Re’emkuy 341AMYRTAIOS, who ruled a small area of the Delta in the
reign of ARTAXERXES I(465–424 B.C.E.), survived the Per-
sian assault on INAROS, a prince of HELIOPOLIS. Inaros
killed a royal prince of Persia in a battle and was hunted
down and captured by General MEGABYZUS. He was then
crucified at the command of the slain prince’s royal
mother. Amyrtaios was not pursued during the Inaros
episode and remained in control of his small domain.
The third rebel against the Persians was KHABABASH,
reportedly the successor to NECTANEBO II (r. 360–343
B.C.E.). He was not successful, but his leadership and his
desire for a free Egypt was repeatedly commemorated
over the years by the Egyptians and by PTOLEMY I SOTER
(r. 304–284 B.C.E.) on the SATRAP STELA.
Four rebels raised a call to arms during the Ptolemaic
Dynasty, the line of Greeks who claimed Egypt following
the death of ALEXANDER [III]THE GREATin 323 B.C.E.
CHARONNOPHIS and HOR-WEN-NEFER, Thebans, each
started rebellions in the reign of PTOLEMY IV PHILOPATER
(221–205 B.C.E.) but were easily defeated.
In the reign of PTOLEMY V EPIPHANES (205–180
B.C.E.), two other rebels tried to gain the support of the
Egyptians. Probably their fellow countrymen recognized
the fact that the Greeks would not allow the Ptolemaic
line to fall, and an independent Egypt faced enemies,
including the Seleucids and the growing power called
Rome. ANKHWENNOFRÉled a small group for a time but
failed. HARONOPHIS faced the Greeks and also met
defeat.
recensions An evolving form of mortuary and reli-
gious LITERATURE in Egypt that demonstrates the
advances made in the burial rites and semimagical rituals
concerning the dead, these works are variations of the
BOOK OF THE DEAD. Written in hieroglyphs, the recen-
sions demonstrated the ongoing changes made in such
literature concerning death and the realms beyond the
grave. They are divided into three historical categories.
On (Heliopolis) Recensions—the Heliopolitan form
that developed c. 3300 B.C.E., probably variations of even
earlier texts. This form was discovered in Old Kingdom
(2575–2134 B.C.E.) tombs, copied on coffins and sar-
cophagi.
Theban Recensions—the variations started in the
first half of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550–1307 B.C.E.),
written in hieroglyphs on papyri and divided into titled
chapters. Vignettes were also added to personalize the
texts. Illustrations were then included, making it neces-
sary to abbreviate or omit some chapters. The original
Theban Recensions contained 180 chapters, although no
extant papyrus has all of them. These reproduced the his-
torical traditions of the priests at HELIOPOLIS, HERAK-
LEOPOLIS, ABYDOS, and THEBES. Internal references link the
Theban version to the First Dynasty reign of “Semti,”
probably SEMERKHET. Other references date to the reign of
MENKAURÉ(2490–2472 B.C.E.) in the Fourth Dynasty. A
later form of the Theban Recensions was started in the
Twentieth Dynasty (1196–1070 B.C.E.)
Saite—a series of recensions started during the
Twenty-fourth Dynasty (724–712 B.C.E.) or perhaps later
and popular only in the area of SAISin the Delta.Records of Restorations of Royal Mummies This
is a document dating to the Twenty-first Dynasty
(1040–945 B.C.E.), when HERIHORand other high priests
of AMUNbegan the process of salvaging the royal remains
of the pharaohs being ravaged by grave robbers. The first
two mummies were moved to a safe location at DEIR EL-
BAHRI. Some of the most famous pharaohs of the New
Kingdom and royalties of later periods were found there.
A second cache was in the tomb of AMENHOTEP IIin the
VALLEY OF THE KINGS.
See also MUMMY CACHES.Redesiyeh It was a temple site built by SETI I (r.
1306–1290 B.C.E.) some five miles north of modern EDFU
in Upper Egypt. The temple contains inscriptions con-
cerning the accomplishments of Seti I’s reign.Redji (Redyzet)(fl. 27th century B.C.E.) Royal woman
of the Third Dynasty
She was probably a daughter of DJOSER(r. 2630–2611
B.C.E.). A statue of Princess Redji was discovered in
SAQARRAand is now in the Turin Museum. Shown elabo-
rately dressed in a pose, Redji’s statue demonstrates the
growing artistic skills of that early period.Reed Fields A sacred designation for the deceased
Egyptians, fulfilling the requirements of all paradises,
having water, cool breezes, and fertile tracts, the Reed
Fields were sometimes depicted as a group of verdant
islands. All of the mortal occupations and recreations
were revived there. The dead had to perform agricultural
labors, tasks assigned to the SHABTIfigurines that accom-
panied the deceased. The BOOK OF THE DEADused sym-
bols of bound reeds to illustrate the Reed Fields.
See also PARADISE.Re’emkuy(fl. 24th century B.C.E.)Royal prince of the
Fifth Dynasty
He was the eldest son of IZEZI(r. 2388–2356 B.C.E.) and
the designated heir. Prince Re’emkuy served as a chief
lector priest, a scribe of the Sacred Writings, and as a
“Servant of the Throne.” He was also listed as a “Sole
Companion of the King.” Dying at a young age, Prince
Re’emkuy was buried in the SAQQARAtomb of a judge,
Neferiryetnes. The reliefs and decorations of the MASTABA
were changed to provide the prince with a suitable rest-
ing place.