Khnumhotep IV

Khnumhotep IV
Nomarch of the 16th nome of Upper Egypt
Entrance of Khnumhotep IV's tomb at Beni Hasan
Predecessor	Khnumhotep II
Dynasty	12th Dynasty
Burial	Beni Hasan tomb 4 (BH4) [1]
Father	Khnumhotep II
Mother	Tjat

Khnumhotep IV was an ancient Egyptian local governor buried at Beni Hasan. He was the son of Khnumhotep II and his lesser wife Tjat. He was the half-brother of Khnumhotep III, who made a career at the royal court. ^[2]

Khnumhotep IV is depicted in the tomb of his father Khnumhotep II as heir and successor. He is also known from his own tomb at Beni Hasan. His tomb is unfinished and bears just on the outside a short text with his titles Iry-pat and Haty-a (member of the elite and mayor). He does not bear the classical title of a Great Chief .

Under king Senusret III, the power of local governors was reduced. They could no longer afford larger tombs. Khnumhotep IV is the last known governor buried at Beni Hasan. His small burial clearly shows the decline in power of the local governors. ^[3]

Literature

Percy Newberry, Beni Hasan. (1893) Part I1. London, England: Kegan Paul, Trench, Tubner & Co., Ltd., p.9, plates XXXIX-LX Available online.

References

1. Beni Hasan tomb 4 on “Persons and Names of the Middle Kingdom and early New Kingdom” (PNM)
2. Khnumhotep IV on “Persons and Names of the Middle Kingdom and early New Kingdom” (PNM)
3. Detlef Frankeː The career of Khnumhotep III of Beni Hasan and the so-called "decline of the nomarchs. In Stephen Quirke, (ed.), Middle Kingdom studies, New Malden: SIA ,1991, pp. 51-67.