plot was seemingly hatched in Piramesses where one of the conspirators had a house. The plan called for the murder of the king during the annual Opet Festival at Thebes. This conspiracy is thought to have failed, and the guilty were charged and brought before a court consisting of a panel of 14 officials. Ramesses III himself most likely commissioned the prosecution, but according to the language of the papyrus, probably died during the trial, thought not necessarily from the effects of the plot.
Curiously, this court was given authority to deliver & carry out whatever penalty they deemed fair, including the death penalty, whish normally only the king could inflict. It should be noted, however, that scholars are in disagreement over the conspiracy.
All of those involved in the
plot were apparently condemned to the death, as was certainly the fate of Queen Tiy herself. Though the record of the actual trial is lost, there were apparently three different prosecutions. The first consisted of 28 people, who were found guilty and put to death. In the next prosecution 6 people were condemned &forced to commit suicide within the court itself. In the final trial 4 additional individuals, including the son of Queen Tiy, were likewise condemned to suicide, though they were presumably allowed to carry out the suicide in their prison.
Interestingly, there was also a 4th trial, but this one did not involve the actual conspirators, but instead three of the judges and two officers. It would seem that the curious affairs resulted from accusations that, after their appointment to the conspiracy commission, they knowingly entertained several of the women involved in the plot, as well as consorted with a general referred to as Peyes. Though one of the judges was found innocent, the remainder of the group was condemned to have their ears &noses amputated. One of the judges called Pebes committed suicide before the sentence could be carried out.
At some point during the later part of Ramesses III’s reign, there were economic problems that became most visible when the Deir el-Medina workmen failed to be paid, leading to a general strike, the first in recorded history, in the 29th year of the king’s reign.
This was not a simple conspiracy, considering that at least 40 people were implicated and tried as a group. Amongst their numbers were harem officials many of whom were close to the king. Not only had they intended to kill the king, but also to organize a revolt outside of the palace in order to facilitate their revolution.
The plot was seemingly hatched in Piramesses where one of the conspirators had a house. The plan called for the murder of the king during the annual Opet Festival at Thebes. This conspiracy is thought to have failed, and the guilty were charged and brought before a court consisting of a panel of 14 officials. Ramesses III himself most likely commissioned the prosecution, but according to the language of the papyrus, probably died during the trial, thought not necessarily from the effects of the plot.
Curiously, this court was given authority to deliver & carry out whatever penalty they deemed fair, including the death penalty, whish normally only the king could inflict. It should be noted, however, that scholars are in disagreement over the conspiracy.
All of those involved in the
plot were apparently condemned to the death, as was certainly the fate of Queen Tiy herself. Though the record of the actual trial is lost, there were apparently three different prosecutions. The first consisted of 28 people, who were found guilty and put to death. In the next prosecution 6 people were condemned &forced to commit suicide within the court itself. In the final trial 4 additional individuals, including the son of Queen Tiy, were likewise condemned to suicide, though they were presumably allowed to carry out the suicide in their prison.Interestingly, there was also a 4th trial, but this one did not involve the actual conspirators, but instead three of the judges and two officers. It would seem that the curious affairs resulted from accusations that, after their appointment to the conspiracy commission, they knowingly entertained several of the women involved in the plot, as well as consorted with a general referred to as Peyes. Though one of the judges was found innocent, the remainder of the group was condemned to have their ears &noses amputated. One of the judges called Pebes committed suicide before the sentence could be carried out.
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