| Khnumhotep (III) | |
|---|---|
| High steward; Vizier | |
 Plan of Khnumhotep's tomb at Dahshur | |
| Dynasty | 12th Dynasty |
| Pharaoh | Senusret II, Senusret III |
| Father | Khnumhotep II |
| Burial | Mastaba at Dahshur |
| ||||
| Khnumhotep ẖnmw-ḥtp "Khnum is pleased" in hieroglyphs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Era: Middle Kingdom (2055–1650 BC) | ||||
Khnumhotep III (sometimes simply vizier Khnumhotep) was an ancient Egyptian high steward and vizier of the 12th Dynasty.
The vizier Khnumhotep is known from inscriptions (1) in the tomb of his father, (2) from a stela found at the Red Sea, and (3) his mastaba at Dahshur.
Khnumhotep was the son of the local governor Khnumhotep II, known from his tomb at Beni Hasan (tomb BH3). Khnumhotep was promoted as a young man, under Senusret II to the royal court and was sent on several missions, one of them to the Red Sea, another one to Byblos.
During the reign of Senusret III, Khnumhotep III built his mastaba and became high steward and finally vizier. [1]
At Dahshur, he built his mastaba tomb at the necropolis [2] attached to the Pyramid Complex of Senusret III. It was solid, without inner rooms, and was built of mudbricks covered with fine limestone while the outside was decorated with a palace façade and with the biographical inscription. The tomb has an area of c. 40 square metres (430 sq ft) and is relatively small if compared to some neighbouring tombs belonged to other viziers that are around 150 square metres (1,600 sq ft); this fact, in addition to his ranking titles reported in the tomb, suggests that Khnumhotep likely ordered this tomb early in his career, and that he became vizier in his very late life and didn't have enough time for building a mastaba more appropriate to his newly achieved high rank. [3]
The tomb was first excavated around 1894 by Jacques de Morgan who found several inscriptions as well as Khnumhotep's remains from which he estimated that the vizier should have been in his early sixties at the time of his death. New excavations after 2000 found several further biographical inscriptions, including those mentioning an expedition to Byblos and Ullaza. [4] [5]
Amenemhat III, also known as Amenemhet III, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the sixth king of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. He was elevated to throne as co-regent by his father Senusret III, with whom he shared the throne as the active king for twenty years. During his reign, Egypt attained its cultural and economic zenith of the Middle Kingdom.
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt is the period in the history of ancient Egypt following a period of political division known as the First Intermediate Period. The Middle Kingdom lasted from approximately 2040 to 1782 BC, stretching from the reunification of Egypt under the reign of Mentuhotep II in the Eleventh Dynasty to the end of the Twelfth Dynasty. The kings of the Eleventh Dynasty ruled from Thebes and the kings of the Twelfth Dynasty ruled from el-Lisht.
Amenemhat I, also known as Amenemhet I, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the first king of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom.
Nubkaure Amenemhat II, also known as Amenemhet II, was the third pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Although he ruled for at least 35 years, his reign is rather obscure, as well as his family relationships.
Senusret I also anglicized as Sesostris I and Senwosret I, was the second pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. He ruled from 1971 BC to 1926 BC, and was one of the most powerful kings of this Dynasty. He was the son of Amenemhat I. Senusret I was known by his prenomen, Kheperkare, which means "the Ka of Re is created." He expanded the territory of Egypt allowing him to rule over an age of prosperity.
Senusret II was the fourth pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. He ruled from 1897 BC to 1878 BC. His pyramid was constructed at El-Lahun. Senusret II took a great deal of interest in the Faiyum oasis region and began work on an extensive irrigation system from Bahr Yussef through to Lake Moeris through the construction of a dike at El-Lahun and the addition of a network of drainage canals. The purpose of his project was to increase the amount of cultivable land in that area. The importance of this project is emphasized by Senusret II's decision to move the royal necropolis from Dahshur to El-Lahun where he built his pyramid. This location would remain the political capital for the 12th and 13th Dynasties of Egypt. Senusret II was known by his prenomen Khakheperre, which means "The Ka of Re comes into being". The king also established the first known workers' quarter in the nearby town of Senusrethotep (Kahun).
Khakaure Senusret III was a pharaoh of Egypt. He ruled from 1878 BC to 1839 BC during a time of great power and prosperity, and was the fifth king of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. He was a great pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty and is considered to rule at the height of the Middle Kingdom. Consequently, he is regarded as one of the sources for the legend about Sesostris. His military campaigns gave rise to an era of peace and economic prosperity that reduced the power of regional rulers and led to a revival in craftwork, trade, and urban development. Senusret III was among the few Egyptian kings who were deified and honored with a cult during their own lifetime.
Beni Hasan is an ancient Egyptian cemetery. It is located approximately 20 kilometers (12 mi) to the south of modern-day Minya in the region known as Middle Egypt, the area between Asyut and Memphis.
Intefiqer(ỉnỉ-ỉt.f ỉqr) was an ancient Egyptian high official with the titles overseer of the city and Vizier under king Amenemhet I and his son Senusret I, during the early 12th Dynasty.
Senusret was an Ancient Egyptian official who was a vizier during the last years of king Senusret I's rule and in the first years of Amenemhat II. Senusret is known from a stela found in Abydos, which is dated to year 8 of Amenemhat II. He also appears in biographical inscriptions in the tomb of the governor Amenemhat at Beni Hasan, where it is stated that he was on a mission to Koptos. The inscription reports events under Senusret I.
Siese was a vizier and treasurer of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. He was most likely in office under Senusret III.
Sobekemhat was an ancient Egyptian treasurer under the king Senusret III in the Twelfth Dynasty. Sobekemhat is only known from his mastaba excavated in 1894 next to the pyramid of Senusret III at Dahshur. The mastaba was decorated on the outside with reliefs. These were only found in small fragments, but the fragments record the name and the titles of Sobekemhat. On an offering table he bears the title of the treasurer. The mastaba is in a chain of three mastabas, north of the king's pyramid. It is closest to the pyramid. The next mastaba belongs to the vizier (Nebit) and the third to another high official, perhaps again a vizier. Therefore, it can be argued that Sobekemhat's tomb was the earliest of the three. For a long time it was thought that Sobekemhat was vizier, but the relief fragments with the vizier's title come from the mastaba of Nebit nearby.
Nebit was an ancient Egyptian official during the reign of king Senusret III. He held the position of vizier. Thus, he was the most important official at the royal court. Nebit is only known from his large mastaba, which was excavated next to the pyramid of the king at Dahshur. The mastaba was built of mud bricks and then covered with stones. Already in ancient times the high quality stone was looted and used for other building projects or just for burning lime. However, one wall of the mastaba facade had already collapsed and had been covered by sand before looters dismantled the rest of the building. The preserved facade bears the name and title of Nebit, but also the name of the king. Within the remains of the mastaba were found by Jacques de Morgan the bust of a statue made of granodiorite. The fragment is not inscribed but most likely depicts Nebit.
Khnumhotep II was an ancient Egyptian Great Chief of the Oryx nome during the reign of pharaohs Amenemhat II and Senusret II of the 12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom. He is well known for his tomb at Beni Hasan and its decorations.
Khnumhotep I was an ancient Egyptian Great Chief of the Oryx nome during the reign of Pharaoh Amenemhat I of the 12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom.
Amenemhat, often reported with his short form Ameny (Jmnjj), was an ancient Egyptian "Overlord of the Oryx nome" and chief priest during the reign of pharaoh Senusret I of the 12th Dynasty.
The Oryx nome was one of the 42 nomoi in ancient Egypt. The Oryx nome was the 16th nome of Upper Egypt, and was named after the scimitar oryx. It was located, approximately, in the territories surrounding the modern city of Minya in Middle Egypt.
Khety was an ancient Egyptian local governor of the Oryx nome in Middle Egypt in the Twelfth Dynasty. He is only known from his decorated tomb chapel at Beni Hasan. In the decoration of his tomb chapel appear several inscriptions providing the name and titles of Khety. He was great overlord of the entire Oryx nome. This is the main title of the local governors of the Oryx nome. Other titles include count (Haty-a), royal sealer, sole friend, king's acquaintance, who is in the chamber, who belongs to Nekhen and overlord of Nekheb, but also overseer of troops at all secret places. Not much is known about his family. His father was a person called Baqet, his wife was called Khnumhotep and there is one son attested with the name Khety. Naguib Kanawati wonders whether Khety was the son of Baqet III. The latter's tomb and those of Khety share the same plan and are close to each other.
Nakht was an ancient Egyptian local governor in Men'at Khufu in Middle Egypt in the Twelfth Dynasty. He is known from his decorated tomb chapel at Beni Hasan. The decoration of his tomb chapel is most likely unfinished. Only one wall is partly decorated with paintings, showing him standing in front of workers in the marshes. The inscriptions there provide the name and titles of Nakht. He was mayor and overseer of the eastern desert. Nakht is also mentioned in the tomb chapel of Khnumhotep II (BH3). In his chapel is a long biographical inscription reporting on the life of the governor but also on his family. There is stated that Khnumhotep I installed Nakht as governor in Men'at Khufu.
Horkherty was an Ancient Egyptian official of the Twelfth Dynasty under king Senusret III. Horkherty is so far only known from his mastaba found next to the pyramid of the king at Dahshur. North of the Pyramid of Senusret III at Dahshur is a small cemetery belonging to officials serving under the king. The largest tomb there belongs to the treasurer Sobekemhat, a slightly smaller mastaba right next to this one belongs to the vizier Nebit. A third big mastaba belonged to Horkherty. The mastaba is not well preserved. His titles include royal sealer and king's acquaintance. Within his mastaba complex was found the unlooted burial of a woman called Sitwerut, perhaps the wife of Horkherty.
