BAHRI, having been rewrapped and reburied by priests of
the Twentieth Dynasty, when his original tomb was plun-
dered. The child died in the first or second year of his
life.
Amunemhet (2)(fl. 15th century B.C.E.)Temple official
of the Eighteenth Dynasty
Serving in the reign of AMENHOTEP II (r. 1427–1401
B.C.E.), Amunemhet was a high priest of the god AMUN
but served the court in other capacities as well, as did
most of the Amunite priests of that period. Amunemhet
was an accomplished architect and supervised royal
building projects. He was buried in THEBES.
Amunet (Amuniet) (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.), called Amuniet in some records. Amunet was
buried in the royal mortuary complex at DEIR EL-BAHRI,a
site located on the western shore of the Nile at THEBES.
Montuhotep and his other female companions were
entombed beside Amunet.
Amunnakhte’s Instructions A text written by a
scribe of the PERANKH, the House of Life, a medical
educational institute in THEBES.Amunnakhte’s Instruc-
tions date to the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550–1070
B.C.E.). A copy of the original was discovered in the
Chester BEATTY PAPYRUS IV. The Instructions were
addressed to an assistant, urging the young man to take
up the noble profession of scribe, an important position
in Egyptian society. The Egyptians revered such didac-
tic LITERATURE, seeking wisdom and purpose in texts
that explained the roles of life and the opportunities of
service.
Amun’s Bark A vessel called Userhetamun, or “the
Mighty Brow Is Amun,” a floating temple for the god
Amun at THEBES, the bark was supposedly a gift presented
by ’AHMOSE(r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.) in thanksgiving for his
successful military campaigns. The vessel was a divine
ark, and special STATIONS OF THE GODS were erected
throughout Thebes to greet it on its holiday rounds. The
bark was viewed as a potent symbol of Amun’s power and
was refurbished or rebuilt in almost every era of the
empire period. On the feast of OPET, the Bark of Amun
was moved from KARNAKto LUXORand back. On other
feasts the floating temple sailed on the Nile or on the
sacred lake of the shrine. It was covered with gold from
the waterline up and filled with cabins, obelisks, niches,
and elaborate adornments.
See also BARKS OF THE GODS.
Amun’s Wives A title assumed by high-ranking royal
women who took part in religious ceremonies at KARNAK
and LUXORduring the New Kingdom, Queens AH’HOTEP
(1) and ’AHMOSE-NEFERTARI in the reign of ’AHMOSE
(1550–1525 B.C.E.) were the first such women to assume
the role, serving as patronesses for the festivals and cultic
rites. A princess of the royal house was consecrated as the
god’s spouse, served by virgins in the Harem of Amun. In
time this group became the GOD’S WIVES OF AMUN, or the
Divine Adoratrices of Amun.Amun-wosret(15th century B.C.E.) Vizier of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty
He served TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.) and was
active in the latter part of Tuthmosis III’s lengthy reign,
named VIZIERof Egypt. Amun-wosret served in a time of
imperial expansion and military campaigns. His Theban
tomb provides details of his office.Amyrtaios (1)(fl. fifth centuryB.C.E.)Rebel Egyptian
who fought against the Persian occupation of the Nile
He is associated in some records with the revolt of
an individual named INAROS, who threatened the rule of
the Persian ARTAXERXES I (r. 465–424 B.C.E.). When
Inaros was betrayed, captured, and executed, Amyr-
taios continued to hold sway in the western DELTA,
unchallenged by the Persians. No documentation is
available concerning his length of supremacy in this
region.
See also REBELS OF EGYPT.Amyrtaios (2)(d. 393 B.C.E.)Founder and sole known
ruler of the Twenty-eighth Dynasty of Egypt
Amyrtaios reigned from SAISoriginally and then over
much of the entire nation from 404 to 393 B.C.E.He
probably proclaimed himself pharaoh after the death of
DARIUS IIin 404 B.C.E. He was possibly a descendant of
AMYRTAIOS(1), a rebel of the land. Amyrtaios was the
prince of Sais. No documented successors are recorded.
One tradition states that Amyrtaios offended “the Law”
in some heinous fashion, and because of his transgres-
sion could not bequeath the throne to his son. The
dynasty ended with his death. Other dynasties flour-
ished in the same era on local levels. Reportedly
NEPHRITES I(r. 399–393 B.C.E.) captured Amyrtaios and
executed him.Amytis (fl. sixth century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the Per-
sian Empire
She was a consort of Cyrus the Great and probably the
mother of CAMBYSES(r. 525–522 B.C.E.). Amytis shared
her queenly duties at the Persian court with another royal
woman, Kassandine.36 Amunemhet