Hemetch A serpent demon concerned with the
deceased in their journey through the TUAT, or Under-
world. Hemetch was depicted in the PYRAMIDof UNIS(r.
2356–2323 B.C.E.) of the Fifth Dynasty. The supernatural
creature was one of many perils faced by the newly dead,
but spells and incantations provided by the various mor-
tuary cults allowed the deceased to placate Hemetch and
to assure their safe arrival in OSIRIS’s paradises.
See also BOOK OF THE DEAD.
Hemiunu(fl. 26th century B.C.E.)Prince of the Fourth
Dynasty
He was the son of Prince NEFERMA’ATand Princess ATET,
and a nephew of KHUFU(Cheops; r. 2551–2528 B.C.E.).
Serving as the VIZIERand seal bearer for Khufu, he was
also in charge of the construction of the Great PYRAMID
at GIZA. His tomb was built at the base of that famed
monument. Hemiunu was the only private individual
allowed to place a self-portrait statue within his tomb,
which is of the mastaba design. Such a statue, now in
Hildesheim, Germany, depicts Hemiunu as a robust,
heavyset man.
Hemiunu was also the courtier involved in the
reburial of the mortuary regalia of Queen HETEPHERES(1),
Khufu’s royal mother. Her original tomb had been
robbed, and her mummified remains were missing. Hemi-
unu reburied a cache of magnificent furniture and per-
sonal effects belonging to Queen Hetepheres.
Heneb An ancient deity of Egypt, associated with
AGRICULTUREin the earliest eras. One of his cultic sym-
bols was grain. In time the god OSIRISbecame popular in
the land, assuming the role of patron of harvests and
grains. As a result, Heneb’s cult disappeared into the new
Osirian rituals.
Henenu(fl. 21st century B.C.E.)Agricultural official of
the Eleventh Dynasty
He served MONTUHOTEP II(r. 2061–2010 B.C.E.) as a stew-
ard and overseer of the royal herds. This position
required him to collect taxes and serve as the pharaoh’s
legate in some territories of the country. Henenu was
buried at DEIR EL-BAHRI, on the western shore of THEBES.
Montuhotep II built an elaborate mortuary complex there
and honored Henenu by providing him burial space
within the complex.
Henhenit(fl. 21st century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the
Eleventh Dynasty
She was a consort of MONTUHOTEP II(r. 2061–2010 B.C.E.)
but not the mother of the heir. Henhenit was buried in
the vast mortuary complex of Montuhotep II at DEIR EL-
BAHRI, on the western shore of THEBES. Her mummified
remains were found intact in 1911. Her SARCOPHAGUSwas
made of limestone blocks.
Hennu Boat See BARKS OF THE GODS; SOKAR.Hent (1)(fl. 30th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
First Dynasty
She was a consort of AHA(r. c. 2920 B.C.E.). Aha is the
legendary Menes. Hent, a lesser ranked wife in Aha’s
court, gave birth to the heir, DJER.Hent (2)(fl. 19th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Twelfth Dynasty
She was a consort of SENWOSRET II(r. 1897–1878 B.C.E.)
but was not the mother of the heir. Hent was buried near
Senwosret II at LAHUNin the FAIYUM.Henu(fl. 20th century B.C.E.)Expedition leader of the
Eleventh Dynasty
He served MONTUHOTEP III(r. 2010–1998 B.C.E.) as an
expedition leader in the Mediterranean region. His
achievements were inscribed on the rocks of WADI HAM-
MAMAT, dated to Montuhotep III’s eighth year of reign.
Henu was governor of Upper Egypt’s southern domain.
He led an army from OXYRRHYNCUS(1) and GEBELEINto
the Wadi Hammamat to quarry stone for royal statues of
the pharaoh. He also outfitted a ship for an expedition to
PUNT, probably modern Ethiopia.Henutempet(fl. 16th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of
the Seventeenth Dynasty
She was a consort of Sekenenré TA’OII(r. c. 1560 B.C.E.).
Henutempet was buried in Dra-abú el-Naga, near Thebes.
She perhaps preceded Queen TETISHERIor served as a
lesser-ranked wife.Henuten(fl. 15th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Eighteenth Dynasty
She was a daughter of TUTHMOSIS III (r. 1479–1425
B.C.E.). Henuten was not the ranking princess of the
reign, probably an offspring of a lesser wife.Henutmiré(fl. 13th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Nineteenth Dynasty
She was a consort of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.)
and a daughter of SETI I. Henutmiré was buried in the
VALLEY OF QUEENS, but the location of her tomb is now
unknown. Part of Henutmiré’s funerary regalia was taken
by HARSIESE, a prince of the Twenty-second Dynasty, and
used in his tomb at MEDINET HABU. Henutmiré’s granite
SARCOPHAGUS, a funerary piece prepared for her burial,
was also usurped by Harsiese.Henutsen(fl. 26th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Fourth Dynasty
She was a consort of KHUFU (Cheops; r. 2551–2528
B.C.E.) and the mother of Prince Khufu-Khaf and possiblyHenutsen 165