Another stone vase records: “Year of Fighting the North-
ern Enemy.”
Kha’sekhemwy’s consort was NIMA’ATHAP(Hapnima’at
or Nema’athop), and she was designated as “King Bearer,”
being the mother probably of NEBKAand DJOSER. His mor-
tuary complex at ABYDOSis called SHUNET EL-ZABIB, “the
Storehouse of Dates.” A rectangular mud-brick structure
surrounded by thick walls, the tomb was decorated with
paneled walls. His second tomb in HIERAKONPOLISwas
actually a fortress that was abandoned. The Abydos site
has a central corridor opening onto 33 magazines on
either side of a burial chamber of limestone. Vast quanti-
ties of tools, vessels, beads, sealings, and gold were dis-
covered there. A scepter of gold and sard was also found
there.
Khatru See ICHNEUMON.
khay An Egyptian term meaning “to shine forth,” khay
was used to describe the appearance of the PHARAOH, the
god-king, at temple ceremonies and state affairs. The
word was also used to depict the sun at the dawn of cre-
ation and was associated with the concepts of HORIZONS
and the use of the royal “WINDOW OF APPEARANCES.”
Khedebneitheret(fl. sixth century B.C.E.) Royal wo-
man of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty
The consort of AMASIS(r. 570–526 B.C.E.), she was possi-
bly a daughter of APRIES, who was overthrown by Amasis.
Khedebneitheret was buried in SAQQARA. She was not the
ranking queen of Amasis.
Khemet See EGYPT.
Khemsit (Khemsait, Kemsiyet) (fl. 21st century
B.C.E.)Royal companion of the Eleventh Dynasty
She was a member of the HAREMof MONTUHOTEP II(r.
2061–2010 B.C.E.) of the Eleventh Dynasty. Khemsit was
buried in the king’s vast mortuary complex in DEIR EL-
BAHRIon the western shore of THEBES. Her SARCOPHAGUS
designated her as yet another “Sole Favorite of the King.”
Khendjer (Userkaré) (fl. c. 1740 B.C.E.) Thirteenth
Dynasty ruler
An obscure ruler of this relatively undocumented dynasty,
he came to power c. 1740 B.C.E. Khendjer is listed in the
TURIN CANON. He is famed for adorning the tomb of DJER,
the second pharaoh of the First Dynasty, at ABYDOS. Djer’s
tomb was thought to be the actual grave of the god OSIRIS.
Khendjer’s act of piety in providing the tomb with an
OSIRIS BED, a votive memorial, was recorded in his
records. He also commissioned the cleaning and refur-
bishing of the temple of Osiris at Abydos. Ruling only
about four years, Khendjer built his tomb in southern
SAQQARA. The pyramidal complex, made of a mud-brick
core with a limestone facing, was graced with quartzite
portcullises and corridors that led to a burial chamber,
also made of black quartzite. The MORTUARY CHAPELof
the tomb had palm columns. The limestone facing used
on the complex structures of Khendjer was later removed
by RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) for his own monu-
ments. There is evidence of robbery on the site, but
Khendjer does not appear to have used the pyramid. His
name was erased in some areas of the complex.Khenemsu (Khentikhety-hotep)(fl. 19th century
B.C.E.)Official and mining leader of the Twelfth Dynasty
He served SENWOSRET III(r. 1878–1841 B.C.E.) as the royal
treasurer and the leader of the various mining expeditions
conducted in that era. The utilization of Egypt’s natural
resources was a vital aspect of Senwosret III’s reign. Khen-
emsu was in charge of the SINAIterritory and had to
defend Egypt’s holdings from BEDOUIN(bedwi) raids while
mining copper and malachite. While inspecting the WADI
MAGHARA, Khenemsu was accompanied on his tours by
Ameniseneb, Sitra, and Sebeko, also officials. A STELA
erected by a subordinate, Harnakht, confirms the expedi-
tion and the unusual manner of travel, by boat. Khenemsu
is also listed as Khentikhety-hotep in some records.
See also EGYPTIAN NATURAL RESOURCES.Khensuhotep(fl. c. 14th century B.C.E.)Author of the
Maxims
The Maximswere a religious literary text of the Eighteenth
Dynasty (1550–1307 B.C.E.). Khensuhotep addressed his
fellow Egyptians and urged them to remember that the
gods honored silent prayer and decreed right behavior
(MA’AT) in all creatures. The Maximswere popular through-
out the Nile Valley.Khentakawes (1) (fl. 25th century B.C.E.) Royal wo-
man of the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties
She was the daughter of Prince DJEDEFHOR’, or Menkauré,
heirs to the throne of KHUFU(Cheops). Khentakawes mar-
ried SHEPSESKHAF(r. 2472–2467 B.C.E.) and became the
mother of SAHURÉand KAKAI(Neferirkaré). She also may
have been the mother of DJEDEFPTAH(Thamptis), who is
listed in the TURIN CANONand mentioned by MANETHO,
the Ptolemaic historian, as ruling Egypt for two years. Her
daughter was KHAMA’AT, who married PTAHSHEPSES(1), the
high priest of MEMPHIS. Khentakawes was honored with
two tombs—one at GIZAand one at ABUSIR. Her tomb at
Giza shows her with a royal BEARDand a URAEUS. She was
possibly regent when Shepseskhaf died.Khentakawes (2)(fl. 25th century B.C.E.)Royal
woman of the Fifth Dynasty
She was the consort of KAKAI(Neferirkaré) (r. 2446–
2426 B.C.E.) and the mother of NEFEREFRÉand NIUSERRÉ.200 Khatru