Seti

Seti, best known as Seti I, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty in the New Kingdom. He reigned roughly from 1290 to 1279 BCE and was the son of Ramesses I, as well as the father of Ramesses II. Seti I is remembered for a substantial building program that helped restore prestige after earlier turmoil and for reinforcing the religious foundations of the state.

His constructions include the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, dedicated to Osiris, which is one of the most important surviving royal mortuary temples from the early New Kingdom. He also contributed to the Karnak temple complex, advancing the cult of Amun and the overall grandeur of temple reliefs and architecture. The Abydos temple houses the Abydos King List, an inscription enumerating pharaohs from earlier dynasties and serving as a political statement about legitimate royal lineage.

In foreign policy, Seti I conducted military campaigns in Nubia to secure Egypt’s southern borders and asserted influence in the Levant, continuing efforts to uphold Egyptian power beyond the Nile valley. His reign laid groundwork that his son Ramesses II would later build upon during a long and famous reign.

Seti I died around 1279 BCE and was buried in the Valley of the Kings, in tomb KV17, noted for its ornate decoration and well-preserved interior. His legacy is often framed by his contributions to architecture, religious promotion, and the transmission of royal memory through monuments and inscriptions.

Seti may also refer to other, non-royal uses of the name, such as geographic features in different regions, including the Seti River in Nepal.