Apparently, King Ramesses V died in his early thirties, and this may explain why his tomb was appropriated by his successor, Ramesses VI. Nevertheless, the mummy eventually made its way to the Royal Cachette (DB320) at Deir el-Bahari.
The king’s face was painted red, and his nostrils were filled with wax. The mummy exhibits evidence of smallpox, with raised nodules on the neck, chest, and face. Sawdust filled the entire mummy, including parts of his internal organs. The exact circumstances of Ramesses V’s death are unknown, but he is known to have reigned for nearly four full years. An ostracon indicates that he was only buried in the second year of Ramesses VI’s reign, which was highly irregular since Egyptian tradition required a king to be mummified and buried precisely 70 days into the reign of his successor.
However, another reason for the delayed burial of Ramesses V in Year 2, second month of Akhet day 1 of Ramesses VI’s reign (see KRI, VI, 343) might have been Ramesses VI’s need to expel any Libyan invaders from Thebes and to provide a temporary tomb for Ramesses V until plans for a double burial within tomb KV9 could be implemented. Ramesses V, also known as Usermaatre Sekheperenre Ramesses V, was an ancient Egyptian king who ruled during the 20th Dynasty of the New Kingdom period. Although his reign was relatively short, he had a few notable achievements.
One significant achievement of Ramesses V was his efforts to restore stability and order to Egypt after a period of political unrest. He succeeded his father, Ramesses IV, during a time when the country faced internal challenges, including economic difficulties and power struggles within the royal court. Ramesses V implemented measures to address these issues and restore the authority of the king.
Another achievement attributed to Ramesses V is his involvement in religious and temple activities. He is known for contributing to the construction and restoration of various temples, including the Karnak Temple complex in Thebes. He also conducted religious rituals and ceremonies, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the traditional religious practices of ancient Egypt.
Additionally, Ramesses V is believed to have made advancements in the field of medicine. His mummy shows evidence of surgical procedures, suggesting that he may have supported medical practices and possibly even contributed to medical knowledge during his reign. While the specific details of Ramesses V’s achievements may not be extensively documented, his efforts in stabilizing Egypt, his involvement in temple construction and religious activities, and his potential contributions to medicine are notable aspects of his reign.
