THEBES. Before this union she was believed to have given
birth to the deities and to humans with her tears.
Mut nurtured the pharaohs and was reported to
have promised the rulers “Millions and Millions of Years
and Jubilees.” She was called “the Lady of Asheru,” the
name of her temple at KARNAK, “the Mighty and the
Great.” In Thebes, she was the self-created mother of
the god KHONS(1). The VULTUREwas her hieroglyph,
and she was “the Mistress of the Double Crown of
Egypt.” At KHARGA OASIS, Mut was depicted with a lion’s
head. She was also hailed as “the Mistress of the
House,” marking her a patroness of children and moth-
erhood.
In the earliest historical periods, Mut took the form
of a cow at HELIOPOLIS, to carry the newly emerged Amun
on her back. Also called “the Eye of Ré,” Mut could be
revered in all historical periods in this form. In time she
became the guardian deity of the GOD’S WIFE OF AMUNor
the Divine Adoratrices of Amun.
Mutemwiya(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Eighteenth Dynasty
She was a secondary wife of TUTHMOSIS IV(r. 1401–1391
B.C.E.) and the mother of AMENHOTEP III(r. 1391–1353
B.C.E.). She is believed to have been a member of a pow-
erful family of AKHMIN. When Tuthmosis died, Amen-
hotep III was young and Mutemwiya stood as regent. She
was buried at THEBES.
Mutnodjmet (1)(fl. 14th century B.C.E.)Royal woman
of the Eighteenth Dynasty
She was the consort of HOREMHAB(r. 1319–1307 B.C.E.).
Possibly the sister of Queen NEFERTITI, Mutnodjmet was
depicted in the tomb of PANHESI, an official of the era,
with her DWARFattendants. Maya’s tomb also portrays her
and her retinue. Her mummy was recovered in
Horemhab’s original tomb at MEMPHIS, and there is evi-
dence that she gave birth, although Horemhab had no
heirs.
She died in her mid-40s, probably in childbirth. The
newborn was buried with her. Mutnodjmet was buried in
SAQQARAin the original tomb constructed by Horemhab
before his coronation. AMENIA, Horemhab’s first wife, a
commoner, was also buried there. A black granite statue
of Mutnodjmet, depicted with Horemhab, is in Turin.
Mutnodjmet (2)(fl. 10th century B.C.E.)Royal woman
of the Twenty-first Dynasty
The consort of PSUSENNES I(r. 1040–992 B.C.E.), Mutnod-
jmet was the mother of AMENEMOPE(r. 993–984 B.C.E.),
SIAMUN(r. 978–959 B.C.E.), and Prince ANKHEFENMUT. The
tomb built for her was not used but served as a receptacle
for the remains of Amenemope. Mutnodjmet was buried
with Ankhefenmut in Psusennes I’s tomb in TANIS.
Mutnofret (1)(fl. 15th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Eighteenth Dynasty
She was the mother of TUTHMOSIS II(r. 1492–1479 B.C.E.).
Serving possibly as a lesser-ranked consort of TUTHMOSIS
I, Mutnofret appears to have possessed some royal stand-
ing in her own right. She was honored as the “King’s
Mother,” after bearing Tuthmosis II.Mutnofret (2)(fl. 13th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Nineteenth Dynasty
She was a lesser-ranked consort of RAMESSES II (r.
1290–1224 B.C.E.). Mutnofret was depicted in the temple
site at ABU SIMBEL.Muu Dancers Ritual performers who served in mor-
tuary ceremonies from the earliest times in Egypt, the
Muu Dancers were viewed as delegates from the realms
beyond the grave and were honored during their perfor-
mances as demi-gods. They were also associated with the
SOULS OF PE, the legendary rulers before the unification
of Egypt, c. 3000 B.C.E. These performers did not speak
during their appearances but gestured to be understood.
There were three types of Muu Dancers involved in
funerals.
The first group met or intercepted the funerary pro-
cessions in progress in order to give permission for
entrance into the necropolis area. These performers wore
high green crowns made of reeds, fashioned into cones.
They also wore elaborate kilts. The second group stood as
watchers in the Muu halls positioned in major necrop-
olises and decorated as beautiful parks. BUTO, along with
SAISand HELIOPOLIS, were considered sites leading to par-
adise and had extensive Muu halls. The Muu Dancers
who attended funerals being conducted in the designated
halls were accompanied by small orchestras when they
performed. These dancers were also crowned with reeds
and wore kilts. They performed in pairs as the agents of
the god OSIRIS.
The third group represented the pre-dynastic ances-
tors at Pe or Dep, a part of the city of Buto, in the central
Delta, where they were called “the People of Pe.” These
dancers wore floral crowns of papyrus fronds or were
bareheaded. Deemed sacred while performing, the Muu
Dancers of this group also served as “the Souls of Pe,” in
royal ceremonies. At every funeral the chief priest or
steward called to them: “Come! Oh Muu!” The Muu
Dancers sang and performed ancient and intricate dances,
sanctioned by their unique roles.Muwatallis (Muwatallish)(d. c. 1282 B.C.E.) Hittite
ruler in the reign of Ramesses II (1290–1224 B.C.E.)
He was born c. 1306 B.C.E., the son of MURSILIS II, and
reigned from c. 1306 B.C.E. until his death. When
RAMESSES IIreconquered Palestine and made the Orontes258 Mutemwiya