cultic rituals for the deceased pharaohs, often residing in
the actual pyramid complex. Neka’ankh’s tomb was dis-
covered in SAQQARA, and a part of it was removed and
taken to the British Museum in London.
Nekau See NECHO I.
Nekauré(fl. 25th century B.C.E.)Prince of the Fourth
Dynasty known for his last will and testament
The son of KHAFRE(Chephren; r. 2520–2494 B.C.E.),
Nekauré was a mature adult when he died, and he
inscribed a will on the walls of his tomb at Giza that
announced that while “Living on His Two Feet, Without
Ailing in Any Respect” he was stating his testament for
his death. This phrase was the model for the modern
term “Being of Sound Mind and Body.” The will
bequeathed 14 towns and two estates in the pyramidal
complex of Khafre to his daughter, but her premature
death made it revert to Nekauré again and eventually to
his wife. Other properties were given to the mortuary
priests in order to secure an endowment of his funerary
cult. This will is a rare find, being the only document of
its kind from that era in Egyptian history.
Nekheb See ELKAB.
Nekhebet The white VULTUREgoddess, the patroness
of Upper Egypt, whose name meant “She of Enkhab, or
Nekheb,” modern ELKAB, Nekhebet was part of the
primeval cosmogonic traditions and symbolized nature
and childbirth. In Upper Egypt she was honored as “the
Lady of the Valley.” Her cult dated to the earliest periods
of Egyptian history. She was also depicted as a woman
with a vulture headdress and a white CROWN. A long-
stemmed flower, a water lily with a serpent entwined, was
her symbol. ’ADJIB of the First Dynasty (2920–2770
B.C.E.) used her name in his royal titles. Then she was
shown as a white vulture with wings outspread, holding
the ANKH,the cross of life. She was also addressed as “the
Great White Cow of Nekheb.”
AMENHOTEP II(r. 1427–1401 B.C.E.) erected a temple
to Nekhebet at Elkab. RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.)
enlarged the shrine and added a PYLON. There are crypts
under her temple that have elaborate reliefs and painted
scenes. A SACRED LAKE was part of the architectural
design. In the mortuary traditions, Nekhebet played a
role in the saga of OSIRIS and inhabited the primeval
abyss, NUN, the waters of chaos before creation. In this
capacity she was revered as a patroness of nature and cre-
ation. Nekhebet was also revered as a consort of HAPI(1)
in some eras.
Nekhebu (fl. 23rd century B.C.E.) Construction official
of the Sixth Dynasty
Nekhebu served PEPI I(r. 2289–2255 B.C.E.) as an archi-
tect and engineer and was involved in court building pro-
jects. He also directed state-sponsored royal programs,
including the construction of canals and temples.
Nekhebu and his son were buried at GIZA.Nekhen See HIERAKONPOLIS.Nekonekh(fl. 25th century B.C.E.)Royal official of the
Fifth Dynasty
He served USERKHAF(r. 2465–2458 B.C.E.) in the royal
court and was a nobleman, possibly related to the royal
family. Nekonekh received many endowments of land
and honors from the pharaoh, some dating originally to
the reign of MENKAURÉ(r. 2490–2472 B.C.E.).nemes A striped cloth headdress worn only by the
pharaohs, in some historical periods, the nemes,which
was distinguished by distending front panels, supported a
full CROWNor simple URAEUSsymbols. The nemeswere
fashioned out of stiff linens or leather.
See also DRESS.Nemtyemzaf See MERENRÉ I.Nenekhsekhmet(fl. 25th century B.C.E.)Medical offi-
cial of the Fifth Dynasty
He served SAHURÉ (r. 2438–2446 B.C.E.) as the chief
physician of the court and held that high-ranked position
for decades. Because of his service, he was given honors
at his death. Sahuré provided two FALSE DOORS for
Nenekhsekhmet’s tomb, and in this burial site the ruler is
depicted as praising the physician for his wisdom and
age. Nenekhsekhmet’s name is derived from his devotion
as a medical man to the goddess SEKHMET.
See also MEDICINE.Nenwif(fl. 15th century B.C.E.)Military official of the
Eighteenth Dynasty
Nenwif served TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.) as a
military commander and as the ranking officer of the
newly formed cavalry units. In this capacity he accompa-
nied Tuthmosis III on many of his prolonged and far-
reaching campaigns. Nenwif was commemorated for his
loyalty and skills on a mortuary stela at THEBES. His wife,
Irenana, his son, Meru, and his daughter, Demiwedja,
shared his mortuary honors. The names of the family
members indicate possible MEDJAYorigins, from Nubia
(modern Sudan).
See also TUTHMOSIS III’S MILITARY CAMPAIGNS.Neper He was an Egyptian grain deity dating to the
early eras and associated with the annual harvests. Popu-
lar from the Predynastic Period, before c. 3000 B.C.E.,274 Nekau