Nesnimu (fl. seventh century B.C.E.) Sage and official of
the Twenty-sixth Dynasty
He served PSAMMETICHUS I(r. 664–610 B.C.E.) as a valued
counselor and as the mayor of various cities. Nesnimu
started his career as a priest of the cult of Horus in EDFU
but became well known for his wisdom and administra-
tive skills. Psammetichus I appointed him as the mayor of
eight separate Egyptian cities, one after another, and Nes-
nimu continued in these roles until his retirement.
Nessumontu(fl. 20th century B.C.E.)Military official of
the Twelfth Dynasty
He served AMENEMHET I(r. 1991–1962 B.C.E.) and SEN-
WOSRET I(r. 1971–1926 B.C.E.) as a military commander.
Nessumontu led an expedition against the Asiatic
Bedouins in the SINAI, probably with Nubian (modern
Sudanese) mercenary units. He was there to protect mines
and QUARRIES, possibly reopening some sites. His mortu-
ary stela, now in the Louvre in Paris, recounts his career.
See also EGYPTIAN NATURAL RESOURCES.
netcher This was the ancient Egyptian name for the
deity symbol used on totems and pennants. When a
netcherwas displayed on the FLAGSTAFFat the entrance to
a temple or shrine, it denoted the presence of the deity in
the structure. The netcherwas visible when the pennants
were flown by the wind. Flagstaffs and pennants were
part of all religious buildings, dating to the displays of
clan and NOMEcult totems in the earliest periods in the
Nile Valley.
neter This was the ancient Egyptian word for a deity,
translated as “power” or “strength,” as well as “renewal”
or “renovation.” A NETERITwas a site or town dedicated
to a GOD. In the truly archaic periods, the word was trans-
lated as “possessing the power to renew life indefinitely,”
and was translated as well as “strong of arm.”
neterit This was the ancient Egyptian word for a sacred
domain or a divine site, a building or a town dedicated to
a particular deity or group of gods.
Neterka (Chairés)(fl. 27th century B.C.E.)Obscure
pharaoh of the Second Dynasty
Neterka was reportedly the seventh ruler of his line. He
was mentioned in the TURIN CANON. No other informa-
tion has been documented about him.
neter nefer A title used by the pharaohs of Egypt to
affirm their divine status, netersignified a deity. The use
of the qualifying nefer,meaning good or beautiful, less-
ened the divine status to some extent, designating a
human element that modified the godlike qualities on
earth. This definition was acceptable to the Egyptians,
who understood the role of the PHARAOHas being both
human and divine while he lived. In many cases, how-
ever, the pharaohs were deified after death and in some
instances even during their lifetime. RAMESSES II (r.
1290–1224 B.C.E.) was made a god at ABU SIMBELbefore
he died in 1224 B.C.E.neterui An instrument used in the MORTUARY RITUALS
of Egypt, called “the Opening of the Mouth,” the neterui,
used with the UR-HEKA in such ceremonies, was also
placed in the mummy wrappings to secure the protection
of the gods. It was a simple angle form made of stone or
metal. The neteruiwas considered capable of summoning
the gods for protection in the realms beyond the grave.net spells They were magical formulas used by the
Egyptians in mortuary rituals to provide mummies with
needed protection on the last journey into the TUAT,or
Underworld. They were included in the BOOK OF THE
DEAD. These incantations allowed the deceased to avoid
the snares of demons. Hraf-hef, called “HE-WHO-LOOKS-
BEHIND-HIMSELF,” the ferryman on the Lake of Eternity,
could also be placated by the net spells. Hraf-hef was
reportedly an irritable being who had to be cajoled into
carrying the dead to the various paradises on the opposite
shore.Niankh-amun(fl. 24th century B.C.E.) One of the Fifth
Dynasty court officials buried in the tomb of the Two Broth-
ers in Saqqara
A royal manicurist in life, Niankh-amun shared his tomb
with a fellow courtier named Khnumhotep. The tomb of
the Two Brothers was an elaborate MASTABAlocated near
the pyramid of UNIS(r. 2356–2323 B.C.E.). The families of
both courtiers were also buried in the tomb.Nibamon (Nibamun, Nebamon)(fl. 15th centuryB.C.E.)
Military official of the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.) as a stew-
ard and military officer. Nibamon was on the staff of a
Queen NEBETU’U(2), a lesser-ranked consort of Tuthmo-
sis III. He then entered military service and became a cap-
tain in the royal navy. His mortuary stela, discovered in
Thebes, contains details of his career.Night of the Tear This was an ancient Egyptian FESTI-
VA L, called Qork en-Hatiu or Gerh-en-Hatiu to depict the
tears of the goddess ISIS, shed as commemoratives of
OSIRIS’s death. Actually an agricultural or calendric festi-
val, the celebration honored the annual inundations of
the NILERiver. The Night of the Tear was celebrated on
the eleventh day of Paoni, considered by many scholars
to be the modern June 17. The feast was also called the
Night of the Drop.276 Nesnimu