Mereret (12th Dynasty)

Mereret was an ancient Egyptian queen consort during the 12th Dynasty, specifically under the reign of Pharaoh Senusret III. Relatively little is known about her compared to some other royal women of the Middle Kingdom. Her name, meaning "Beloved of [the goddess] Meret," suggests a connection to the concept of joy, love, and celebration that the goddess embodied.

Mereret's existence is primarily attested by her burial within the tomb complex of Senusret III at Dahshur. Fragments of her canopic jars were discovered, bearing her name and title. These canopic jars are crucial evidence of her status as a queen and her connection to the pharaoh.

Unlike some other royal women of the Middle Kingdom, Mereret does not appear to have held significant political or religious power outside of her role as the pharaoh's wife. She is not depicted in any known administrative or religious scenes, and her influence seems to have been limited to her position within the royal household. The scarcity of information about her leaves many questions about her life and role unanswered. The lack of biographical details is not uncommon for queens of the Middle Kingdom, particularly when their burial sites are the primary source of information. Her existence, however, confirms the presence of a queen consort during Senusret III's reign, adding to our understanding of the royal family structure of the time.