Rhampsinītus
(
Ῥαμψίνιτος). Rameses or Ramses III., one of the ancient
kings of Egypt, who succeeded Proteus, and was himself succeeded by Cheops. Rhampsinitus
belongs to the Twentieth Dynasty, and is known in inscriptions by the name of
Ramessu-pa-neter. He is said to have stored up immense wealth in a stone treasury with a
secret entrance, regarding the robbery of which Herodotus tells a very entertaining story (bk.
ii. 121 foll.), resembling a similar tale narrated of the treasury built by Agamedes and
Trophonius at Orchomenus, for which see
Trophonius. Rhampsinitus is said by Herodotus to have descended alive into Hades and to
have won at dice from Persephoné (or Demeter) a golden napkin.