362 Senhebtomb with that of the queen-pharaoh. This or some other
transgression brought about his fall from power. He never
occupied the tomb that he constructed and never used
the red quartzite sarcophagus prepared for him. A statue
in the shrine of Tuthmosis III (r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.) at
Deir el-Bahri, however, called Djeser-Akhet, reportedly
was given to Senenmut. A shrine at GEBEL EL-SILSILEH
depicts Senenmut making offerings to the local deity and
an ASWANinscription also credits him with quarrying
OBELISKSfor Hatshepsut.
His sudden death or disappearance in the 19th year
of Hatshepsut’s reign left the queen-pharaoh vulnerable.
A mummified horse was discovered in Senenmut’s tomb.
He had fashioned two tombs actually, one in SHEIKH ABD’
EL-QURNAand the uncompleted one at Deir el-Bahri.
Senheb(fl. 24th century B.C.E.) Dwarf textile official of
the Sixth Dynasty
He was a DWARFwho supervised the royal textile works
and was honored for his skills and knowledge. Senheb
married a princess and raised two normal sized children.
Buried in GIZA, Senheb was honored with a statue depict-
ing him, his wife, and their two children.
Senisonbe (Seniseb)(fl. 15th century B.C.E.)Royal
woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty
She was the mother of TUTHMOSIS I(r. 1504–1492 B.C.E.),
having royal lineage from a collateral side of the royal
family of ’AHMOSE(r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.). She was proba-
bly married to another royal personage. Senisonbe
received many honors in Tuthmosis I’s reign.
Sennacherib(d. 681 B.C.E.)Assyrian king and enemy of
Egypt
He ruled from c. 704 B.C.E. until his death and was a con-
temporary of SHABAKA(r. 712–698 B.C.E.). A series of
confrontations between the Egyptians and the ASSYRIANS
took place in Palestine. In 701 B.C.E., Sennacherib met
the Egyptian army and was defeated, ending his plans for
occupying Egypt.
See also ASSYRIANS.
Sennufer(fl. 15th century B.C.E.) Nome prince and offi-
cial of the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served AMENHOTEP II(r. 1427–1401 B.C.E.) as mayor
of THEBES. He probably held the rank of “Royal Seal
Bearer” for TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.), and he
was also the supervisor of the gardens of AMUN’s temple.
Sennufer was a hereditary prince of his NOME.
Sennufer’s tomb at SHEIKH ABD’ EL-QURNAon the
western bank of the Nile at Thebes is elaborately painted
with scenes depicting his career. His wife, Senetney, was
listed as “the King’s nurse.” There is some indication that
Sennufer’s tomb was originally prepared for TUTHMOSIS II
(r. 1492–1479 B.C.E.) but was abandoned by the ruler.
CANOPIC JARSand other funerary regalia were discovered
in the tomb. The antechamber depicts an arbor of vines
and grapes and religious scenes. Family portraits also
decorate the walls. The actual burial chamber was subter-
ranean.Sennuwy (Sennuity) (fl. 20th century B.C.E.)Royal
woman of the Twelfth Dynasty, known for her beautiful por-
trait statue
She was the wife of Prince HEPZEFA, in the reign of SEN-
WOSRET I(1971–1926 B.C.E.). Her statue was discovered
in the fortress of KERMEHat the third cataract of the Nile
in NUBIA(modern Sudan). Prince Hepzefa was perhaps
commander of the fort territory. The statue of Sennuwy
depicts a beautiful young woman and is considered one
of the finest examples of Egyptian sculpture from the
Middle Kingdom.
See also ART AND ARCHITECTURE.Sentseneb (Sent-Senbet, Sent-senbes)(fl. 19th cen-
tury B.C.E.)Royal woman of the Twelfth Dynasty
She was a daughter of SENWOSRET III (r. 1878–1841
B.C.E.) and was buried in the royal necropolis of DASHUR.senut This was the Egyptian name for FLAGSTAFFSposi-
tioned on the facades of TEMPLES. Such flagstaffs were
important elements of temple entrances, displaying royal
pennants when the PHARAOHwas in residence and serving
as stations for the emblems of the gods.Senwosret I (Kheperkaré)(d. 1926 B.C.E.) Second
ruler of the Twelfth Dynasty
He reigned from 1971 B.C.E. until his death. The son of
AMENEMHET Iand Queen NEFRU-TOTENEN, he served as
coregent with his father for 10 years before ascending the
throne. As a prince, Senwosret I began his Nubian and
Libyan campaigns. Amenemhet I was assassinated while
Senwosret I was campaigning in Libya, beyond the WADI
NATRUN. The event is an element of the popular tale
known as SINUHE THE SAILOR,as the character Sinuhe was
supposedly a servant of Senwosret I’s consort, Queen
NEFRUSHERI, daughter of Amenemhet I. Senwosret I raced
back to Egypt to crush the HAREMconspiracy responsible
for the murder and to punish the intended usurpers. The
capital at the time was at ITJ-TAWY, a site on the border
between Upper and Lower Egypt.
Militarily active, Senwosret I campaigned in NUBIA
(modern Sudan) all the way to the third cataract and also
founded the great fortress of BUHEN. He used quarries and
mines and controlled the oases of the LIBYAN DESERTand
the resources in the SINAI. He built KERMEHfortress in
Nubia and regulated operations at the mines of WADI
HALFAas well as regional diorite quarries. Copper was
mined in Wadi Hudi, and red granite was taken from a
quarry south of ASWAN.