Prince Nemareth

Prince Nemareth (nm3rṯ) a rendering of the Libyan name Nimlot, was the third son of king Shoshenq I (c. 943–922 B.C.). For scholars, the prince is either referred to as Nemareth or Nimlot B specifically.

Prince Nemareth’s father Hedjkheperre Setepenre Shoshenq I, simply referred to as Shoshenq I, was the first king of Ancient Egypt’s 22nd Dynasty, and of Libyan (Meshwesh; often abbreviated in ancient Egyptian as Ma) ancestry. Shoshenq’s father was a Great Chief of the Ma. Shoshenq was also the nephew of Osorkon the Elder, a Meshwesh king of the 21st Dynasty. Shoshenq I is generally presumed to be the Shishak mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, and his exploits are carved on the Bubastite Portal at Karnak.

Prince Nemareth, also known as Nimlot B was a general and governor, and held the titles, “Overseer of the Army of Neni-nesu (Herakleopolis Magna)” and “Commander of all the infantry“, a role he was appointed to by his father. His mother was a consort of King Shoshenq I named Ptahreshnes. Ptahreshnes was the daughter of a man who held the title of, “Great Chief of the Foreigners“, which leads scholars to believe Ptahreshnes was also of Libyan ancestry.

Rather interestingly, Prince Nemareth (Nimlot B) was also bestowed with the title; “King’s Son of Ramesses“, a title that scholars believe is in tribute to the famous king Ramesses II, known historically as Ramesses the Great, the 19th Dynasty, warrior king, who became beloved by Egyptians, with 9 later rulers named after him.

This cuff bracelet belonging to Prince Nemareth is made from gold and was originally adorned with lapis lazuli. It was discovered at Sa el-Hagar, Sais, Egypt.

The bracelet has the image of a child deity, believed to represent Harpocrates, his godliness made present by his crook and the lunar crescent upon his headdress. He is protected by two serpents, believed to represent the female deities of Wadjet and Nekhbet, protectors of Upper and Lower Egypt. Harpocrates is sat upon a blue lotus. The British Museum, where this bracelet currently resides (EA14595), writes that the Egyptian blue lotus; “is a symbol of creation from the primordial ocean, from which the sun first rose, and of birth and rebirth, presumably because that flower rises above the water when it opens each dawn.“