712–698 B.C.E.) and AMASIS(r. 570–526 B.C.E.). This com-
plex is west of the remains of an earlier temple dating to
the reign of TUTHMOSIS IV(1401–1391 B.C.E.). At nearby
Kom el-Rabi’a is a temple to HATHORerected by Ramesses
II and a temple to Ptah from the reign of MERENPTAH
(1224–1214 B.C.E.). This has a palace compound as well.
Tombs from the First Intermediate Period (2134–2040
B.C.E.) and the Middle Kingdom (2040–1640 B.C.E.) are at
Mit Rahinah. There are also priest tombs nearby, built
during the Twenty-second Dynasty (945–712 B.C.E.).
Mitry(fl. 24th century B.C.E.) High-ranking legal official
of the Fifth Dynasty (2465–2323 B.C.E.
He served in the early periods of that royal line as a
provincial administrator of royal territories. Mitry was
also one of “the MAGNATES OF THE SOUTHERN TEN,” a
high-ranking position as counselor and judge. His tomb
in SAQQARAcontained 11 wooden statues, extremely rare
in ancient Egypt, life-sized portraits of the official and his
wife.
Mi-wer This is a site near modern KOM MEDINET GHUROB
in the FAIYUMregion that served as a royal retirement estate
for elderly or indisposed queens of the Eighteenth
(1550–1307 B.C.E.), Nineteenth (1307–1196 B.C.E.), and
Twentieth (1196–1070 B.C.E.) Dynasties. The complex at
Mi-wer was started by TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.)
and was a vast estate with royal residences and educational
institutions. RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) used Mi-wer
during his reign, and Queen NEFERTARIMerymut report-
edly retired there after attending the dedication of her tem-
ple at ABU SIMBEL. The complex did not survive the end of
the New Kingdom in 1070 B.C.E.
Mnevis A deity of Egypt, originally called Mer-wer or
Nem-ur, “the Living Sun God,” Mnevis was associated
with RÉ, and called “the Soul of Ré.” Mnevis was symbol-
ized in rituals by a bull that was worshiped at HELIOPOLIS.
This BULLwas second in rank to APISand was considered
a true oracle. The mother cow giving birth to a Mnevis
bull, which had to be entirely black and had to have tufts
of hair on its body and tail, was believed to have been
transformed into Hesat, a cow goddess. The Mnevis bull
was so popular as part of the solar cult of Ré-Atum that
AKHENATEN(r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.) declared that such ani-
mals should be buried at ’AMARNA(Akhetaten), his capi-
tal.
Most Mnevis bulls were interred in Heliopolis, in a
necropolis under the modern site of Cairo’s Arab el-Tawil.
A stela of Prince ’Ahmose, believed to be the princely son
of AMENHOTEP II(r. 1427–1401 B.C.E.), was discovered
there. RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) began the custom
of erecting stone structures over rectangular pits, and
each bull was buried in a large chamber decorated with
reliefs. The pits were necessary because of the flat terrain
of the area. MERENPTAH(r. 1224–1214 B.C.E.) buried a
Mnevis bull during his reign, building a limestone sar-
cophagus for the internment. The various reliefs and
sacred paintings portrayed the Mnevis bull with a sun
disk and the uraeus on its horns. Mnevis was associated
with OSIRISin some historical periods and remained pop-
ular throughout the Late Period (712–332 B.C.E.).Moalla, el- This is a necropolis south of THEBES, dating
to the First Intermediate Period (2134–2040 B.C.E.). Two
of the tombs at el-Moalla are famous for their decorations
and paintings. These are the tombs of ANKHTIFYand
SOBEKHOTEP. El-Moalla was a necropolis serving the area
known as TOD. The Egyptians called it Hefat.Moeris, Lake A vast water deposit in the FAIYUM
region of Egypt, now represented by Birkat Qarun. Dur-
ing the Predynastic Period (before 3000 B.C.E.), the lake
stood about 120 feet above sea level. The lake rose and
sank periodically, and during the Middle Kingdom
(2040–1640 B.C.E.) efforts were made to halt the silting of
the channel that connected Lake Moeris to the Nile.
Refurbished, the lake served as a flood route and as a
reservoir. The area around the reduced Lake Moeris
became popular in the Ptolemaic Period (304–30 B.C.E.).Mokattem This was a site near modern Cairo used in
many periods of Egyptian history as a source of fine qual-
ity limestone. DJOSER (r. 2630–2611 B.C.E.) used the
QUARRY for the construction of the STEP PYRAMID in
SAQQARA. Other pharaohs employed Mokattem’s limestone
in several eras.
See also EGYPTIAN NATURAL RESOURCES.Momemphis A site in the Delta, probably at one time
located near Terana on the Canopic branch of the Nile,
Momemphis was the scene of a battle between AMASIS(r.
570–526 B.C.E.) and APRIES(r. 589–570 B.C.E.) for the
throne of Egypt. Apries had been removed from power by
the mutiny of his Egyptian troops. He fled from the Nile
and returned with Greek mercenaries who did not sup-
port him with enthusiasm. Apries lost the battle and was
taken prisoner. He was given to the Egyptian soldiers,
who killed him.mongoose See ICHNEUMON.months They were the ancient Egyptian periods of 30
days each, incorporated into the calendar by the priests
of early historical periods. The months were part of three
seasons and are as follows:
Season of akhet—the inundation—winter
Thoth
Paopimonths 249