|“||Umm, two questions: who the hell was Seti I and was he rich?||”|
–Jonathan Carnahan asking about Seti's position in life., The Mummy
Seti I was the Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt in 1290 BC, governing well in his years until his untimely death at the hands of his most faithful high priest Imhotep and his future wife Anck-Su-Namun.
Despite his age during his rule, Seti I was strong and vivacious, one day enjoying a duel between his daughter Nefertiri and his future bride and concubine Anck-Su-Namun. After the duel ended, Seti appraised the efforts of both women, citing that there was no one better to protect him than Anck-Su-Namun, and there was no one better to protect the Bracelet of Anubis than Nefertiri. Embracing his daughter after the battle, Seti did not notice that Imhotep had been exchanging glances with Anck-Su-Namun.
In time, Seti learned that Anck-Su-Namun had been having an affair, but with whom he did not yet know, until the evening when he had visited her residence and found that the coat of body paint on her arm had been smudged, indicating that she had been touched. After demanding to know who touched her, Imhotep had come up from behind him, sword drawn as he faced the Pharaoh. Not far from the confrontation, Nefertiri had been watching what was happening from her balcony and called out to the Medjai, the Pharaoh's elite protectors, to aid Seti, who was shocked to learn that his high priest had betrayed him, but shocked soon turned to agony as Anck-Su-Namun drew out a dagger and stabbed the Pharaoh; reluctantly, at first, having to kill off a friend, Imhotep began to join in, and soon, both priest and concubine began stabbing Seti until he was dead. Upon Seti's death, Anck-Su-Namun believed she would be free of her role as concubine, but she was compelled to end her life when the Medjai reached the slain king.
Centuries later, Seti I's remains were put on display in the Cairo Museum of Antiquities, where the museum curator, Dr. Terence Bey, noted that Seti rested well in the Afterlife, while Imhotep, his High Priest, did not.
Personality and Traits
Dressed in the raiment of Pharaoh, with a golden crown, rings, and a short stylised beard, Seti I was a tall, thickly-muscled man who had as much physical power as he did age. Seti could be staunch and severe to those who he deemed untrustworthy, and yet would exhibit much compassion and love towards those that he loved dearly, such as his daughter Nefertiri and future bride Anck-Su-Namun (the latter option was a grave mistake).
- The Mummy (First appearance)
- The Mummy Returns
Behind the Scenes
Pharaoh Seti I was portrayed by Aharon Ipalé.
- In real life, Imhotep had lived some millennia prior to Seti's reign and Seti died of disease rather than murder.
- Seti's name means "of Set", indicating that Seti was consecrated to the god Set.