Nefru-Sobek (2) (fl. 20th century B.C.E.) Royal woman
of the Twelfth Dynasty
She was a consort of AMENEMHET I(r. 1991–1962 B.C.E.),
becoming queen when another favorite was involved in
an ongoing HAREMplot, or when the older consort died.
Another harem plot did succeed, taking the life of the
pharaoh.
See also SINUHE THE SAILOR.
Nefru-Sobek (3) (fl. 20th century B.C.E.) Royal woman
of the Twelfth Dynasty
A daughter of SENWOSRET I(r. 1971–1926 B.C.E.), Nefru-
Sobek was buried in el-LISHT. A granite bowl bearing her
name was discovered in Senwosret I’s tomb.
Nefrusy (Nefrussy) This was a site north of HER-
MOPOLIS MAGNAthat was involved in the military cam-
paigns of KAMOSE(r. 1555–1550 B.C.E.). The HYKSOSand
their Asiatic allies maintained a garrison at Nefrusy.
Kamose, who adapted the Hyksos CHARIOTand formed an
effective Egyptian cavalry for his campaigns, attacked the
garrison with a contingent of MEDJAYtroops, the warriors
of the south who were feared by the enemy. The defenders
of Nefrusy were stunned by the arrival of Kamose’s units
and fled northward, relinquishing the outpost. This was
one of the first military episodes undertaken by Kamose in
his efforts to oust the Hyksos from Egypt. APOPHIS(2), the
Hyksos king at AVARIS, died soon after this assault.
Kamose did not live long enough to complete his efforts, a
task that fell to his brother, ’AHMOSE(r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.).
Nefru-totenen(fl. 20th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of
the Twelfth Dynasty
The consort of AMENEMHET I(r. 1991–1962 B.C.E.), she
was the mother of SENWOSRET I. Nefru-totenen was a
commoner who probably married Amenemhet I before he
usurped the throne. She was buried in a small pyramid at
el-LISHT.
Negative Confessions Part of the mortuary rituals of
ancient Egypt now called the “Declarations of Inno-
cence,” this text was developed by the various priests of
the temples to aid the deceased when in the presence of
the FORTY-TWO JUDGESin the JUDGMENT HALLS OF OSIRIS.
The confessions were to be recited to establish the moral
virtue of the deceased and his or her right to eternal bliss.
The Negative Confessions detail some of the ethical and
moral concerns of the various eras of Egypt, expressing
the aspirations and the acknowledgment of personal
responsibility for actions. The confessions included
I have not stolen.
I have not plundered.
I have not slain people.
I have not committed a crime.I have not stolen the property of a god.
I have not said lies.
I have not cursed.
I have not copulated with another man.
I have not copulated with another man’s wife.
I have not caused anyone to weep.
I have not eaten my heart (indulged in despair).
I have not led anyone astray.
I have not gossiped.
I have not slandered.
I have not been contentious in affairs.
I have not caused terror.
I have not become heatedly angry.
I have not eavesdropped.
I have not made anyone angry.
I have not made anyone hungry.Such confessions covered the scope of the average
person’s life in Egypt in all eras. The regulation of per-
sonal conduct was a constant theme in didactic LITERA-
TUREon the Nile, including admonitions against petty
acts and minor bad habits, which were consistently con-
sidered important to the social and spiritual well-being of
the nation. The spirit of cooperation and quietude are
also evident in the confessions. The length of the Nega-
tive Confessions varied, and in some periods each one of
the affirmations was accompanied by an address to a par-
ticular judge.
See also MORTUARY RITUALS.Nehah-ré A serpentine being associated with the elab-
orate cultic traditions of the god RÉ, Nehah-ré attacked
Ré on his nightly round through the TUAT, or the Under-
world, but failed to halt the divine travels. The serpent
was slain each night, only to rise again to continue his
deadly assaults.
See also APOPHIS(1).Nehem-awit She was a divine form of the goddess
HATHOR, called “the Deliverer from Violence,” “the
Sweeper Away of the Oppressed,” and “the One Who
Serves the Deprived.” Depicted as a woman wearing a
solar or lunar disk crown, Nehem-awit was also associ-
ated with the musical instrument called the SISTRUM,or
seses.She used the sistrum to repel evil spirits. Nehem-
awit was sometimes shown wearing a sistrum crown or
the pillar of Hathor on her head. The goddess was
invoked by Egyptians of all eras as one who could repel
curses and evil spirits.Nehes A divine being, a form of the sun god RÉ, his
name was translated as “the Awakened One,” “the Awak-
ened,” or “the Alert One.” Nehes was a companion of
Ré in the nightly journey through the TUAT, or the
Underworld, one of a retinue of spirits that guarded Ré’s272 Nefru-Sobek