The site might be “the High Place of Inhapi” of legend,
reportedly a safe haven used originally for the royal
mummies in the Deir el-Bahri cache. It was so named
because of its position in the cliffs.
Hapi (1) (Hopi, Hap, Hep) A personification of the
NILEand a patron of the annual inundation, Hapi was the
bearer of the fertile lands, nourishing both humans and
the gods of Egypt. The husband of the goddess NEKHEBET,
Hapi was particularly honored at the first CATARACTof the
Nile. In reliefs he is depicted as a bearded man, normally
painted blue or green, with full breasts for nurturing.
Hapi sometimes is shown with water plants growing out
of his head. He is pictured often as a double figure, repre-
senting the Blue and White Nile. Hymns in honor of Hapi
speak of the Nile in cosmic terms, provoking images of
the river as the spiritual stream that carried souls to the
Tuat, or Underworld. These hymns express the nation’s
gratitude for the annual flood times and the lush fields
that resulted from the deposited effluvium and mud.
Annual FESTIVALSwere dedicated to Hapi’s inundation.
Hapi (2) A divine son of the god HORUSwho is associ-
ated with the funerary rites of Egypt, he was one of the
four guardians of the vital organs of the deceased in the
CANOPIC JARSin tombs. Hapi was guardian of the lungs,
and on the canopic jars this deity was represented by the
head of a baboon. The other sons of Horus involved in
canopic rituals were DUAMUTEF, QEBEHSENNUF, and IMSETY.
Hapnyma’at See NIMA’ATHAP.
Hapuseneb(fl. 15th century B.C.E.) Temple official of
the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served TUTHMOSIS II(r. 1492–1479 B.C.E.) and HAT-
SHEPSUT, the queen-pharaoh (r. 1473–1458 B.C.E.).
Hapuseneb was the first prophet of AMUNat THEBESand
the overseer of all of the Amunite priests of Egypt. In his
era the cult of Amun was elevated to the supreme rank as
Egypt’s commanding deity. A noble by birth, and related
to the royal clans through his mother Ah’hotep, Hap-
useneb supported Queen Hatshepsut when she took the
throne from the heir, Tuthmosis III (1479–1425 B.C.E.).
His aid pledged the Amunite temples to her cause and
served as a buffer against her enemies. He directed many
of her building projects and served as her counselor.
Hapuseneb owned a great deal of land in both Upper and
Lower Egypt. He was buried on the western shore at
THEBES, and after his death was honored as well with a
shrine at GEBEL EL-SILSILEH.
Hardjedef See DJEDEFHOR.
harem (1) This was the household of lesser wives of
the king, called the per-khenretin ancient Egypt, a highly
organized bureaucracy, functioning primarily to supply
male heirs to the throne, particularly when a male heir
was not born to the ranking queen. The earliest evidence
for a harem dates to the Early Dynastic Period
(2920–2575 B.C.E.) and to the tombs of several women
found beside that of DJER(r. 2900 B.C.E.) in ABYDOS.
These women were obviously lesser ranked wives who
provided additional birthing opportunities. Some of these
wives were also given to the pharaohs by NOMEclans, as a
sign of alliance. These lower ranked wives and concu-
bines lived in the harem. By the Sixth Dynasty
(2323–2150 B.C.E.), the institution was presided over by a
queen and included educational facilities for the children
of the royal family and those of important officials.
In the reign of AMENHOTEP III(1391–1353 B.C.E.) of
the Eighteenth Dynasty, the harem was located at
MALKATA, his pleasure domain on the western bank at
THEBES. AKHENATENhad a harem at ’AMARNA(1353–1335
B.C.E.) and the administration of this enclave has been
well documented. Harems of this period had overseers,
cattle farms, and weaving centers, which served as train-
ing facilities and as a source for materials. Harems
employed SCRIBES, inspectors, and craftsmen as well as
dancers and musicians to provide entertainment for royal
visits. Foreign princesses were given in marriage to the
Egyptian rulers as part of military or trade agreements,
and they normally resided in the harem. In some eras,
harem complexes were built in pastoral settings, and
older queens, or those out of favor, retired there. In
RAMESSES II’s reign (1290–1224 B.C.E.) such a harem
retirement estate was located near the FAIYUM, in MI-WER
(near Kom Medinet Ghurob), started by TUTHMOSIS III(r.
1479–1425 B.C.E.).
The harem could also be a source of conspiracy. The
first such recorded plot dates to the Old Kingdom and the
reign of PEPI I(2289–2255 B.C.E.). An official named WENI
was commissioned to conduct an investigation of a
queen, probably AMTES. Because the matter was so confi-
dential, Weni left no details as to the circumstances sur-
rounding the investigation. A second harem intrigue
occurred in the reign of AMENEMHET I(1991–1962 B.C.E.)
of the Twelfth Dynasty. Amenemhet had usurped the
throne, and an attempt was made on his life, as he
recorded himself in his INSTRUCTIONS(also called The Tes-
tament of Amenemhet). The ruler fought hand to hand
with the attackers, later stating that the plot to kill him
stemmed from the harem before he named SENWOSRET I
(the son to whom he addressed his advice) his coruler.
Amenemhet died while Senwosret was away from the
capital, giving rise to the speculation that he was finally
assassinated by another group of plotters. There is no evi-
dence proving that he was murdered, but the Tale of SIN-
UHE THE SAILOR,dating to that period, makes such a
premeditated death a key element.
The third harem plot, the best documented, took
place in the reign of RAMESSES III(1194–1163 B.C.E.) ofharem 157