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Zanakht See NEBKA.

Zannanza(fl. 14th century B.C.E.)Ill-fated prince of the
Hittites
The son of the Hittite king SUPPILULIUMAS I(d. c. 1325
B.C.E.), he was sent to Egypt in response to the marriage
offer made by Queen ANKHESENAMON, the daughter of
AKHENATEN and the widow of TUT’ANKHAMUN (r.
1333–1323 B.C.E.). Ankhesenamon offered her throne to
the HITTITESif they would send a prince to wed her.
Prince Zannanza made the journey but was killed at the
border, probably by command of HOREMHAB (r.
1319–1307 B.C.E.), then a general of the armies. This
event impacted on Egypt’s relations with the Hittites in
future reigns and brought about the death of Suppiluliu-
mas I.

Zatatna(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Prince of Accho, modern
Acre, in Israel
Zatatna wrote to AKHENATEN(r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.), asking
for aid in defending his lands. Zatatna accused another
king, Labayu of Sechem, of plotting his downfall. No aid
was sent to Accho. The correspondence of Zatatna is part
of the ’AMARNA LETTERS.

Zawiet el-Amwat It was a site on the eastern shore
of the Nile, north of BENI HASAN, that served as an
early necropolis. The site was called “the Place of the
Dead.” A step pyramid from the Third Dynasty
(2649–2575 B.C.E.), trapezoid in design and covered
with masonry, was discovered there. There are also 19
tombs on the site associated with HEBENU(modern Kom

el-Ahmar) in the Oryx nome. Six of these tombs date to

the Old Kingdom Period (2575–2134 B.C.E.). Also pre-

sent is the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550–1307 B.C.E.) tomb

of Nefersekheru.

Zawiet el-Aryan This is a site south of GIZA, on the

edge of the desert, containing two pyramids and a tomb

dating probably to the Third Dynasty (2649–2575 B.C.E.).

The northern pyramidal monument, now listed as “the

Unfinished Pyramid,” may have been built by NEBKA(r.

2649–2630 B.C.E.), and it is called “Nebka is a Star.” The

lavish decorations of the monument, however, lead to a

belief that it was actually constructed in a later reign. The

substructure and enclosing wall were started and then

abandoned. The second monument is called the LAYER

PYRAMIDand was built out of small stone blocks. The

tomb nearby contained eight stone bowls inscribed with

seals of KHA’BA(r. 2603–2599 B.C.E.), and it is believed

that this was his mortuary monument.

Zenodotus(fl. c. 280 B.C.E.)First director of the Library

of Alexandria

He was appointed director of the LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA

for life by PTOLEMY I SOTER(r. 304–284 B.C.E.). Zenodotus

was from Ephesus, in modern Turkey, and he was invited

to Egypt where he became the tutor to PTOLEMY II

PHILADELPHUS.

Zenon(fl. third century B.C.E.)Carian Greek serving

Egypt in the Ptolemaic Period

He served PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS(r. 285–246 B.C.E.).

Zenon was an assistant to the treasurer Apollonius. He