Shepenwepet 371Shedsunefertum(fl. 10th century B.C.E.) Official of the
Twenty-second Dynasty
He served SHOSHENQ I(r. 945–924 B.C.E.) as high priest of
PTAH. Shedsunefertum was married to a princess of the
Twenty-first Dynasty. The cult of Ptah, one of the earliest
in Egypt, was popular throughout the historical periods
of Egypt, and the priests of Ptah exerted considerable
influence in the court.
Sheikh Abd’ el-Qurna (Quru) It was a site on the
western bank of the Nile at THEBES, used as a necropolis
area. Actually a long hill, Sheikh Abd’ el-Qurna contained
Middle Kingdom (2040–1640 B.C.E.) and New Kingdom
(1550–1070 B.C.E.) tombs. The largest Theban necropo-
lis, the site is northwest of the RAMESSEUMand is divided
into three sections. The most famous tombs belonged to
dynastic officials, including NAKHT(2), a steward for
TUTHMOSIS IV(r. 1401–1391 B.C.E.). Nakht was also an
astronomer of AMUN. His small tomb has a painted
vestibule and a famous relief of a banquet scene, includ-
ing the figure of a blind harpist.
The tomb of ’Amethu, the VIZIERof TUTHMOSIS III(r.
1479–1425 B.C.E.) is also on this site, designed as a T-
shaped enclosure halfway up the cliff. The tomb has a
portico and a corridor. The tomb of Ramose is the burial
site of the vizier serving AMENHOTEP III (r. 1391–1353
B.C.E.) and AKHENATEN(r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.). The tomb
combines the traditional and ’AMARNAstyles and depicts
Akhenaten and Queen NEFERTITIin reliefs. Unfinished,
the site has a HYPOSTYLE HALLwith 32 columns and an
inner hall with eight columns and a shrine. SETI I(r.
1306–1290 B.C.E.) erected a temple on the site, honoring
his father and several deities. A colonnaded court and
solar cult chambers were part of this shrine, with a
vestibule, sanctuary, and a bark of AMUN. The tomb of
REKHMIRÉ, a vizier of TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.)
and AMENHOTEP II(r. 1427–1401 B.C.E.) is also at Quru.
Unfinished, the site has valuable historical reliefs and
texts concerning the duties of the vizier. PUNTfigures are
depicted in a hall near the entrance.
Sheikh el-Beled See KA’APER STATUE.
Sheikh Said It was a site south of EL-BERSHAin central
Egypt. The region served as an Old Kingdom (2575–2134
B.C.E.) necropolis for the local populace. NOMARCHtombs
were discovered in Sheikh Said, which also served the
territory of HATNUB.
shemau An Egyptian name for the Upper Kingdom, the
southern portion of Egypt.
Shemay(fl. 22nd century B.C.E.)Official of the Eighth
Dynasty
Shemay served as the VIZIERfor Upper Egypt. His son,
Idy, was the governor of the seven southernmost nomes.
The father and son had to deal with the rising Ninth
Dynasty and the Inyotef line in Thebes.
Shemay probably served NEFERKU-HOR, listed in some
records as the 14th ruler of the dynasty (date unknown).
He married NEBYET, a daughter of Neferku-Hor, and
became a governor and then vizier.Shemsu-Heru See FOLLOWERS OF HORUS.shena An addition made to the PERO,or royal residence,
in the Twelfth Dynasty (1991–1783 B.C.E.) era and
repeated as an architectural design element in later his-
torical periods, the shenawas a structure designed to
offer court servants housing and kitchen areas. The
khenty,a similar structure designed to serve high-ranking
officials, was also initiated in this dynastic period.shendyt A kilt-like skirt worn by pharaohs and, in a
modified form, by officials and commoners, the shendyt
underwent fashionable changes, particularly in the New
Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.E.), forming a distinctive angular
style. A central tab design was also used as a decoration.
See also DRESS.shennu It was the cartouche used by the pharaohs to
display their hieroglyphic royal names. The original sym-
bol associated with this CARTOUCHEdesign was the shen,
an insignia portraying the sun’s orbit. This was a long cir-
cle, elongating into an oval frame. The eternal powers of
the god RÉwere thus displayed, representing the patron-
age of that deity in each dynasty.Shepenwepet (1)(fl. eighth century B.C.E.)Princess of
the Twenty-third Dynasty and a God’s Wife of Amun
She was the daughter of OSORKON III(r. 777–749 B.C.E.)
and Queen KARAOTJETand was given titles of religious
power as the God’s Wife of Amun, a Divine Adoratrice of
Amun. Shepenwepet was also called the Consort of Hor,
the Prophetess of Amun, and the Seeress of Montu. She
“adopted” her successor, AMENIRDIS (1), the sister of
Piankhi (1) (750–712 B.C.E.). Her tomb chapel was
erected in KARNAK.Shepenwepet (2)(fl. seventh century B.C.E.)Princess
of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty and a God’s Wife of Amun
She was the sister of SHEBITKU(r. 698–690 B.C.E.) and was
“adopted” by AMENIRDISto be eligible for this role. In the
reign of TAHARQA (690–664 B.C.E.), Shepenwepet
“adopted” Amenirdis (2) but was forced in 656 B.C.E.by
PSAMMATICHUS I(r. 664–610 B.C.E.) to place his daughter,
NITOCRIS(2), into the office, bypassing Amenirdis (2).
Shepenwepet had a tomb at KARNAK.