Born in Thebes, Setne's family moved to Alexandria in the child's second year. He was the only child of a successful merchanting family, and learned about business at his father's knee. By the age of 6 he was fluent in Latin, Greek, Aramaic (language of Judea), and the Phoenician Trade dialect. Setne adored his tutor, a Greek slave named Darius, but occasionally slipped lessons to see the embalmers work. He learned quickly the basics of anatomy and physiology that could only be seen in preparing the upright for the last journey over the Great River.