Khentakawes was depicted as wearing the pharaonic
symbol of the URAEUSand carrying a SCEPTER, perhaps
serving as regent for a time.
Khentemsemti(fl. 19th century B.C.E.)Mining and
royal treasury official of the Twelfth Dynasty
He served AMENEMHET II(r. 1929–1892 B.C.E.) as a royal
treasurer and a leader of expeditions to mines and quar-
ries. Khentemsemti left an inscription about one such
expedition on ELEPHANTINEIsland at ASWAN.
Khentetka(fl. 26th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Fourth Dynasty
She was a secondary queen of RA’DJEDEF(r. 2528–2520
B.C.E.). A statue of Khentetka was recovered from the
unfinished pyramid of Ra’djedef in ABU ROWASH. Her
remains have not been found, but a newly discovered
pyramid on the site may be her tomb.
Khentiamentiu He was a divine being of Egypt, the
forerunner of the god OSIRIS, dating to Predynastic Peri-
ods (before 3,000 B.C.E.). Called “the Foremost of the
Westerners,” he was depicted as a JACKAL. The title indi-
cates that Khentiamentiu was associated with the MOR-
TUARYRITUALSas a guardian of the dead, who went to
“the West.” Normally the necropolis areas were located
on the western shore of the Nile. Sometimes addressed
as Ophis, Khentiamentiu was a warrior deity and the
navigator for the sun’s nightly voyage in the TUAT, or
Underworld. His cultic shrines were in ABYDOS and
ASSIUT, and he was sometimes associated with WEP-
WAWET, the wolf deity. His cult was popular in the First
Dynasty (2920–2770 B.C.E.). The PYRAMID TEXTSof the
Fourth Dynasty (2575–2465 B.C.E.) associated Khentia-
mentiu with Osiris. Soon after, Osiris became “the Fore-
most of the Westerners,” and the Khentiamentiu cult
disappeared.
Khentikhety-hotep See KHENEMSU.
Khentikus (Khentika)(fl. 24th and 23rd centuries
B.C.E.) Vizier and royal judge of the Sixth Dynasty
He served TETI(r. 2323–2291 B.C.E.) and PEPI I(r. 2289–
2255 B.C.E.). His tomb near MEMPHISdeclared his honors
as a VIZIERand supreme judge of the court system. Khen-
tikus, sometimes listed as Khentika, was depicted in
tomb reliefs as passing judgment on five unworthy gover-
nors. Two condemned governors are already tied to poles
in the scene, in preparation for physical punishment.
Khenut(fl. 24th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Fifth Dynasty
She was a consort of UNIS(r. 2356–2323 B.C.E.). Khenut’s
tomb is located near Unis’s mortuary temple in SAQQARA.
Kheper (Khepri, Kheperé) He was a divine being of
Egypt. A creator deity, Kheper was associated with the
daily cycle of the sun and symbolized the sun at dawn.
Having a cult center at HELIOPOLIS, Kheper was a manifes-
tation of the god RÉ. He is depicted as a man with a
SCARABpushing the sun across the sky. In PETOSIRIS’s
tomb at TUNA EL-GEBEL, dating to the Ptolemaic Period
(304–30 B.C.E.), Kheper is shown wearing an Atef
CROWN. He was also mentioned in the PYRAMID TEXTS.
Self-created, Kheper was associated with ATUM.
See also GODS AND GODDESSES; SOLAR CULTS.khepesh (khopresh) The sickle-shaped sword used by
the Egyptians in military campaigns in the New Kingdom
(1550–1070 B.C.E.), the weapon was HYKSOSin origin,
introduced by the Asiatic invaders.khephresh See CROWNS.khert-neter This term translates as “that which is
beneath a god” and was used in ancient Egypt to denote a
cemetery or necropolis. Most cemetery areas had particu-
lar patrons, deities who resided on overlooking cliffs and
surveyed the tombs located in the region. MERESGER(1), a
goddess of THEBES, is an example of such cliff-dwelling
deities overlooking the khert-neter.Kheruef(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Palace official of the
Eighteenth Dynasty
He served as the royal steward of AMENHOTEP III(r.
1391–1353 B.C.E.). Kheruef’s main duties were involved
with the daily administrative affairs of Queen TIYE(1),
Amenhotep III’s dynamic and powerful consort. His
tomb at DRA-ABÚ EL-NAGA, on the western shore of
THEBES, contains fine reliefs that display his life and hon-
ors. Amenhotep II is depicted in the reliefs, and there are
scenes of Queen Tiye and AKHENATEN as a prince. A
columned hall and painted scenes also grace Kheruef’s
tomb.Khesuwer(fl. 20th century B.C.E.) Religious official of
the Twelfth Dynasty
He served as an inspector of “the Prophets of HATHOR” in
the reign of SENWOSRET I(1971–1926 B.C.E.). His tomb
was discovered near Kom el-Hisn, called “the Mound of
the Fort.” The chambers of the stone tomb are painted
and scenic. A temple to HATHORand SEKHMETonce stood
on the site.
See also IMU.Khety I(Meryibré, Aktoy)(fl. 22nd century B.C.E.)
Founder of the Ninth Dynasty
He based his royal line at HERAKLEOPOLISin 2134 B.C.E.
The dynasty, combined with the Tenth, ruled a portionKhety I 201