RHAMPSINITUS, the Greek name of the Egyptian monarch Rameses III., first king of the 20th dynasty, and builder of the great palace at Medinat Habil: According to Herodotus, he placed two colossal statues of 25 cubits high in front of the w. vestibule of the Hephmsteum at Memphis. He was the richest of Egyptian kings, having amassed 400,000 talents, or £77,500,000—an incredible sum for that peribd. This wealth however, probably in jewels as well as the precious metals, for both are recorded on the walls of the treasury of Medinat Habu. To secure this enormous treasure he built a treasury of stone, one side of which adjoined the wall of his palace. In connec tion with this is narrated a story which rather resembles the tale of Ali Baba in the Arabian ,Nights than the sober narrative of history. The story was told by the Egyptian of the days of the Persians to the father of history, who naively doubts its voracity; but notwithstanding some of the German researches which attempt to con nect it with Hellenic myths of the brothers Agamedes and Trophonios, it is believed to be essentially Egyptian. Rhampsinitus is said to have descended to Hades, and to have
played at drafts with Isis, or Ceres, and he is so represented on the walls of his palace Iledinat Halm. His return was celebrated as a festival. Herodotus, who has inverted and confused the whole history of Egypt, calls Rhampsinitus the son of Pro tens, and predecessor of Cheops, placing him 16 dynasties earlier than he should be. According to Lepsius, lie reigned about 1275 13 c. According to Diodorus, Rhampsinitus was called Remphis, or Pith& Reinpsis (Ramses), and by Pliny Ramses, in whose reign Troy was taken.
Pliny Hist. Nat., xxxvi. 8, 14, 2; Herodotus, ii. 121-24; Diodorus, i. 62; Champol lion, .Not. Descr.; Burton, Era. Hier.- sir G. Wilkinson, Manners and Customs, p. 121, and foil.; Lepsius, p. 299, and foil.