Mereret (12th Dynasty)


Mereret was an Ancient Egyptian King's Daughter known from her burial next to the Pyramid of Pharaoh Senusret III at Dahshur. On the north side of the king's pyramid was a row of four pyramids belonging to the king's wives. These pyramids were connected by an underground gallery. On the west side of the gallery were further burials arranged for women with the title king's daughter. They were buried in sarcophagi that were placed into niches. All burials were found looted. However, the robbers missed two boxes filled with personal adornments found in 1894 by Jacques de Morgan. One of these boxes must have belonged to a king's daughter Sithathor, the other box to a king's daughter with the name Mereret or Meret.
Not much else is known about Mereret. Her name, with different spellings, appears on several scarab seals found in the jewellery box. Here, she always bears the title King's Daughter. From the position of her burial it might be concluded that she was the daughter of King Senusret III. Among her personal adornments were also pieces with the name of King Amenemhet III, indicating that she might have died under that king.

Literature