Second Prophet of Amun

Last updated

The Second Prophet of Amun (hm netjer sen-nu en Amun), also called the Second Priest of Amun, was a high ranking priestly official in the cult of the ancient Egyptian god Amun. The Second Prophet of Amun office was created in the New Kingdom, at the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty.

Contents

History

New Kingdom

Second Propher of Amun Anen. Brother of Queen Tiye. Statue of Anen, second priest of Amon, granodiorite - Museo Egizio Turin C 1377 p03.jpg
Second Propher of Amun Anen. Brother of Queen Tiye.

The office of second prophet of Amun was created in the beginning of the 18th Dynasty during the reign of Ahmose I. A donation stela from Karnak records how king Ahmose purchased the office of Second Prophet of Amun and endowed the position with land, goods and administrators. The position of Second Prophet of Amun was put under the authority of the God's Wife of Amun at its creation. [1]

Made in the presence of the [...officials...] of the territory of Thebes and the temple priesthood of Amun. What was said m hm n stp-si l.p.h. on this day, [saying]: "The office of Second Priest of Amun [shall] belong to the God's Wife, Great Royal Wife, united with the white crown, Ahmose-Nefertari, living; having been made for her in an imyt-pr, from son to son, heir to heir, [without allowing] it [to be interfered by anybody forever and ever. [2]

The endowment was given to Queen Ahmose-Nefertari and her descendants. [3] The record was signed and later confirmed by an oracle. [2] Records from a later era indicate that in this position she would have been responsible for all temple properties, administration of estates, workshops, treasuries and all the associated administration staff. [4]

During the reign of Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III, the Second Prophet was involved in royal constructions at Karnak. The Second Prophet Puimre oversaw the erection of an ebony shrine dedicated to Hatshepsut, the construction of two obelisks for Tuthmosis II and the construction of doors made of Tura limestone. In Puimre's tomb it is shown that he additionally was in charge of receiving goods from oases and tribute from Nubia, including captives. [5]

Third Intermediate Period

Under the High Priests of Amun Piankh and Pinedjem I in the Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt the position of Second Prophet was taken up by relatives of the High Priests. From the time of Menkheperre on the positions of 2nd, 3rd and 4th Prophet of Amun were not taken up by the family of the High Priest of Amun. The positions were given to local Theban nobles, who would often marry into the family of the High Priest. [6]

During the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt the Nubian rulers broke the hold of the local families on these priestly positions. Shabaqo appointed Kelbasken as 4th prophet and later his son Haremakhet as High Priest of Amun. Taharqa appointed his son Nesishutefnut as Second Prophet of Amun. [7]

Notable Second Prophets of Amun

NameImageTime PeriodComment
Ahmose-Nefertari
Ahmosenefertari.jpg
18th DynastyWife of Ahmose I and mother of Amenhotep I
Puimre [5]
Second Prophet of AmunSecond Prophet of AmunSecond Prophet of AmunSecond Prophet of AmunSecond Prophet of Amun
Second Prophet of Amun
18th Dynastyson-in-law of High Priest of Amun Hapuseneb
Ahmose18th DynastyBuried in Theban Tomb 121. He may have served in Deir el-Bahari instead of at Karnak.
Menkheperreseneb II
Statue Menkheperraseneb EA708 Budge.jpg
18th DynastyKnown from a statue in the British Museum. From the reigns of Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III.
Neferhotep [5]
Second Prophet of AmunSecond Prophet of Amun
Second Prophet of AmunSecond Prophet of Amun
18th DynastySon of Vizier Rekhmire. He may have served in Deir el-Bahari instead of at Karnak.
Merymaat [5] 18th DynastyGrandson of Vizier Amethu called Ahmose, likely reign of Tuthmosis III.
Mahu18th DynastyMahu is shown in the tomb of Pehsukher called Thenenu - TT 88 - in Thebes. [5] Pehsukher's life and career spanned the reigns of Thutmosis III and Amenhotep II.
Amunhotep Sise18th DynastyReign of Thutmose IV, buried in TT 75
Nefer18th Dynastyreign of Amunhotep II - Amunhotep III
Anen
Statue Aanen Turin.JPG
18th DynastyBrother of Queen Tiye. [1] Buried in TT120 in Thebes.
Simut
Wilkinson simut.jpg
18th DynastySuccessor of Anen; end of the reign of Amenhotep III. [1]
Ay (Yii)
Block Statue of Ay, ca. 1336-1327 B.C.E. 66.174.1.jpg
18th DynastyKnown from a statue in Brooklyn Museum, time of Tutankhamun and Ay [8]
Roma called Roy
GraniteStatueOfRoy-BritishMuseum-August19-08.jpg
19th DynastyServed as Second prophet before becoming high priest. Served during the reign of Ramesses II.
Bakenkhons I
Statue of Bakenkhonsu 2017-09-12.jpg
19th DynastySon of Roma-Roy
Hornakht
Egyptian - Statue of a Standard Bearer - Hor-nakht - Walters 22105.jpg
20th DynastyBuried in TT236
Nesamun 20th Dynasty; Renaissance era; ca 1074 BC [6] son of Ramessesnakht, High Priest of Amun and brother of Amenhotep, High Priest of Amun.
Heqanefer [9] 21st Dynasty; ca 1070 BC [6] Son of High Priest of Amun Piankh and brother of the High Priest of Amun Pinedjem I
Amunhirpamesha?21st Dynasty; ca 1040 BC [6] May be a Second Prophet of Amun from the reign of Smendes I? [6]
Smendes II
Nesbanebdjed II statuette Petrie.png
21st DynastySon of the High Priest of Amun Menkheperre was Second Prophet of Amun before he became High Priest of Amun according to the El-Hibeh archive. [10]
Tjanefer (A)21st Dynasty; ca 975 BCSon-in-law of High Priest of Amun Menkheperre. Served mainly as Third Prophet of Amun, but may have once been attested as Second Prophet of Amun. Tjanefer was buried in TT 158. [10]
Djed-ptah-ef-ankh (A)
Mummy Djedptahiufankh Smith.jpg
22nd Dynasty; ca 945-935 BCKnown from his burial in the royal cache DB320. He is listed as King's Son of Ramesses indicating that he may be related to the royal family of the 21st dynasty. He likely died during the reign of Shoshenq I. [10]
Bakenamun22nd DynastyKnown from inscriptions from a chapel of Thoth and Amun at Karnak. Dated to the time of either Osorkon I or Osorkon II. [10]
Pashereniset (Pa-Khered-(en)-Iset)Known from shabtis and canopics jars (now in Cairo), originally found at Tehneh. [10]
Harsiese (C)
Statue CG42210 Legrain.png
23rd Dynasty; ca 855 BC [6] son of Nakhtefmut [10]
Djed-ptah-ef-ankh (D)23rd Dynasty ca 835 BC [6] son of Takelot III [10]
Nes-hor-bedjet23rd Dynasty; ca 740 BC [6] Reign of Takelot III
Djed-khons-ef-ankh (C)23rd DynastySon of Harsiese (C). Possibly 2PA - according to Bierbrier. [10]
Patjenfy
Stele CG46916 Engelbach.jpg
25th Dynasty; ca720-700 BCReign of Shabaqo
Nesi-shu-tefnut25th Dynasty; ca 680 BCSon of Taharqa [7]
Neshorbedjet26th Dynasty; ca 650-640 BC

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thebes, Egypt</span> Ancient Egyptian city

Thebes, known to the ancient Egyptians as Waset, was an ancient Egyptian city located along the Nile about 800 kilometers (500 mi) south of the Mediterranean. Its ruins lie within the modern Egyptian city of Luxor. Thebes was the main city of the fourth Upper Egyptian nome and was the capital of Egypt for long periods during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom eras. It was close to Nubia and the Eastern Desert, with its valuable mineral resources and trade routes. It was a religious center and the most venerated city during many periods of ancient Egyptian history. The site of Thebes includes areas on both the eastern bank of the Nile, where the temples of Karnak and Luxor stand and where the city was situated; and the western bank, where a necropolis of large private and royal cemeteries and funerary complexes can be found. In 1979, the ruins of ancient Thebes were classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmose I</span> Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt

Ahmose I was a pharaoh and founder of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, classified as the first dynasty of the New Kingdom of Egypt, the era in which ancient Egypt achieved the peak of its power. He was a member of the Theban royal house, the son of pharaoh Seqenenre Tao and brother of the last pharaoh of the Seventeenth Dynasty, Kamose. During the reign of his father or grandfather, Thebes rebelled against the Hyksos, the rulers of Lower Egypt. When he was seven years old, his father was killed, and he was about ten when his brother died of unknown causes after reigning only three years. Ahmose I assumed the throne after the death of his brother, and upon coronation became known as Nebpehtyre, nb-pḥtj-rꜥ "The Lord of Strength is Ra".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmose (queen)</span> Queen consort of Egypt

Ahmose was an Ancient Egyptian queen in the Eighteenth Dynasty. She was the Great Royal Wife of the dynasty's third pharaoh, Thutmose I, and the mother of the queen and pharaoh Hatshepsut. Her name means "Born of the Moon".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amenhotep I</span> Second Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt

Amenhotep I or Amenophis I, was the second Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. His reign is generally dated from 1526 to 1506 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmose-Nefertari</span> Ancient Egyptian queen consort

Ahmose-Nefertari was the first Great Royal Wife of the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. She was a daughter of Seqenenre Tao and Ahhotep I, and royal sister and wife to Ahmose I. Her son Amenhotep I became pharaoh and she may have served as his regent when he was young. Ahmose-Nefertari was deified after her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God's Wife of Amun</span> Highest-ranking priestess of the Amun cult

God's Wife of Amun was the highest-ranking priestess of the Amun cult, an important religious institution in ancient Egypt. The cult was centered in Thebes in Upper Egypt during the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth dynasties. The office had political importance as well as religious, since the two were closely related in ancient Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dra' Abu el-Naga'</span> Village and archaeological site in Egypt

The necropolis of Draʻ Abu el-Naga' is located on the West Bank of the Nile at Thebes, Egypt, just by the entrance of the dry bay that leads up to Deir el-Bahari and north of the necropolis of el-Assasif. The necropolis is located near the Valley of the Kings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El-Khokha</span> Necropolis of ancient Thebes, Egypt

The necropolis of El-Khokha is located on the west bank of the river Nile at Thebes, Egypt. The necropolis is surrounds a hill and has five Old Kingdom tombs and over 50 tombs from the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties as well as some from the First Intermediate Period and the Late Period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmose-Meritamun</span>

Ahmose-Meritamun was a Queen of Egypt during the early Eighteenth Dynasty. She was both the older sister and the wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep I. She died fairly young and was buried in tomb TT358 in Deir el-Bahari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neferure</span> Daughter of pharaohs Hatshepsut and Thutmose II

Neferure or Neferura was an Egyptian princess of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. She was the daughter of two pharaohs, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II. She served in high offices in the government and the religious administration of Ancient Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sennefer</span> Ancient Egyptian mayor

The ancient Egyptian noble Sennefer was "Mayor of the City" and "Overseer of the Granaries and Fields, Gardens and Cattle of Amun" during the reign of Amenhotep II of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Being a favourite of the king he accumulated great wealth. He was also allowed to place a double statue of himself and his wife in the temple at Karnak. The famous garden plan, often described as Sennefer's Garden, is more likely to be of a garden which Sennefer managed, and perhaps designed, than to be of a garden which Sennefer owned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TT39</span> Theban tomb

The Theban Tomb TT39 is located in El-Khokha, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. It is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian official, Puimre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Priest of Amun</span> Priestly title in ancient Egypt

The High Priest of Amun or First Prophet of Amun was the highest-ranking priest in the priesthood of the ancient Egyptian god Amun. The first high priests of Amun appear in the New Kingdom of Egypt, at the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty.

Amun was a major ancient Egyptian deity who appears as a member of the Hermopolitan Ogdoad. Amun was attested from the Old Kingdom together with his wife Amunet. With the 11th Dynasty, Amun rose to the position of patron deity of Thebes by replacing Montu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bakenkhonsu</span>

Bakenkhonsu was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Information about his life was found on the back of his block statue. The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simut</span> Ancient Egyptian priest, Second Prophet of Amun

Simut or Samut was an ancient Egyptian priest who held the position of Second Prophet of Amun towards the end of the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. He is known from a number of objects, including his, Theban tomb chapel Tomb A.24.

Amethu called Ahmose was a vizier of ancient Egypt. He served during the reign of Thutmose II and the early years of the reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III of the 18th Dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TT19</span> Theban Tomb

The Theban Tomb TT19 is located in Dra' Abu el-Naga', part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. It is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian Amenmose, who was the high priest of Amenhotep of the Forecourt during the early Nineteenth Dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt</span> Dynasty of Egypt from c. 1550 to 1292 BCE

The Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt is classified as the first dynasty of the New Kingdom of Egypt, the era in which ancient Egypt achieved the peak of its power. The Eighteenth Dynasty spanned the period from 1550/1549 to 1292 BC. This dynasty is also known as the Thutmosid Dynasty for the four pharaohs named Thutmose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TT121</span> Tomb in Theban Necropolis

The Theban Tomb TT120 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. It forms part of the Theban Necropolis, situated on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor. The tomb is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian official Ahmose, who was the second prophet of Amun-Ra at Karnak and later the first prophet of Amun at Henqet-Ankh, the mortuary temple of Tuthmosis III at Qurnah during the reign of the Tuthmosis III.

References

  1. 1 2 3 O'Connor, David and Cline, Eric H. Amenhotep III: Perspectives on His Reign, University of Michigan Press. 2001, pp 209-210 ISBN   978-0472088331
  2. 1 2 Gary J. Shaw, The meaning of the phrase M ḤM N STP-Sⳍ, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 96 (2010), pp. 175-190, Egypt Exploration Society, Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23269763
  3. Tyldesley, Joyce. Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt. Thames & Hudson. 2006. ISBN   0-500-05145-3
  4. "The Great Goddesses of Egypt, Barbara S. Lesko, p. 246, University of Oklahoma Press, 1999, ISBN   0-8061-3202-7
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Eric H. Cline, David B. O'Connor, Thutmose III: A New Biography, University of Michigan Press, 2006
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kitchen, Kenneth A. The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt, 1100-650 B.C. (Book & Supplement) Aris & Phillips. 1986 ISBN   978-0856682988
  7. 1 2 Morkot, Robert G., The Black Pharaohs: Egypt's Nubian Rulers, The Rubicon Press, 2000, pp 236-237 ISBN   0-948695-24-2
  8. Block Statue of Ay. Brooklyn Museum
  9. Peter Keegan, Graffiti in Antiquity, Routledge, Oct 10, 2014
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gerard P.F. Broekman,The leading Theban Priests of Amun and their families under Libyan Rule, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 96 (2010), pp. 125-148, Egypt Exploration Society, Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23269760