Khnumhotep II.

Khnumhotep in hieroglyphics
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The ancient Egyptian official Chnumhotep II was mayor of Menat-Chufu and head of the eastern desert .

He is best known for his well-preserved and richly decorated tomb in Beni Hasan . He was in office from the 19th year of Amenemhet II until at least the 6th year of Sesostris II's reign (approx. 1913 to 1894 BC).

Origin and family

Chnumhotep II was the son of Neheri and a certain Baket, who in turn was the daughter of Chumhotep I (also mayor of Menat-Chufu ). The wife of Chnumhotep II was called Chety. Several sons and daughters are known. One of the sons was also called Khnumhotep and was vizier under Sesostris III.

His grave

Arrival of the Shutu tribe at Khnumhotep II.

The grave ( BH 3 ) of Chnumhotep II consists of a one-room chapel carved into the rock. In the back there is a small chamber for a statue. Below the chapel there were two burial chambers, each of which was reached via a shaft.

The chapel is completely painted. At the bottom there is a long biographical inscription, the longest from the Middle Kingdom . Various scenes can be found above the inscription. On the east wall you can see Khnumhotep II fishing and hunting in the marshes . Above the door there he is shown catching birds with the net.

On the north wall you can see him hunting in the desert and in front of his subordinates. This is also where the most famous grave scene is located, showing the arrival of Asians. On the south wall you can see him in front of the sacrificial table, as well as various offer bearers.

literature

Percy E. Newberry : Beni Hasan I. Kegan Paul / Trench / Trübner, London 1893 (the publication of the paintings of the grave)
Janice Kamrin: The Cosmos of Khnumhotep II at Beni Hasan (= Studies in Egyptology. ). Kegan Paul International, London / New York 1999, ISBN 0-7103-0574-5 .
Janice Kamrin: The Procession of “Asiatics” by Beni Hasan . In: Joan Aruz, Sarah B. Graff, Yelena Rakic (eds.): Cultures in Contact. From Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean in the Second Millennium BC The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2013, ISBN 978-1-58839-475-0 , pp. 156-169 (English, online ).

Web links

Commons : Tomb of Khnumhotep II. - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Beni Hassan: BH 3, ẖnmw-Htp (Chnumhotep II). www.semataui.de, August 10, 2007, accessed on October 13, 2014 (photos of the decoration).

personal data
SURNAME	Khnumhotep II.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	ancient Egyptian official
DATE OF BIRTH	20th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH	20th century BC BC or 19th century BC Chr.