Hudet A winged form of the god RÉ, called “the Splen-
dor,” the Hudet was also part of the cultic rituals in EDFU,
associated with the worship of HORUS. That deity became
the winged disk in order to scout the horizons for Egypt’s
enemies.
Hunefer Papyrus A copy of the BOOK OF THE DEAD
dating to the reign of SETI I(1306–1290 B.C.E.) in the
Nineteenth Dynasty, the text was either composed in that
reign or copied from an earlier version. Beautifully illus-
trated, the Hunefer Papyrus is in the British Museum,
London.
Huni (d. 2575 B.C.E.)Fifth and last ruler of the Third
Dynasty, called “the Smiter”
He was the successor of KHA’BA, reigning from 2599 B.C.E.
until his death, but no relationship has been docu-
mented. He married MERYSANKH(1), probably an heiress
of the royal clan, and she bore him a son, SNEFRU. He also
had a daughter, HETEPHERES(1).
Huni built a pyramid at MEIDUM, on the edge of the
FAIYUM, using a square ground plan. Step styled, the PYRA-
MID was covered with Tureh limestone. Three steps
remain, as the limestone covering collapsed. A burial
chamber was carved out of the bedrock, and a causeway
and temple were erected. He may have been buried in the
site, which was completed by Snefru. MASTABAtombs of
courtiers and nobles were built around the pyramid. One
such tomb, the resting place of NEFERMA’ATand his wife
ATET, contained the famous relief paintings of geese. The
statues of Prince RAHOTEP(1) and NOFRET(1),his wife,
were discovered in another mastaba.
Huni reportedly erected a brick pyramidal tomb in
ABU ROWASH, south of SAQQARA. This layered tomb is
badly damaged. A red granite head of Huni is in the
British Museum. Huni is also credited with a fortress on
the ELEPHANTINE Island in some records. During his
reign, KAGEMNI, the famous sage, served as his VIZIER.
Hurbeit A site in the Nile Delta, northeast of BUBASTIS,
where the remains of a temple were uncovered. The seals
of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) were found on build-
ing blocks of the temple. Sacred BULLSwere buried at
Hurbeit in some periods. The Greeks renamed the site
Pharbaites.
Hurrians A people whose homeland was originally
near Lake Urmia, in northern Mesopotamia (modern
Iraq), in the reign of AMENEMHET III(1844–1797 B.C.E.),
the Hurrians invaded the lands east of the Tigris River. By
2200 B.C.E., they were thriving at their capital, Urkesh,
and building the Temple of the Lion. They used the Hur-
rian and Akkadian languages and worshiped a pantheon
of gods. By 1780 B.C.E., the Hurrians had achieved mili-
tary and political power on the upper Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers and on the border of Anatolia (modern
Turkey). Urkesh had an estimated population of 10,000
to 20,000 at its height. The capital was abandoned, how-
ever, c. 1500 because of climatic changes and failing
water supplies.
The HITTITESadmired the Hurrians and feared their
military prowess. When the Hurrians approached Syria
and Palestine, local city-states learned to appreciate their
martial abilities. Egyptians respected the Hurrians as
expert horsemen and used their talents during the New
Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.E.). The Hurrians also had
access to metals and used stone effectively. They excelled
at mining and trade.Huy (1) (Amenhotep)(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Offi-
cial and viceroy of the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served TUT’ANKHAMUN(r. 1333–1323 B.C.E.) as the
VICEROYof Nubia (modern Sudan). Huy, called Amen-
hotep in some records, was buried in QURNET MURAI,on
the western shore of THEBES. His tomb contained elabo-
rate paintings depicting Tut’ankhamun receiving Nubian
subjects and accepting tributes.Huy (2) (Amenhotep)(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Gover-
nor of the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served AKHENATEN(r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.) as the gover-
nor of the BAHARIA OASIS. He was also listed as Amen-
hotep in some records. Huy’s tomb at Baharia was
discovered previously but not identified until 1986.Huya(fl. 14th century B.C.E.)Harem official of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty
He served in the reign of AMENHOTEP III (1391–1353
B.C.E.) as a steward of Queen TIYE(1)and the superinten-
dent of the royal HAREM. He followed Queen Tiye to
’AMARNAafter Amenhotep III’s death and served the entire
royal family, including AKHENATENand NEFERTITI.
Huya’s tomb in ’Amarna contains pillared chambers
and an inner room with a burial shaft and a shrine.
Reliefs depict him at a royal banquet, court ceremonies,
and having honors bestowed upon him by Akhenaten. A
statue of Huya, unfinished, was also recovered. Queen
Tiye and Princess BAKETAMUN (Baketaten) are also
depicted in the tomb.Hyksos A nomadic group that swept over Syria, Pales-
tine, and Egypt c. 1750 B.C.E., the earliest recorded Hyk-
sos had Canaanite names, associating them with the
Amorites of the same period. A STELA found at TANIS
states that they took the area of AVARISc. 1640 B.C.E.
From Avaris they moved into Memphis. These Asiatics,
called the Hikau-Khoswet, Amu, A’am, or Setetyu by the
Egyptians, were recorded by the Ptolemaic Period histo-174 Hudet