Meritamen

Queen of Egypt

Great Royal Wife

Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt

King's Daughter

 Meritamun one of the daughters of Ramesses II. On the death of Nefertari (some time after the 21st year of the Ramesses' reign) she took on the role of the Great Royal Wife. She was known only a the "White Queen" until the discovery in 1981 of a colossal statue at Akhmim in Upper Egypt besides a similar statue of Rameses II at the entrance to the New Kingdom temple. The Akhmim statue was similar to this statue in epithets and titles and is inscribed with the name of the princess Meritamon, daughter of Queen Nefertari and Rameses II. She became Great Royal Wife of Rameses II after the death of her mother.

The inscriptions say  that Meritamon was the beloved of her lord, the great one of the harem of Amun-Ra, a musician, a chantress and a dancer of different divinities at Thebes and in Upper Egypt.  Meritamon wears a crown surrounded by a diadem.  On her forehead are two uraei wearing the crown of upper Egypt.  She is wearing earrings, a broad collar and a bracelet.  Her Right breast is ornamented with a rosette and her left hand, resting on her left breast, is holding a musical instrument, symbol of Hathor (goddess of Beauty, Love and Music).