Amenemhat (II) Nubkaure
(Image
from Metmuseum)
Ca. 1914-1879/76 BC
Horus name: Hekenmaat
Nebty name: Hekenmaat
Golden Falcon name: Maakheru
Prenomen: Nubkawre
Nomen: Amenemhat
Burial place: Pyramid at Dahshur
Parents: Senwosret I and Neferu III
Wives:
- Senet: Likely
a wife of Amenemhat II and the mother of Senwosret II. Known from
statues in the Delta.
Titles: Hereditary Princess (iryt-p`t), King’s Mother (mwt-niswt),
King’s Wife (hmt-nisw).
- Keminub, Buried in tomb
in
her husband’s funerary complex in Dashur.
Titles: King’s Wife (hmt-nisw).
- Kanefru? Probably a wife of Amenemhat.
Mentioned on a seal with Amenemhat. Had the title Mistress of all women.
Sons:
- Amenemhat-ankh? probably a son of Amenemhat.
- Senusret II, son and heir to the throne.
Daughters:
- Ita King's daughter. Owner of a
Sphinx in Syria. Buried in double tomb with her sister Khnemet.
- Itakayet B? Probably a daughter of
Amenemhat II. It is also possible she was his grand-daughter.
- Itaweret Daughter of Amenemhat II and
probably wife of her brother Senusret II. Buried in a double tomb wit
Sithathormeryet in their father's pyramid complex.
- Khnemet Daughter of Amenemhat II and
probably wife of her brother Senusret II. Buried in a double tomb wit
Ita in their father's pyramid complex.
- Neferet II Daughter of Amenemhat II and
wife of her brother Senusret II. Known from two statues and possible
owner
of a small pyramid in the funerary complex of Senusert II.
- Khnemetneferhedjet
Daughter
of Amenemhat II, and possibly identical with Khnemetneferhedjet I
Weret, a
wife of Senusret II.
- Sithathormeryet A female relative of
Amenemhat
II (possibly his daughter?). Buried in a double tomb with Itaweret in
their father's pyramid complex.
Sphinx depicting Amenemhat II (Louvre)
Building
program:
Dashur: Amenemhet II built the "White
Pyramid" to the east of Sneferu's pyramids in central Dashur. The
mortuary temple was almost completely destroyed. Its ruins are located
in front of the
pyramid's east wall. The Valley Temple has not been found. The mortuary
temple and the pyramid were enclosed by a large wall. Within this
enclosure
the tomb of Prince Amenemhat-ankh was found, as well as the tombs of
the
princesses Ita, Khnemet, Itaweret, and Sithathormeryet. These tombs
still
contained some tomb furnishings. The most spectacular discovery was
however
the jewelry from the double tomb of Ita and Khnemet.
The pyramid was named "Amenu-kherep" (Ymnw-khrp) according to inscriptions
left by Sihathor. Sihathor was ordered to the pyramid to oversee the
work on 16 statues.
El-Ashmunein
(Hermopolis): Remains
of a temple facade and entrance passage to a temple from the time of
Amenemhat II survive.
Sinai (Serabit el-Khadim): A statue
fragment depicting Amenemhat II was found in the Sinai. The Global
Egyptian Museum mentions:
"Lower part of a roughly
sculpted figure of a king seated on a block throne, with hieroglyphic
inscription on the (figure's) left side of the throne identifying him
as 'the son of Re Amenemhat, beloved of Hathor lady of
turquoise(-land)', and on the right side as '... Nubkaura, beloved of
Hathor lady of turquoise(-land)'. Nubkaura is the throne name of
Amenemhat II, and this is the only surviving statue inscribed with that
king's name. The figure is now much eroded, and the feet as well as the
torso and head are missing, but the right lower arm appears to have
lain flat on the lap. The figure was found by Flinders Petrie at the
shrine of Hathor on the Sinai plateau at Sarabit el-Khadim." (GEM)
(Image
- more can be found on the GEM website)
Sinai Inscription (from GEM):
Son of Re Amenemhat beloved of Hathor lady of turquoise(-land).
... Hathor ... Nubkaura beloved of Hathor lady of turquoise(-land).
Reign of Amenemhat II
Amenemhat
II is known to have been co-regent with his father Senusert I for at
least 3 years.
Expeditions
to the Sinai and Nubia are recorded by several of his courtiers. In
year 24 a new mine is opened in the Sinai as recorded by the captain of
Sailors, named Men.
The
nobleman Khentkhetwer mentions an expedition to the land of Punt in
year 28.
In
year 35 of Amenemhat II / year 3 of Senusret II the officer Hapu
records an
inspection of the fortresses in Wawat (Nubia).
Government
Ameni, Vizier.
Djehutyhotep, Nomarch of the Hare Nome. He lived
during the reigns of Amenemhat II (1922-1878 BC), Senwosret II
(1880-1874 BC) and Senwosret III (1874-1855 BC). The tomb of his
physician Gua was also found (Info from British Museum). Djehutyhotep
was the son of Key and Sat-kheper-ka (Teti?), and grand-son of Nehri
(possibly the Vizier Nehri from an earlier period).
His wife was named Hathor-hotep, a Priestess of Hathor. Children
include the sons Shemsu-khau-ef, Sesostris-ankh and Nehri. Daughters
include Nub-unut, Sat-kheper-ka and Sat-hedj-hotep.
Djehutyhotep
Colossus being pulled on a sled and other images Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 134
Images includeing the one above: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 135
Kay, Sealer (Treasurer), Stela from Abydos (now in British
Museum) – Yr 3.
Kheti, the eldest daughter of the Prince of the Jackal
Nome. They had sons named Nakht (B) and Khnumhotep III.
Khnumhotep II, Son of the Vizier Nehri and Beket (daughter
of Khnumhotep I). His tomb in Beni Hasan is described by Lepsius. The
entry door is decribed in Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 123 The rest of the tomb
inscriptions can be found at:
Inscriptions: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 124,
Inscriptions Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 125,
Scenes showing boatbuilding, boats and other industry: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 126,
People working the land and boats: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 127,
Offerings and the depiction of a lady (wife?): Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 128,
Khnumhotep before an offering table: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 129,
Fishing and hunticg duck in the marshes: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 130,
Foreigners paying tribute?: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 131,
Rounding up fowl and cattle: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 131,
Color scenes depicting some of the foreigners: Lepsius
Abt II, Band 4, Bl 133
<>Sarenput II, also called
Nub-kau-ra-nakht, (#31 Aswan) Chancellor of lower Egypt, Overseer
of the prophets of Khnum, etc. Mother: Hetepet, Son: Ankhu;
Sarenput II was a grand-son of
Sarenput I.
Senusret, Vizier (Senusret I - Amenemhat II). Stela dated
to year 8 from Abydos is now in the Louvre.
<>Si-Hathor, Assistant Treasurer. Stela from
Abydos
(now in British Museum). Sihathor
left records of expeditions to Nubia and the Sinai. He records the trip
to Sinai as having taken place during his youth.
Wepwaweta-a, Nomarch of the Thinite Nome (Which has Abydos
as it’s Capital) From a Stela at Abydos. The text mentions both
Sesostris I and Amenemhet II. Some titles: Hereditary Prince, Count,
Sealbearer
of the King, Sole Companion, Priest of Maat, High Priest of Osiris,
Overseer of the Priests.
Palace Officials
Khent-em-semeti: real
favorite servant, master of the secret things of the King's Wardrobe.
Khent-em-sementi leaves a record at Abydos of a journey of inspection
among the temples
of Egypt. He apparently visited Elephantine and then returned to
Abydos.
Khent-em-sementi lists several honors on his stela. He mentions being
priest
of the Southern Crown, (of) the Northern Crown, (of) Khnum, servant of
the royal toilet, adjusting (the crown called) "Great-in-Magic",
supporting
the White Crown in the "Great House" (pr-wr), etc.
Khent-khetwer, Hereditary prince, count,
wearer of the royal seal, the master of the judgement hall. Records
arriving
safely from Punt in year 28.
Men, born of Mut: the real king's confidant,
the
captain of sailors. Records the opening of a new mine in the Sinai in
year
24.
Simontu, Hereditary Prince, Count, Wearer of the
Royal Seal, Royal Scribe, etc.
Priesthood
Hetep-Khuy, The Master of the Secrets of the Seal of
the Divine Offering, Scribe of the God; From a Stela from Abydos (in
Leiden). Also mentioned on the stela are: his wife Hapy – daughter of
Aye, his brother Sobek-hotep, his sister Satwosret, his mother Du, his
son Ameny, and his nephew also named Ameny (son of Sobekhotep)
Khu, “Overseer of the Tomb”, from a Stela at Abydos (in
Leiden). Shown with his wife Senet, his brother Montuwesi, and his
mother who is also named Senet.
Wepwaweta-a, Nomarch of the Thinite Nome (Which has
Abydos as it’s Capital) From a Stela at Abydos. The text mentions
both Sesostris I and Amenemhet II. Some titles: Hereditary Prince,
Count, Sealbearer
of the King, Sole Companion, Priest of Maat, High Priest of Osiris,
Overseer of the Priests.
Bibliography / Suggested
Reading
- Breasted,
J.H., Ancient Records of Egypt, Vol I, The First through the
Seventeenth Dynasties, 2001 (originally appeared in 1906)
- Dodson, A.,
Hilton, D., The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, Thames &
Hudson, 2004.
- Wilkinson
R.H., The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, Thames & Hudson, 2000.
- http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/chronology/amenemhatII.html
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