Siptah (Akhenre’setepenre, Ramesses-Siptah, Mery-enptah) (d. 1198 b. c. e.) Seventh ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty

He reigned from 1204 b. c.e. until his death. He was listed as “King’s Son,” and his mother was Queen tia (2). He was originally called Ramesses-Siptah, the son of seti ii. Forensic studies indicate that Siptah was possibly a victim of poliomyelitis, appearing clubfooted. Siptah was reportedly placed on the throne by bay, with Queen TWOSRET serving as his regent because of his young age. He conducted campaigns in nubia (modern Sudan) in his first regnal year, and inscriptions concerning him were found in a temple in wadi halfa. He also built a mortuary temple north of the ramesseum in thebes (modern Luxor).

Siptah died young and was buried in the valley of THE KINGS with Queen Tia. His mummified remains were stuffed with dry lichen, and his cheeks padded by strips of linen. His tomb was designed long and straight, with decorated corridors, a square antechamber, and a burial place with four pillars. A red granite sarcophagus was in the burial room. Siptah was moved in a later era, because of tomb robberies, and his mummy was discovered with other royal remains in the tomb of amenhotep ii.

Sirenput (1) (fl. 20th century b. c.e.) Military governor of the Twelfth Dynasty

He served senwosret i (r. 1971-1926 b. c.e.) as a military commander and as the governor of the south. He was a noble from ASWAN who also served as the overseer of the priests of khnum and satet. His tomb in Aswan has a doorway leading to a columned courtyard with scenes of paradise as decorations. The tomb also has square pillars, a long passage, and a statue recess. A large figure of Sirenput was discovered. He was also portrayed with his dogs and family members.

Sirenput (2) (Nubkare-nakht) (fl. 20th century b. c.e.) Military governor of the Twelfth Dynasty He served amenemhet ii (r. 1929-1892 b. c.e.) as the governor of the south and a military commander. Sirenput was the son of Satet-hotep. His tomb is on the western bank of the Nile at ASWAN and contains elaborate paintings, a six-pillared hall, a recessed corridor, and statues. He is depicted on four pillars discovered in rear chambers. Portraits of his family and vivid scenes of birds and animals were also completed. An Osiride statue of Sirenput was found in the tomb as well.

Sirius See sopdu.

Sisatet (fl. 19th century b. c.e.) Financial official of the Twelfth Dynasty

He served senwosret iii (r. 1878-1841 b. c.e.) as a royal treasurer. Sisatet was the son of an official named Ameni and his mother was Sitamene. Sisatet accompanied ikher-NOFRET, a relative, to abydos, where a stela was erected. He succeeded Ikhernofret as treasurer after serving in that agency throughout his career.

Sistrum Called the seses or shesheset by the ancient Egyptians, it was a musical instrument that was popular in the cult of the goddess hathor. The sistrum was formed as a stick-like wooden or metal object, with a frame and small metal disks that rattled when the instrument was shaken by a hand. Designed with a broad band of copper, bent almost double, the sistrum had wires inserted through holes drilled into the band, containing the disks. When shaken, the sistrum makes a shimmering sound. The head of Hathor was often depicted on the instrument or the horns of a cow were incorporated into its design. The sistrum was a favored instrument in cul-tic rites in Egypt’s temples and shrines and was used in religious processions. The sistrum took the form of a cartouche and was honored for this coincidence. When the sistrum was used by the goddess nehem-awit, a divine form of Hathor, evil spirits fled from the sound. Some of these sistrums were later fashioned out of faience.

Sitamon (fl. 19th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty

She was the consort of amenhotep ii (r. 1427-1401 b. c.e.), but not the mother of the heir.

Sitamun (1) (fl. 16th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty

She was a daughter of ’ahmose (r. 1550-1525 b. c.e.) and Queen ’ahmose nefertari, who died young and was buried in a sycamore coffin. Her original tomb was vandalized and her remains were hacked to bits by robbers looking for jewels or gold in her mummy wrappings. Sitamun was among the mummies found in the royal cache in deir el-bahri in 1881.

Sitamun (2) (fl. 14th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty

The daughter of amenhotep iii (r. 1391-1353 b. c.e.) and Queen tiye (1), Sitamun married her father and bore him two sons. She reportedly had a suite in Amenhotep iii’s tomb, and her furniture was deposited in the tomb of her grandfather, tuthmosis iv. Sitamun was buried at

THEBES.

Sit-Hathor (fl. 20th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Twelfth Dynasty

She was the consort of amenemhet i (r. 1991-1962 b. c.e.) and the mother of Princess Nenseb-Djebet and Princess dedyet (2). Sit-Hathor was buried in the royal mortuary complex at el-LiSHT.

Sit-Hathor Meryt (Sit-Hathor Horneryt) (fl. 19th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Twelfth Dynasty She was probably the daughter of amenemhet ii (r. 1929-1892 b. c.e.) and was buried in the royal mortuary complex at dashur. Her mummy was disturbed, but some of her beautiful jewelry survived the robbery Sit-Hathor Meryt’s sarcophagus was carved out of sandstone.

Sit-Hathor Yunet (fl. 19th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Twelfth Dynasty

She was reportedly the daughter of senwosret ii (r. 1897-1878 b. c.e.) and Queen neferhent (1). The sister of Senwosret III, she was possibly his consort. Sit-Hathor Yunet was buried in dashur, and her jewels and mortuary regalia survived tomb robberies. Many displays of affection from royal family members were discovered in her gravesite. The cartouches of Senwosret II and amenemhet III were also in her tomb.

Sitiah (fl. 15th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty

She was a consort of tuthmosis iii (r. 1479-1425 b. c.e.) and held the rank of Great Wife. Sitiah received this rank upon the death of neferu-re, as late as Tuthmosis Ill’s 22nd regnal year. A commoner, and the daughter of the royal nurse Ipu, she either did not live long or retired to the harem villa at mi-wer in the faiyum at a young age. She bore no heirs. Sitiah was replaced by meryt-re-hat-

SHEPSUT.

Sit-Kamose (fl. 16th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty

She was a princess of Thebes in the reign of ’ahmose i (1550-1525 b. c.e.), or possibly kamose (r. 1555-1550 b. c.e.) of the Seventeenth Dynasty Her mummified remains were discovered at deir el-bahri in 1881. The priests of the Twenty-first Dynasty (1070-945 b. c.e.) placed them there after finding her tomb vandalized. A large woman, Sit-Kamose’s mummy was packed with linens. She was placed in a sycamore coffin and garlanded with flowers.

Sitre (fl. 14th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Nineteenth Dynasty

She was the consort of ramesses i (r. 1307-1306 b. c.e.), an elderly commoner when Ramesses i founded the Nineteenth Dynasty Sitre was the mother of seti i and a military woman, having moved with Ramesses I during his career and having supported him as he rose in rank. She died in the reign of Seti I, much honored by the court. She was buried in the first tomb in the valley of THE queens, and her gravesite had a hall and an unfinished burial chamber. Paintings on the walls depict her making offerings to the gods of Egypt.

Sit-Sheryet (fl. 22nd century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Eleventh Dynasty

She was the consort of montuhotep i (r. c. 2130 b. c.e.), ruling in Thebes. Her son was Prince Herunefer, and she died soon after he was killed in a battle in herakleopo-

LIS.

Sit-Weret (fl. 19th century b. c.e.) Royal woman of the Twelfth Dynasty

She was a lesser-ranked consort of senwosret iii (r. 1878-1841 b. c.e.). Sit-Weret was buried in the royal mortuary complex of Senwosret III at dashur.

Siwa One of the oases in the LIBYAN desert, the most honored of the fertile islands, Siwa is situated west of ALEXANDRIA in the Delta area and served as a famous religious destination for centuries. oracles at the temple of AMUN drew countless pilgrims, and the religious houses there were well endowed. Alexander iii the great visited the temple of the oracle in 331 b. c.e., and was crowned there as the son of amun, a true pharaoh. This temple was originally stolid and plain. During the Ptolemaic Dynasty (304-30 b. c.e.), however, half columns, courts, antechambers, and a sanctuary were added or refurbished. In an earlier era, amasis (r. 570-526 b. c.e.) had dedicated new additions.

A second temple dedicated to Amun, called Umm ’Ubayda, was located near the rock of Aghurmi at Siwa. Another site, Ain el-Gubah, called “the Spring of the Sun,” is ancient in origin. A necropolis served Siwa at Gebel el-Mawta, or Qarat el-Mussaberin, the “Ridge of Mummies.”

CAMBYSES (r. 525-522 b. c.e.), the Persian conqueror, sent a rather large force to Siwa Oasis, having heard of the wealth of the region, known for wines and dates as well as religious ceremonies. This Persian army marched into the desert and disappeared. The entire force was lost and this disappearance remained a mystery Recent excavations in the area, however, may have uncovered the Persian soldiers and their equipment. In the Greco-Roman era, Siwa Oasis was named Jupiter Ammon.

Sma It was an amulet of ancient Egypt, designed as a phallus. The symbol denoted unity.

Sma-tawy (sema-tawy) It was the symbol of the unified Upper and Lower Egypt. The insignia was fashioned out of the signs of the Two Kingdoms, the entwined PAPYRUS and lotus. The sma-tawy appeared on thrones, sacred barks, or in the decorations in palaces and temples.