Meritites I

Who is Meritites I?

Meritites I was an ancient Egyptian queen of the 4th dynasty. Her name means "Beloved of her Father". Several of her titles are known from a stela found at Giza. She was buried in the middle Queen's Pyramid in Giza.

Meritites was a daughter of King Sneferu. Meritites married her brother, King Khufu. With Khufu, she was the mother of Crown Prince Kawab, and possibly Djedefre. Both Queen Hetepheres II and Pharaoh Khafra have been suggested as children of Meretites I and Khufu as well, and it is possible that Meritites II was a daughter of Meritites I as well.

Auguste Mariette recorded a stela at Giza in which Meritites is said to be a favorite of both Sneferu and Khufu:

King’s wife, his beloved, devoted to Horus, Mertitytes. King’s wife, his beloved, Mertitytes; beloved of the Favorite of the Two Goddesses; she who says anything whatsoever and it is done for her. Great in the favor of Snefr[u]; great in the favor of Khuf[u], devoted to Horus, honored under Khafre. Merti[tyt]es. [Breasted]

Meritites held the titles: great one of the hetes-sceptre of Khufu, great one of the hetes-sceptre of Snofru, king’s wife, his beloved, attendant of Horus and consort and beloved of the Two Ladies.