Menmaatre Seti I (or Sethos I in Greek) was the second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, ruling c. 1294 or 1290 BC to 1279 BC. He was the son of Ramesses I and Sitre, and the father of Ramesses II.

The name ‘Seti’ means “of Set”, which indicates that he consecrated to the god set . As with most pharaohs, Seti had several names. Upon his ascension, he took the prenomen “mn-m3’t-r’ “, usually vocalized in Egyptian as Menmaatre (Established is the Justice of Re). His better known nomen, or birth name, is transliterated as ” Sety Merenptah, meaning “Man of Set, beloved of Ptah”. Manetho incorrectly was the founder of the 19th Dynasty.  And gave him a reign length of 55 years, though no evidence  found for so long a reign.

Reign

In fact,after the enormous social upheavals generated by Akhenaten’s relegios reform, Horemheb, Ramesses I and Seti I’s main priority was to re-establish order in the kingdom and to reaffirm Egypt’s sovereignty over Cannan and Syria, which had been compromised by the increasing external pressures from the Hittite state. Seti, with energy and determination, confronted the Hittites several times in battle. Without succeeding in destroying the Hittites. As a potential danger to Egypt.

He reconquered most of the disputed territories for Egypt and generally concluded his military campaigns with victories. The memory of Seti I’s military successes  recorded in some large scenes. Placed on the front of the temple of Amun, situated in Karnak. In fact, a funerary temple for Seti was constructed in what is now known as Qurna . On the west bank of the Nile at Thebes while a magnificent temple made of white limestone at Abydos featuring exquisite relief scenes was started by Seti.  later completed by his son.The  capital was at Memphis. His peers considered him a great king. His fame  overshadowed since ancient times by that of his son, Ramesses II.