Meketré(fl. 21st century B.C.E.) Chancellor of the
Eleventh Dynasty famous for his mortuary figures
He served MONTUHOTEP II(r. 2061–2010 B.C.E.), as the
chancellor and chief steward of Egypt during a period of
war and reunification. Meketré also survived long enough
to serve MONTUHOTEP III(r. 2010–1998 B.C.E.). His tomb
at Deir el-Qurna, near DEIR EL-BAHRI, on the western
shore of the Nile at THEBES, was designed to rest on the
cliff. The tomb had a mud-brick wall and courtyard with
limestone columns. The entrance leads 20 yards into the
side of the cliff, where a chapel honors Meketré and his
son, Inyotef.
The beautifully wrapped mummy of Wah, Meketré’s
estate manager, was discovered there also. Modern X rays
revealed an elaborate funerary collar on Wah, necklaces,
and two solid silver scarabs. The burial chamber of
Meketré contained a cedar coffin with gilded inscriptions.
Other relatives were buried in nearby shafts. A hidden
chamber contained wooden replicas depicting daily life
on Meketré’s estate. Painted miniatures, including sol-
diers, ships, farmworkers, overseers, even cattle, were
placed in the tomb with miniature gardens and buildings.
A granary, bakery, spinning shop, and a workroom are
depicted, as well as yachts. The buildings contained por-
ticos, columns, and landscapes.
Mekhenet This was the Egyptian name of the solar bark
of the god RÉ, used during his sojourn through the sky.
See also MANDET.
Mekhtemweskhet (1)(fl. 10th century B.C.E.) Royal
woman of the Twenty-first Dynasty
She was the consort of Shoshenq, a Libyan military com-
mander at BUBASTIS, and the mother of OSOCHOR (r.
984–978 B.C.E.), SIAMUN (r. 978–959 B.C.E.), and
SHOSHENQ I(r. 945–924 B.C.E.). She also had another son,
Nimlot. Mekhtemweskhet was a Libyan noblewoman, a
member of the ruling class of the MESHWESH, the Libyan
ranking clan.
Mekhtemweskhet (2)(fl. seventh century
B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty
The consort of PSAMMETICHUS I(r. 664–610 B.C.E.), she
was the daughter of HARSIESE, the high priest of HELIOPO-
LIS, and was probably the mother of NECHO II(r. 610–595
B.C.E.), Psammetichus I’s heir. Mehtemweskhet’s daughter
was NITOCRIS (2), the GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN.
Mekhtemweskhet was honored with a tomb chapel at
KARNAK, along with Nitocris.
Mekhtemweskhet (3)(fl. seventh century B.C.E.)
Royal woman of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty
A consort of NECHO II(610–595 B.C.E.), she was probably
the daughter of PSAMMETICHUS Iand Queen MEKHTEM-
WESKHET(2). This Libyan queen was the mother of PSAM-
METICHUS II.Mekhu See SABNI.Memmius, Lucius(fl. second century B.C.E.)Roman
official and scholar who arrived in Egypt in 112 B.C.E.
His tour of the Nile Valley took place in the joint reign of
PTOLEMY IX SOTER II(116–107, 88–81 B.C.E.) and CLEOPA-
TRA(3). Memmius traveled to the FAIYUMregion in Mid-
dle Egypt in order to study crocodiles at CROCODILOPOLIS.
The royal court at ALEXANDRIAsent a letter to Faiyum
officials, instructing them to assist Lucius Memmius in
his efforts to see the LABYRINTHas well. The Labyrinth
was the temple precinct of AMENEMHET III(r. 1844–1797
B.C.E.) at HAWARA in the Faiyum. The Egyptians were
instructed to take “the greatest pains” in making Mem-
mius satisfied at every turn.Memnomium This was the name given to the ceno-
taph of SETI I(1306–1290 B.C.E.) or RAMESES II(r. 1290–
1224 B.C.E.) by the Greek historian STRABO. This L-
shaped tomb was located in ABYDOS.Memnon See COLOSSI OF MEMNON.Memphis This was the capital of ancient Egypt from
the Early Dynastic Period (2920–2575 B.C.E.), continuing
as a seat of political power even when the rulers main-
tained a capital in another area of the nation. Called
Hiku-Ptah, or Hat-Ka-Ptah, “the Mansion of the Soul of
PTAH,” Memphis was located on the western side of the
Nile, south of modern Cairo. The first capital of the first
nome of Lower Egypt, Memphis was supposedly founded
by AHA(Menes; 2920 B.C.E.). Legends state that this ruler
altered the course of the Nile in order to clear the plain
for his capital. This plain, on the western side of the Nile,
was some four miles wide, and its western end sloped
upward to the cliffs of the LIBYAN DESERT. The distinctive
white walls of the capital were made of mud bricks over-
laid with plaster and then painted. Memphis was thus
called Ineb-hedj, “the White Walled.” The original site is
now covered by the modern village of Badrasheen and
covers an archaeological field of three square miles.
In some eras Memphis was called “Ankh-Tawy,” “the
Life of the Two Lands.” When the capital of Egypt was
officially founded at HERAKLEOPOLIS, IT-TAW Y, THEBES, or
PER-RAMESSESin later historical periods, the affairs of
state were conducted in part in Memphis, and most
dynastic clans spent a portion of each year in residence
there. The city remained great throughout the nation’s
various eras.
The modern name derives from the period of the
Sixth Dynasty in the Old Kingdom, when PEPI I (r.Memphis 235