ered by costly ASWANstone. A basalt SARCOPHAGUSwas
placed within the pyramid and contained fine panel deco-
rations. Statues and other reliefs attest to the skill of the
artisans of his historical period. In the Twenty-sixth
Dynasty (664–525 B.C.E.) Menkauré’s remains were
placed into a new wooden coffin. His basalt SARCOPHAGUS
was taken to Europe, but it reportedly went down in a
shipwreck off the coast of Spain.
Menkhaf(fl. 26th century B.C.E.) Princely vizier of the
Fourth Dynasty
He was a son of KHUFU(Cheops; r. 2551–2528 B.C.E.) and
a lesser ranked wife. Menkhaf served as a VIZIERfor his
father but was not the designated heir. He was part of
that dynasty’s tradition of using only royal family mem-
bers in positions of power or trust.
Menkheperresenb (1)(fl. 15th century B.C.E.)Archi-
tect and priestly official of the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served TUTHMOSIS III (r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.) as the
fourth prophet of AMUNand as a chief architect. He was
also a nome aristocrat. Menkheperresenb was buried in
KHOKHAon the western shore of THEBES, and his tomb
contained scenes of everyday Egyptian life, temple work-
shops, and a portrait of Tuthmosis III. Menkheperresenb
also controlled the royal residence at Thebes, called “the
Gold and Silver Houses,” a designation symbolizing the
union of Upper and Lower Egypt under the pharaoh.
Menkheperresenb (2)(fl. 11th century B.C.E.)High
priest of Amun at Thebes in the Twenty-first Dynasty
He served in this priestly capacity during the reign of
PSUSENNES I(1040–992 B.C.E.). Menkheperresenb was the
son of PINUDJEM(1) and Queen HENUTTAWYand the
brother of Djedkhonsufankh. When his brother died,
Menkheperresenb succeeded him in the temple office. He
married Psusennes’s daughter, ISTEMKHEBE(3), who bore
a daughter of the same name, as well as PSUSENNES II, PIN-
UDJEM(2), and SMENDES II.
Unlike other members of his family, Menkheperre-
senb served as high priest of AMUNwithout assuming
royal ceremonies and attire, but he did have his name
recorded in a CARTOUCHE, a royal insignia. Menkheperre-
senb made his base of operations at el-HIBAand put down
Theban revolts efficiently, exiling the leaders of these
rebellions to the oases of the LIBYAN DESERT. He died in
the last year of reign of Psusennes I and was buried in
THEBES.
Menna(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Treasury official of the
Eighteenth Dynasty
He served TUTHMOSIS IV(r. 1401–1391 B.C.E.) as a tax col-
lector, estate inspector, and harvest collector. Menna was
attached to the temple’s assessment programs, visiting the
various agricultural regions and tallying crops and tithes.
His mortuary stela portrays him in the course of his
duties. His tomb on the west bank of Thebes, at SHEIKH
ABD’ EL-QURNA, depicts his activities, including directing
the punishment of errant officials who tried to avoid the
tithes or duties imposed by the crown. His wife and
daughter are portrayed as well in beautiful rural settings.Menouthis This is a sunken city on the northern coast
of Egypt, rediscovered with the cities of CANOPUSand
Heraklion by divers. Menouthis was the wife of Canopus,
a military aide of the Spartan king Menelaos, and was
honored by having the city named after her. Canopus had
visited Heraklion with Menelaos. He was stung by a viper
while on this tour and died. HERODOTUS, the Greek histo-
rian who visited Egypt c. 450 B.C.E., wrote about the
cities and their naming.
When the city of ALEXANDRIA was founded by
ALEXANDER III THE GREAT(r. 332–323 B.C.E.) in 331 B.C.E.,
as the new capital of Egypt, Heraklion lost its economic
base. An earthquake and tidal wave destroyed all three
cities sometime during the seventh or eighth century C.E.
Statues, city grids, remains of temples, and tributes to the
deities ISIS, OSIRIS, and SERAPISare being recovered from
Menouthis and the other sunken sites. Heraklion’s
remains are about four miles out at sea from the bay of
Abu Qir, and artifacts and magnificent carved pieces are
being lifted from their watery resting places. An elaborate
museum area is planned by the Egyptian government to
safeguard the relics being rescued from these ancient
sites.Mentjuhotep(c. 16th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Seventeenth Dynasty
She was a consort of Senakhtenré TA’OI(date of reign
unknown). Mentjuhotep was buried at DRA-ABÚ EL-NAGA
in THEBES. Ta’o I ruled Thebes and most of Upper Egypt,
while the Hyksos were in control of the northern
domains. Ta’o II would begin the crusade to force the
HYKSOSout of the Nile Valley. Mentjuhotep was probably
a lesser ranked consort, as TETISHERIwas the Great Wife
of the reign.Mentuemhat(fl. seventh century B.C.E.) “Prince of the
City” of Thebes
He was the fourth prophet of Amun at THEBES, called “the
Prince of the City,” and serving TAHARQA (r. 690–664
B.C.E.), TANUTAMUN (r. 664–657 B.C.E.), NECHO I (r.
672–664 B.C.E.), and PSAMMETICHUS I(664–610 B.C.E.),
also ruling a part of Egypt in his lifetime. Mentuemhat
witnessed the rise and fall of the Nubian Dynasty and the
Assyrian invasion of Egypt. ASSURBANIPAL, the Assyrian
ruler, approved of Mentuemhat during his visit to Thebes
as the conqueror of Egypt and allowed the Egyptian to
remain in his position, impressed by the man’s intellect
and power.Mentuemhat 237