Ceiling Second courtyard, peristyle hall Temple of Ramesses III (plan) Medinet Habu, Egypt

The ceiling of the peristyle hall has some beautifully preserved color. In this close-up, the upper register shows a winged sun disk (eye of Re plus wings of Horus), the symbol of universal protection above the entrances to temples, shrines, and tombs. The lower register displays the cartouches of Ramesses III. From right to left, we read: user-maat-re mery-amun, nefer-netjer, ankh, za-re, ra-mes-su heqa-iunu. There is surprisingly a lot to say about this titulary. First of all, it is arranged in mirror symmetry. Ankh is in the center; it means simply "life," and in context it is a magical formula to ensure that Ramesses will live forever.

On the right, "nefer netjer"means "the good god" and signifies that the king's throne name follows in cartouche. That name translates to "[executing] the powerful justice of Re, beloved of Amun." On the left, "za re" means "the king's son" and signifies that the the king's birth name follows in cartouche. That name translates to "Son of Re, ruler of Heliopolis."