reign. He also describes himself as a hereditary prince
and as a “Sole Companion of the King.” Neferperet was
buried in Thebes.
Neferrenpet(fl. 13th century B.C.E.) Vizier of the Nine-
teenth Dynasty
He served RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) as a treasury
scribe and VIZIER. Neferrenpet’s name and portrait were
discovered in the Speos of HOREMHABat GEBEL EL-SIL-
SILEH. His tomb in THEBESdepicts him as tallying pieces
of jewelry. This relief is the last detailed account of the
manufacture of jewelry in the New Kingdom Period
(1550–1070 B.C.E.), a time of exquisite workmanship,
using a variety of metals and gemstones. Neferrenpet
traveled throughout Egypt to maintain order in his role of
vizier.
Nefer-rohu’s Prophecy An Egyptian text attributed to
a sage in the reign of SNEFRU(2575–2551 B.C.E.) but actu-
ally dating to the Twelfth Dynasty (1991–1783 B.C.E.), it
is contained in the Leningrad Papyrus. Nefer-rohu, seeing
the chaos engulfing Egypt at the end of the Old Kingdom,
announced: “A king shall come from the south (Upper
Egypt)... called Ameni... .” This prophecy was proba-
bly a propaganda device for AMENEMHET I(r. 1991–1962
B.C.E.), a usurper of the throne. He is described as a sav-
ior of Egypt and reportedly the son of a “Woman of
Nubia.”
Nefer-rohu also predicted the raising up of the WALL
OF THE PRINCE, the series of fortresses on the eastern and
western borders of the Delta, to defend Egypt from
marauding nomadic tribes, especially in the northeast.
The prophecy has also been found on tablets and ostraka,
indicating that it was used in Egypt’s educational system
for centuries after it was first made public on the Nile.
Nefer-rohu was a lector priest at BUBASTISin the reign of
Amenemhet I.
Nefersekheru(fl. 14th century B.C.E.)Court official of
the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served AMENHOTEP III(r. 1391–1353 B.C.E.) as a stew-
ard of the royal palaces. Amenhotep III had several royal
residences in THEBES, including MALKATA, the great plea-
sure complex on the western shore. Malkata was a small
city made of palaces and shrines and boasted a man-made
lake. Nefersekheru was buried at Thebes. The royal fami-
lies of that historical period used Thebes and MEMPHISas
capitals, but Amenhotep III preferred Thebes and his
pleasure palaces there.
Nefert (Nofret, Nefertet)(fl. 19th century B.C.E.)
Royal woman of the Twelfth Dynasty
She was a consort of SENWOSRET II(r. 1878–1841 B.C.E.).
Two black granite statues portraying Nefert have been
discovered. One shows her wearing a headdress of the
goddess HATHOR. She was the daughter of AMENEMHET II
and was praised as “the ruler of all women.” Nefert was
buried in the royal cemetery complex at el-LAHUN.Nefertari (Nefertari Merymut)(fl. 13th century
B.C.E.) Beloved royal woman of the Nineteenth Dynasty
She was the consort of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.)
and his favorite wife. Nefertari is believed to have been
the daughter of BAKENKHONSUor some other official of
the court. She married Ramesses II when he was 15 and
she died in the 24th year of his reign. A tomb fragment
also connects Nefertari to the family of AYA (2)
(1323–1319 B.C.E.), and she is believed to have come
from Thebes. Her brother, Amenmose, was the mayor of
Thebes.
Nefertari was the mother of Princes Amenhirwon-
mef, Prehirwonmef, and Meryré, as well as Princesses
Meryatum and Hentawi. None of her sons succeeded
their father, as he outlived them, but they served in vari-
ous capacities.
A temple in ABU SIMBELhonored Nefertari, who was
deified while she lived. The temple was dedicated to the
goddess HATHOR. Nefertari probably retired to the harem
palace at MI-WERin the FAIYUMsoon after the Abu Simbel
temple was dedicated. While serving as the Great Wife,
she took an active role in court affairs and corresponded
with the families of foreign rulers. She was the constant
companion of Ramesses II throughout their marriage,
and he honored her in life and in death.
Her tomb in the VALLEY OF THE QUEENSat Thebes is
one of the largest and most beautifully decorated sites in
that necropolis. The tomb has an entry stairway and a
central ramp. The interior is bi-level, and reliefs andNefertari 269The monument honoring Queen Nefertari Merymut
favorite consort of Ramesses II (r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.). This tem-
ple is at Abu Simbel.(Courtesy Steve Beikirch.)