The Protectress gazes into the incredible face that is her son. The eons old promise of the coming of the Ptah a’ Tanen is sitting at her feet. After 200,000 years, a male would become the Protector. He is the second born and tribal tradition dictated that he be the consort and brother to the next Protectress. Nevertheless, she understands that her daughter is not suited to assume the role. Only Merneptah could wear the heavy mantle of leadership for both tribes. Merneptah is the male who has become the Ptah a’ Tanen, god of all. There is such force in his words. She stares back at him wondering if he could see what she is feeling. These words should be coming from his sister. Anat should be here at her side in this moment. Nevertheless, it is her son’s words of death dealing. Looking into his exquisite face, Meretneith feels conflicted. Yet there is joy in the acknowledgement of his strength.

The Great Karnak Inscription of Merneptah's 5th regnal year, the longest surviving continuous monumental text from Egypt, describes the combined Libyan and Sea People invasion of Egypt c.1208 BCE. This new study, the first complete commentary on this long but unfortunately damaged text, begins with a translation of the text, accompanied by detailed notes. The study considers specific military aspects of the inscription alongside its religious background. A grammatical analysis of the Great Karnak Inscription also sheds new light on the grammar of Ramesside monumental texts. Reviews for this volume: "...a very useful study of a highly important historical text, largely neglected hitherto.'" - K A Kitchen, Book List (2005) "...should be of interest to anyone studying issues relating to international relations of the period, aspects of military conflict in the later New Kingdom, or the monumental grammar of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties [...] The welcome inclusion of the complete hieroglyphic text should be of great use to anyone wishing to study the content and grammar of this inscription for themselves." - Joshua Roberson, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, Vol. XL (2005)