God's Wife of Amun
The God's Wife of Amun was the highest ranking priestess in the cult of
Amun. She was associated with the temple of Amun in Karnak. When Queen
Ahmose Nefertari was given the position of God's Wife, land and
property was endowed for this priestly position.
The Divine adoratrix was a priestess ranking slightly below the God's
Wife and she may have served as a deputy or stand in for the God's
Wife. The position of God's Wife of Amun was reserved for royal
women. The position was usually given to the mother of the king (in the
earlier part of the new kingdom) or to the daughter of a king.
The position of divine adoratrix could be held by non-royal women as
well.
God's Wife (of Amun) - hmt ntjr (en imn)
Divine Adoratrix - dwat ntjr
God's Hand - djrt ntjr
18th dynasty
Sit-ir-bau: Royal woman from the early 18th or late 17th
dynasty
depicted in the tomb of Khabeknet.
Titles: God's Wife (hmt-ntr), Lady of The
Two Lands (nbt-t3wy) [Grajetski, Kitchen: Ramesside Inscriptions Vol
III]
Ta-khered-qa: Royal woman from the early 18th or
late 17th
dynasty depicted in the tomb of Khabeknet.
Titles: God's Wife (hmt-ntr), Lady of The Two
Lands (nbt-t3wy) [Grajetski, Kitchen: Ramesside Inscriptions Vol III]
Close-up of a scene in the tomb
of Khabeknet. The four ladies on the left are all God's Wives.
From left to right: [...], Ta-khered-qa, Sit-ir-bau, and
Kamose (same as Sit-Kamose?)
From Lepsius, Abt
3, Band 5, Bl. 2
Ahhotep I : Wife of Seqenenre Tao II and mother of
Ahmose. The title God’s Wife only appears on her coffin.
Ahmose Nefertari: Daughter of Seqenenre Tao II and
sister-wife of Ahmose. She was the first God’s Wife of Amun and was the
female counterpart of the High Priest of Amun.
Betsy Bryan, Property and the God’s
Wives of Amun, Johns Hopkins University, pdf
file
Ahmose-Nefertari and her son
Amenhotep I as depicted in a tomb in Qurna.
Ahmose Nefertari had the title God's Wife. See Lepsius Abt
III, Band 7, Bl. 99
Sit-Kamose: probably a daughter of Kamose. May have
become a God's Wife only posthumously. A lady called Kamose is depicted
in the tomb of Khabeknet. She is named:
God's Wife, Lady of Both Lands, Kamose, may she live. [Kitchen:
Ramesside Inscriptions Vol III]
Meryetamun: Daughter of Ahmose and sister-wife of
Amenhotep I. Her tomb was found in the hills of Thebes.
On her coffin is an inscription identifying her: "the King gives a boon to Osiris, the
Great God, Lord of Abydos, that he may cause to come forth at the call,
bread and beer, beef and fowl, bandages, incense and unguents and
all things good and pure on which a god lives, and the sweet north
wind, for the spirit of the King's Daughter and Sister, the God's Wife,
the King's Great Wife, joined to the Crown of Upper Egypt. Mistress of
the Two Lands, Meryet-Amun true of voice with Osiris."
From: The Egyptian Expedition 1928-1929: The Museum's
Excavations at Thebes by H. E. Winlock
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 11, (Nov., 1929),
pp. 1+3-34.
(Ahmose-)Sitamun: daughter of Ahmose and possibly (?)
represented as a
colossal statue in front of the eight pylon at Karnak. A bracelet
inscribed for "The God's Wife
Sitamun, beloved of Amun" on one side and "The God's Wife, Ahmose Nefertari, beloved
of Amun-Ra" on the other side is in the collection of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. From: Egyptian
Art, by C. Lilyquist, Notable Acquisitions (Metropolitan Museum
of Art) (1980)
Hatshepsut: Daughter of Tuthmosis I and Queen Ahmose.
From this time period:
TT 224 - Ahmose Humay, Overseer of
the
estate of the God's Wife, Overseer of the double granaries of the God's
Wife
Ahmose-Nefertary Temp. Tuthmosis III - Hatshepsut Parents:
Senusert and Taidy; Wife: Nub (Royal
concubine)
Neferure: Daughter of Tuthmosis II and Queen-Pharaoh
Hatshepsut. Possibly wife of Tuthmosis III
Seniseneb:
divine
adoratrice of Amun and a temple singer.
Seniseneb was the daughter of the High Priest of Amun and Vizier
Hapuseneb and his wife Ahhotep. Seniseneb married the second priest of
Amun Puyemre. Thutmose III: A New
Biography, by O’Conner
and Cline (eds) pg. 107, 110
Isis: Mother of Tuthmosis III. Received the title of GW
after her death.
Sitiah: Wife of Tuthmosis III in the early part of his
reign.
Huy:
Divine Adoratrix.
Mother of Queen Merytre Hatshepsut. Known from a statue depciting Huy
with several of her grand-children. On the statue the inscription reads:
Favorite
Loved one of the Lord of the Two Lands, Superior of the harem in the
Temple of [Amen], Superior of the harem in the Temple of Re, Divine
adoratrix of [Amen], Divine adoratrix in the Temple of Atum, She Who Bore the God's Wife and
the King's Principal Wife
Merytre-Hatshepsut:
Titles:
Hereditary Princess (iryt-p`t), Sole One, Great
of Praises (wrt-hzwt-w’tit), King’s Mother (mwt-niswt),
Lady
of The Two Lands (nbt-t3wy), King’s Wife (hmt-nisw),
Great
King’s Wife (hmt-niswt-wrt), God’s Wife (hmt-ntr), God’s
Hand
(djrt-ntr). Wife of Tuthmosis III. She was the daughter
of the Divine Adoratrix Huy.
Merytre (Hatshepsut) with her son Amenhotep II.
Her titles here are: King’s Mother ( mwt-niswt),
Great
King’s Wife ( hmt-niswt-wrt),
God’s Wife ( hmt-ntr), God’s
Hand
( djrt-ntr) (TT72)
Merytamun: Daughter of Tuthmosis III and
Merytre-Hatshepsut. Depicted in the Hathor shrine behind her father
Tuthmosis.
The God's Wife Merytamen
depicted behind her father Tuthmosis III.
Image from: The Egyptian
Expedition 1928-1929: The Museum's Excavations at Thebes by H. E.
Winlock
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 11, (Nov., 1929)
Tiaa: Wife of Amenhotep II and mother of Tuthmosis IV.
From this time period we have Hety, Steward of the
god's wife of Amun, Scribe, and
Counter of cattle of the God's Wife of Amun. He was the son of
Nebnufer and Men. His father was also a "Counter of
cattle of
the God's Wife of Amun". Hety was married to the lady Nefertary. Hety
was
buried in TT151.
Maetka, Divine Adoratrix
of Amun Time of Amenhotep III.
Maetka was the wife
of Senena,
Head goldsmith
of Amun. She is mentioned inTheban Tomb TT169, the tomb of her husband.
[Porter and Moss]
[...] Unidentified God's
Wife and God's Hand depicted in Luxor. A priestess - only described as
God's Wife and God's Hand - appears behind Amenhotep III. For a more
complete picture of this scene see: History of God's Wives, by Karl Leser.
link
Unidentified God's Wife from the time of
Amenhotep III.
[...Mut...] Unidentified God's Wife
known from a statue from the temple of Hathor at Dendera. Her titles
include God's Wife, King's Chief Wife,
His Beloved, and
Mistress of the Two Lands.
Other epithets include: 'causing hearts to be joyful', 'Sovereign Lady
exalted with the Two Feathers', 'soothing her Lord (or Horus, i.e. the
King) with her voice'.
Her name includes the glyphs for Mut and speculation about her identity
ranges from Mutemwia, to Mutnodjemet, to Mut-Tuya, to
Nefertari-Merytmut. Aldred suggested this might be Mutnodjemet,
Horemheb's Queen. He based his theory on the fact that the style of
dress points to a post Amarna period Queen, which excludes Mutemwia.
The titles and epithets are closer to those of the Amarna period and
would then point to Mutnodjemet. There is no other evidence that
Mutnodjemet served in the capacity of God's Wife. (See also Cyril Aldred: Two
Monuments of the Reign of
Horemheb,
The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 54. (Aug., 1968), pp.
100-106.
)
Back of the
statue of the God's Wife of Amun from the Temple of Hathor at Dendera
(click on picture for larger image).
On the right the staue shown as it lies on the temple grounds. The
ribbons of the sash are visible.
It appears as though the Queen was shown in a striding position.
(Photos courtesy of Sesen)
19th and 20th
Dynasty
Sitre: She was the wife of Ramses I and the mother of
Seti I.
She may have been named Tia before her husband came to the throne
(according to
the 400 year stela.) Her titles include: God’s Wife (hmt-ntr), Great
King’s Wife, his beloved (hmt-niswt-wrt
meryt.f), Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt (hnwt-Shm’w-mhw)
(Mut-)Tuy: Wife of Seti I and mother of Ramesses II. Her
title of God's Wife is mentioned on her Vatican Statue, blocks from
Tanis, a statue from Medinet Habu (originally the Ramesseum), an
inscription from the Ramesseum, and the inscriptions from the great
temple of Abu Simbel. [Kitchen,
Ramesside Inscriptions, Vol II]
Nefertari-Merymut: Wife of Ramesses II. Nefertari may have been the de facto God's Wife. This
theory is based on epithets in her tomb, on scarabs, on a fragment of a
statue from Dendara (PM V, 115), her insignia, and the designation of
the royal couple as incarnations on earth of the divine couple
Amun(-Re) and Mut(-Hathor). Kichen mentions
she is attested twice as God's wife in her tomb QV66. [Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions, Vol II]
?Merytamun: Daughter-Wife of Ramesses II. She was the
daughter
of Nefertari-Merymut. Merytamun was "Superior of the Harem of
Amun-Ra". It's not certain that she also served as God's Wife. There is
an interesting vase at the Louvre belonging to a great royal wife
Merytamen. The Louvre website identifies the lady as the daughter-wife
of Ramesses II. Above the great royal wife title are some glyphs that
see to identify the lady as a god's wife, or maybe sister of a god's
wife? It's possible this vase belongs to a Queen Merytamun from the
18th dynasty instead.
Vase belonging to a Queen Merytamen. (Louvre
N 465) - Found in Saqqara.
Tawosret: King’s Great Wife, Lady of the Two Lands,
Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt, God’s Wife
Wife of Sety II, Regent for Siptah and later declared pharaoh in her
own right.
Temple of Amada : Tawosret is depicted on one of the doorjambs and her
titles are God’s Wife and Great King’s Wife. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 183]
Isis-Ta-Hemdjert: King’s Great Wife, King’s Mother, God’s
Wife
Wife of Ramesses III and mother of Ramesses IV. Participated in the
installation of her grand-daughter Iset as God’s Wife of Amun.
[Dodson-Hilton, pg 192]
(Dua)Tentopet: Adoratrix, King’s Daughter, King’s Wife,
King’s Mother.
Tentopet was the wife of Ramesses IV. Only seems to have been an
adoratrix and never a God’s Wife. Buried in Queens valley tomb QV74.
[Dodson-Hilton, pg 192]
Isis: (Iset, Aset)
King’s Daughter, Adoratrix, God’s Wife of Amun
Daughter of Ramesses VI. Depicted as an adoratrix on a stela from
Koptos. The title is incorporated into her cartouche on this monument,
rendering her name as Duat-Netjer-Iset. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 190] Her
installation as God’s Wife of Amun is mentioned on a block from Karnak.
[Dodson-Hilton, image of inscription on pg 193
Tyti: King’s Daughter, King’s Sister, King’s Wife, King’s
Mother, God’s Wife.
Possibly wife of Ramesses X. Buried in QV 52 in the Valley of the
Queens [Dodson-Hilton]
21st dynasty and later
Maatkare (prenomen Mutemhat) King’s Daughter of his body,
Adoratrix, God’s Wife of Amun.
Daughter of Pinudjem I and Queen Henuttawy. Mentioned as God’s Wife of
Amun on the façade of the Khonsu temple in Karnak. Her mummy and
funerary equipment were found in DB320. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 197, 206]
This scene is also mentioned by Wente. He states that performs
"She performs alone in the presence of Amon-Re and Khonsu. In one case
her titles are r-p't(t),w 'rt hsw't,
hmt-ntr
n 'Imn m 'Ipt-sw't, s't-nsw n
kt. f, nbt t'wy, Hereditary princess, great of favors, God's
Wife of Amun in Karnak, king's bodily daughter, Lady of the Two Lands,
and in the other hmt-ntrn 'Imn m
'Ipt-swt, s't-nsw n (ht.f), nbt t'wy, God's Wife of Amun in
Karnak, king's (bodily) daughter, Lady of the Two Lands." (On the Chronology of the Twenty-First
Dynasty E. F. Wente
Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 26, No. 3. (Jul., 1967), pp.
155-176.)
Also known from a shabti from University College London - UC39863
Henuttawy: God’s Wife of Amun and Adoratrix.
Possibly a daughter of Pinudjem II and Isetemkheb. Her name is written
with the adoratrix title In the cartouche as Duat-netjer-Henuttawy.
Only known from several shabtis. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 205]
Karomama Meryetmut (prenomen: Sitamen Mutemhat): God’s
Wife of Amun, Lady of the Two Lands, Adoratrix.
Possibly a daughter of Osorkon II. Karomama served as God’s Wife of
Amun under Osorkon II and his successors. [Dodson-Hilton pg 217, 219-20]
Bronze statue of Karomama now in the Louvre (N500)
The statue depicts Karomama with a short Nubian style wig. A uraeus
must have decorated the front of the wig, but was broken off. Her hands
are held out in front of her and it looks as though they would have
grasped something. She wears an elaborate dress which is made to
resemble wings encircling her body. This statue was dedicated by her
treasurer Ahentefnakhte. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 220]
The God's Wife Karomama (Jon
Bodsworth)
Usurped statue from the 18th dynasty.
The statue depicts a priest holding a Naos. This statue was usurped by
a 22nd dynasty priest and the scene changed to depict Karomama
Meryetmut. Karomama shakes two sistra beore a seated statue of Amen-Re
who is depicted with a Ram’s head and two double plumes. Karomama wears
a long pleated dress. She wears a short Nubian style wig with a uraeus
on her brow. Her modius is by a fairly large vulture whose outstretched
wings seem to protect a crowned cobra. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 219]
? Tashakheper: The God’s Wife Tashakheper is mentioned in
grafitto in the temple of Khonsu under Takelot III. She may be a
daughter of Osorkon II. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 223] She may have served for
only a very short time. A possible date would be ca. 770 BC [Kitchen]
Shepenwepet I (prenomen: Khnemet-ib-amun):
Shepenwepet, Khnemet-ib-Amun
Daughter of
Osorkon III and Queen Karoatjet. Titles: King’s Daughter, Adoratrix,
God’s Wife of Amun. Served as God’s Wife from the beginning of her
father’s reign [Dodson-Hilton, pg 231].
Temple of Osiris Heqadjet (Karnak): The inner shrine shows the
coronation of Osorkon III and Takelot III. Shepenwepet I is depicted
being suckled by a goddess and being crowned (Morkot)
Two different depictions of
Shepenwepet I from the Temple of Osiris Heqadjet from Karnak.
Line drawings after photographs from KMT Journal Article.
Amenirdis I (Prenomen: Khaneferumut):
Hieroglyphics spelling out the
names of Amenirdis Khaneferumut.
Created by Jean Rijlant. For
full titles and inscriptions see Amenirdis
King’s daughter
(sat-nesw), God’s Adoratrix (dwat-netjer), God’s Hand (djeret-netjer),
God’s Wife of Amun (hemet netjer-en-amun).
Daughter of Kashta and Queen Pebatjma, Sister of Shabaka and likely
sister of Piye, Queen Khensa, Queen Peksater and princess
Neferukakashta. (Dodson-Hilton, Pg 238)
Amenirdis was installed in Thebes as the heiress to Shepenwepet I by
either Kashta (her father) or Piye. As heiress she would have been
given the title of Adorer of the God (dwat-netjer). It is not known
when Shepenwepet I died and Amenirdis became God’s Wife, but it may
have been during the reign of Shabaqa. At that time Amenirdis had
adopted her niece Shepenwepet II, daughter of Piye as her successor.
Amenirdis died during the reign of Taharqa. She was succeeded by
Shepenwepet II (Morkot)
Amenirdis before Amun; On the
right: line drawing of Amenirdis.
(Photo by Alain Guilleux - for
more detail and more pictures see: temple
of Amenirdis)
Temple of Osiris Heqadjet (Karnak): Shebitqo (Shabataqa) and Amenirdis
add a small court and a pylon to this temple. Amenirdis as shown with
Shebitqo making offerings to Amun.
Wadi Hamamat: Inscriptions dated to year 12 of Shabaqo can be found and
some also mention Amenirdis. [Dodson-Hilton]
Statue of Amenirdis from Karnak, now in the Cairo Museum (CM CG565):
Amenirdis is depicted wearing a tripartite wig, with a vulture
headdress and three uraei on her brow. She wears a fairly simple sheet
dress and carries a fly whisk in her left hand. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 235]
See also: Alain
Guilleux - page for wonderful full length image.
Burial: Funerary Chapel in Medinet Habu
Amenirdis
I (British Museum)
Statue of Amenirdis in the Aswan Museum.
Amenirdis is depicted with the vulture headdress, a modius and the
double plumes combined with the horned sundisk.
The face of the statue is sadly damaged. This image is courtesy of
Alain Guilleux. More detailed and full length images appear on his
website (link)
From this time period we have:
TT37 - Harwa, Chief Steward
of the God's Wife Amenardis I. Saite Period. (25th dyn)
Parents:
Pedemut (Scribe) and Estaweret.
Shepenwepet II (Prenomen: Henut-neferumut-iryetre):
Hieroglyphics spelling out the
names of Shepenwepet Henut-neferumut-iryetre.
Created by Jean Rijlant. For
more inscriptions see: Shepenwepet
II
Daughter of Piye. She was a (half-)sister of King Taharqa, Queen
Qalhata (wife of Shabaka) as well as sister to several of Taharqa’s
wives. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 240] Served as God’s Wife from the reign of
Taharqa until after year
9 of Psamtik I.
Sphinx of Shepenwepet II from
the sacred lake at Karnak now in Berlin (7972):
Shepenwepet has
the body of a lion, but she is depicted with human arms and hands which
are stretched out and are holding a ram-headed jar. She wears what
seems like a Hathor like wig.
Inscription at Wadi Gasus:
Psamtik is shown offering to Amun-Min. Behind him stands his daughter
the adoratrix Neithiqert, behind her stands the God’s Wife Shepenwepet
(II). Shepenwepet has the titles God’s Wife and “her Mother” (hmt ntjr
and mut-s). Above and to the right of this inscription are the
cartouches of the God’s Wife Shepenwepet and the Adoratrix Amenirdis
with the years 19 and 12 associated with them. These inscriptions seem
to refer to Shepenwepet I and Amenirdis I. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 242]
Shepenwepet II, Alexandria Museum
From Wikimedia
See also base of statue from digitalegypt
with inscription: Words spoken, O
Osiris divine adoractrice Shepenwepet, true of voice, your sister Isis
comes to you rejoicing through love of you when she sees you. When your
steps approach (?) her, she protects you. You should not drown. She
(gives) for you breath for your nostrils that you may live, the Osiris
(...) Shepenwepet, true of voice, king's daughter of Piy.
Also in the collection are a shabti UC40089,
A brick UC14843,
and A cartouche UC
14742
Amenirdis II:
Name and title of Amenirdis II
Created by Jean Rijlant, from Amenirdis
II
Daughter of Taharqa. Titles: King’s
Daughter, Adoratrix, God’s Hand.
Adopted as heir by Shepenwepet II. Amenirdis II then adopted Neitiqret
I as her own heir in year 9 of Psamtik I. At the death of Shepenwepet
II, the title of God’s Wife passed over Amenirdis and the position went
to Neitiqret. Amenirdis seems to have remained in office as Adoratrix.
[Dodson-Hilton, pg 238]
Lintel from Karnak (Temple of
Osiris Pedeankh?) (CM JE29254B)
From left to right we see:
The Adoratrix Shepenwepet (IV) before Amen-Re.
The God’s hand Amenirdis (II) before Amen-Re and Mut:
Amenirdis is depicted with the vulture headdress and double plumes.
She’s offering Maat to Amen-Re and Mut. She’s identified as God’s Hand
Amenirdis, King’s daughter [..]djrt-ntjr (Imn-r-di-s)| sat nsw [..]
The God’s Wife Neithiqret before Amen-re and another god.
The Adoratrix Shepenwepet (IV) before Amen-Re. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 244]
A base of a statue UC14739
records the titles Divine Adoratrix and God's Wife for Amenirdis.
Dodson A, The problem of Amenirdis
II and the heirs to the office of God's wife of Amun during the
twenty-sixth dynasty, Journal of Egyptian archaeology,
2002, vol. 88, pp. 179-186
Facade of tombs mentioning
Shepenwepet, Neitiqret and Psamtik.
For more detail see: Lepsius, Abt
III, Band 8, Page 270
For more images see: Lepsius, Abt
III, Band 8, Page 271 and
Lepsius, Abt
III, Band 8, Page 272
Neitiqert (Nitokris) Shepenwepet III prenomen: Nebetneferumut
Neithiqret merymut,
Neb(et)neferumut
Daughter of Psamtik I and Queen Mehytenweskhet
Lintel from Karnak (Temple of
Osiris Pedeankh?) (CM JE29254B)
From left to right we see:
The Adoratrix Shepenwepet (IV) before Amen-Re.
The God’s hand Amenirdis (II) before Amen-Re and Mut:
The God’s Wife Neithiqret before Amen-re and another god.
Neithiqret wears the vulture headdress and double plumes. She is
offering Maat to the Gods. She’s identified as God’s Wife
Neithiqret, King’s Daughter (of) Psamtik (I).
The Adoratrix Shepenwepet (IV) before Amen-Re.
[Dodson-Hilton, pg 244]
A shabti
This object can be found in the collection of University College
London, UC38078
Temple lintel (from Karnak ?)
The lintel shows Necho II, Nitocris I, and Pedehorresnet (c.f. TT196)
before several gods and goddesses
Cairo, Egyptian Museum, Temp. No. 28.5.25.4. (This scene seems to
date to the time of Necho II)
(Topological bibliography - Reliefs and Paintings by Malek)
A lintel (from a temple ?)
The inscription shows cartouches of Nitocris I (daughter of Psamtik I)
and Shepenwepet II, God’s wife. Dated to the time of Psamtik I (London,
Charles Ede Ltd) (Topological
bibliography - Reliefs and Paintings by Malek)
Temple relief
Two Nile gods are shown carrying trays with offerings The
inscriptions include cartouches of Nitocris I (now in the Robert
McDougall Art Gallery.)
(Topological bibliography - Reliefs and Paintings by Malek)
Nitocris/Shepenwepet before
Amun in TT279 - the tomb of Pabes
(Photo by Alain Guilleux - for
more info see Pabes
page)
From this time period we have:
TT36 - Ibi:
Chief steward of the Divine Adoratrix (likely Nitocris), Late Period
temple-tomb Temp. Psametik I.
Parents: Ankh-hor (Divine Father) and De-ubasteiri; Wife: Shepenernute.
Sons: Pedehor[resnet] and Pedepeneferenirtef. Nitocris and
Shepenwepet are mentioned in the tomb.
TT
279 - Pabes,
Chief steward of the god's wife, Temp. Psametik I. Parents:
Pedubaste (Divine father, beloved of the god) and Tasentenhor.
Son: Tahorpakhepesh Nitocris
is mentioned in the Tomb.
Shepenwepet IV
Possibly a daughter of King Nekau II and Queen
Khedeb-neith-hirbinet. Served as God’s Adoratix.
Lintel from Karnak (Temple of
Osiris Pedeankh?) (CM JE29254B)
From left to right we see:
The Adoratrix Shepenwepet (IV) before Amen-Re.
Shepenwepet is shown shaking two sistra before Amen-Ra. She’s shown
with the High Steward of the Adoratrix Pedihorresnet. Shepenwepet wears
the vulture headdress and double plumes.
The God’s hand Amenirdis (II) before Amen-Re and Mut:
The God’s Wife Neithiqret before Amen-re and another god.
The Adoratrix Shepenwepet (IV) before Amen-Re.
[Dodson-Hilton, pg 244]
Ankhenesneferibre (Prenomen: Hekaneferumerymut):
Ankhnesneferibre
Hekaneferu-merymut
Daughter of Psamtik
II and Queen Takhuit. Titles: King’s Daughter of his Body, Great of
Sceptre, God’s Wife of Amun, High Priest(ess) of Amun.
Adopted by Neitiqret as recorded on a stela in Karnak. Became God’s
Wife of Amun in year 4 of the
reign of her brother Wahibre. After her father’s accession she was
given the title of High Priest of Amun. The post of High Priest seems
to have been vacant after Harkhebi served in that role during the reign
of Psamtik I. [Dodson-Hilton]
On the left we see Psamtik
before Amun and Mut.
On the right Ankhnesneferibre
(followed by the steward Seshonq) stands before Amun and Khons.
The Adoption Stela, from: Leahy A., The adoption of Ankhnesneferibre
at Karnak
Sarcophagus Lid now in the
British Museum (BM EA32)

The black basalt lid shows the God’s wife carrying a crook
and flail.
She wears a beautiful pleated robe and wears the vulture headdress
topped with the double plumes as well as the horned sun-disk.
[Dodson-Hilton, pg 245]
Statue of Ankhnesneferibre from
Karnak, now in the Nubian Museum)
Ankhnesneferibre is depicted with a short Nubian style wig. She has one
uraeus on her brow. The wig is topped with a uraeus encircled modius
which in turn is topped by double plumes in combination with the horned
sundisk.
Statue of Bastet with the name and title of Ankhnesneferibre - UC36443
Leahy A., The adoption of
Ankhnesneferibre at Karnak, Journal of Egyptian archaeology,
1996, vol. 82, pp. 145-165
From this time period we have:
TT 197 - Pedeneith, Chief steward
of the God's Wife of Amun, the Divine Adoratrix Ankhnesneferibre, Temp.
Psametik II Parents:
Psammethek and Tadehubaste
TT
242 - Wahibra, Chamberlain of
the god's wife of Amun Ankhnesneferibra, Late Period - Saite
Parents: Pedeamunnai and Mutardais; Wife:
Tadepanehep. Sons:
Psammethek
(Chamberlain to the God's Wife) and Pedehorresnet called Harpemai.
TT
27 - Sheshonq, high steward of the divine adoratrix
Anknesneferibre,
Temp. Apries and Amasis. Parents:
Harsiesi (Chamberlain of the divine adoratrix) and Tahibet.There is mention
in the tomb of a son named Harsiesi, chamberlain of the divine
adoratrix,
Head of the secrets of the God's Wife Nitocris in the House of
Purification.
Nitokris II: Daughter of Ahmose II and
Ankhenesneferibre’s intended successor. Probably never served due to
the Persian invasion.
Info comes from:
1. Dodson and Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt,
London 2004
2. Porter and Moss, Topographical
Bibliograpy of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs and
Paintings: The Theban Necropolis, Part One: Private Tombs. Second
Edition. Griffith Institute. Oxford. 1994
3. Schmidt, Heike C., Ein Fall von
Amtsanmassung? Die Gottesgemahlin Nefertari-Meritenmut, GM 140 (1994),
81-92.
Also see:
Betsy Bryan, Property
and the God’s Wives of Amun, Johns Hopkins University, pdf
file
|
|