deben An Egyptian unit of weight, equivalent to 32
ounces or 91 grams, a kitewas a weight unit equivalent
to one-tenth of a deben,3.33 ounces or 9.1 grams.
See also COINAGE.
Declarations of Innocence See NEGATIVE CONFES-
SIONS.
Dedi(fl. 26th century B.C.E.) Seer of the Fourth Dynasty
and a court official
He served KHUFU(Cheops; r. 2551–2528 B.C.E.) in the
dynastic court. Mentioned in the WESTCAR PAPYRUS, Dedi
is considered to be the prophet who predicted the birth of
the rulers of the Fifth Dynasty, a royal clan aided by the
deity RÉ.
Dedu(fl. 15th century B.C.E.) Official of the Eighteenth
Dynasty
Serving in the reign of TUTHMOSIS III(1497–1425 B.C.E.),
Dedu was a chief of the famed MEDJAYtroops in the New
Kingdom Period (1550–1070 B.C.E.). These Nubian
warriors distinguished themselves in Egypt’s battles
against the Asiatic invaders during the Second Interme-
diate Period (1640–1532 B.C.E.) and in the early stages
of the New Kingdom, aiding both KAMOSEand ’AHMOSE
as they fought the HYKSOSin the Delta. When the coun-
try returned to peace, the Medjay assumed the role
of state police, along with the BLEMMYES. Dedu served
as the superintendent of the LIBYAN DESERTand as a
royal envoy to the tribes living there. He commanded
police units in strategic locations and maintained the
peace. Dedu was buried in THEBES, on the western
shore.
Dedumose II(Djedneferré)(fl. c. 1640 B.C.E.)Ruler
of the Thirteenth Dynasty
Dedumose II was a vassal of the HYKSOS, listed by
MANETHO, the Ptolemaic historian. The Hyksos had taken
control of MEMPHISat the time. “The Great Hyksos,” the
rulers of the Fifteenth Dynasty (1640–1532 B.C.E.),
expanded into the region held by Dedumose II’s line, and
he had to rule in their name. He left monuments in
THEBES,DEIR EL-BAHRI, and GEBELEIN.
Dedun Adeity who was honored by TUTHMOSIS III(r.
1479–1425 B.C.E.) of the Eighteenth Dynasty, Tuthmosis
built a temple at SEMNAfor the worship of Dedun, obvi-
ously designated as a tribute to pacify the local inhabi-
tants and to establish a rapport with the region. The
temple also served as a monument to the troops of the
famous MEDJAYduring the struggle with the Asiatics in
the Delta. Dedun was the presiding god of NUBIA(modern
Sudan) at the time.
Dedyet (1)(fl. 20th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Twelfth Dynasty
She was the sister and wife of AMENEMHET I (r.
1991–1962 B.C.E.). Both Amenemhet I and his sister were
commoners and reportedly of partial Nubian descent.
Dedyet was not the ranking queen consort, or “the Great
Wife,” of the pharaoh. Queen NEFRU-TOTENENwas the
ranking woman of the reign.Dedyet (2)(fl. 20th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Twelfth Dynasty
She was the daughter of AMENEMHET I(r. 1991–1962 B.C.E.)
and Queen SIT-HATHOR. Little is known of Dedyet’s life.Defufa A site in the area of the third cataract of the Nile
in NUBIA(modern Sudan), where twin brick FORTRESSES
were erected in the Old Kingdom Period (2575–2134
B.C.E.). The rulers of Egypt’s early dynasties used the area
for TRADEand constructed fortified outposts to protect
their settlements and their wares. The fortress at Defufa
was in operation in the reign of PEPI II(2246–2152 B.C.E.)
in the Sixth Dynasty. Later rulers refurbished and
strengthened the fortress and maintained it for defensive
purposes during periods of Nubian expansion.deification This was the process of designating human
beings as divine, a practice that was part of the cultic
environs throughout Egyptian history and was made offi-
cial in the New Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.E.). The
pharaohs were deified in this period, and in the case of
AMENHOTEP I(r. 1525–1504 B.C.E.), his mother, Queen
’AHMOSE-NEFERTARI, received the same divine status.
RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) was deified while still
alive, considered a manifestation of the god Ré.
IMHOTEP, the Old Kingdom VIZIERand PRIEST who
designed the STEP PYRAMIDfor DJOSER(2630–2611 B.C.E.),
was deified with AMENHOTEP,SON OF HAPU, an official of
the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550–1307 B.C.E.). A clinic and
a sanitarium were operated at DEIR EL-BAHRI, on the west-
ern shore of THEBES, in his honor. Cultic shrines appeared
elsewhere as part of the cultic traditions that honored
both Imhotep and Amenhotep, Son of Hapu. They were
deemed inspired sages worthy of deification.
Some individuals were deified in local communities
and had shrines erected for them in their nomes or in the
territories that they served. HEKAIB, an official serving
PEPI II(r. 2246–2152 B.C.E.), was murdered on an expedi-
tion to the Red Sea. When his son returned his body to
the ELEPHANTINEIsland at ASWAN, the priests erected a
cult and shrine in the martyr’s honor.Deinokrates(fl. fourth century B.C.E.)Greek architect
employed by Alexander the Great (332–323 B.C.E.)
He was instrumental in erecting the city of ALEXANDRIA.
Deinokrates labored under satraps, or governors, whenDeinokrates 9 5