430 Way of HorusWay of Horus An ancient Egyptian road of strategic
importance, linking the eastern modern border town of
El-Qantas to Gaza in southern Palestine and beyond. The
road was kept under guard by the Egyptians to protect
the caravans that traveled it, and garrisons were built at
various locations to repel nomad and BEDOUINattacks.
The road ran directly across the Isthmus of Suez, also
secured by a series of fortified wells dug by the Egyptians
to accommodate caravans and military forces on the
move.
See also DEIR EL-BALAH.
Way of the Sea A route used by TUTHMOSIS III(r.
1479–1425 B.C.E.) and AMENHOTEP II (r. 1427–1401
B.C.E.) along the coastal plains and valleys of Palestine on
several of their military campaigns. Amenhotep II
attacked Palestine from this route, going to Sharon Plain,
Upper Galilee, and Jezreel.
See also TUTHMOSIS III’S MILITARY CAMPAIGNS.
Wedjebten(fl. 22nd century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the
Sixth Dynasty
She was a lesser-ranked consort of PEPI II(r. 2246–2152
B.C.E.). Wedjebten was buried in Pepi II’s mortuary com-
plex in southern SAQQARA. Wedjebten was not the mother
of Pepi II’s heir.
Wegaf (Khutawyré)(d. 1779 B.C.E.) Founder of the
Thirteenth Dynasty
Wegaf started an obscure royal line, reigning 1783–1779
B.C.E. He was a disciple of the deity OSIRISand erected
four stelae to form a sacred area, ta djeser,in ABYDOS,
around the tomb of DJER, believed to be the actual resting
place of Osiris. He also built at UMM EL-GA’ABin Abydos.
Little else is known of his reign in a turbulent period of
Egyptian history.
weights and measures They were the official desig-
nations used in ancient Egypt for architectural projects
and for determining the values of bartered materials.
Length was measured in royal cubit, 20 inches; palm-
width, 3 inches; and finger-width, 3/4 inch. The khetwas
the measurement of 110 square cubits or 2/3 of an acre.
The liquid measurements the Egyptians used were
the hekat,which were made up of kinor pints and served
as the equivalent of just over a modern gallon. The khar
measured 17 gallons. Measurements of weights included
the deden,equal to two modern pounds and divided into
ten giteor twelve shat.
In the construction of the PYRAMIDS, the sekedwas
the determined slope of the monument, while the pesu
was the measurement of the beer and bread served to the
workers from a single unit of grain.
Wenamun (fl. 11th century B.C.E.)Real or possibly ficti-
tious official of the Twentieth Dynasty
Wenamun was recorded as probably serving in the reign
of RAMESSES XI(r. 1100–1070 B.C.E.). The Report of Wena-
mun,credited to him, serves as an important document of
that historical period, demonstrating the fallen status of
Egypt. Wenamun was sent by the ruler on an expedition
to the Mediterranean coast for timber, a vital resource
rare in Egypt in that era. On his return home he reported
his trials and tribulations to Ramesses XI. The text of the
report depicts Egyptian life and the loss of prestige and
military power. The nation was no longer a leader in the
area, and the ruler was a recluse, kept in ignorance by
officials. The report also details customs, traditions, and
the political realities of the time. The Report of Wenamun
is in the Papyrus Moscow 120.Wendjebaendjeb(fl. 11th century B.C.E.) General and
military commander of the Twenty-first Dynasty
He served PSUSENNES I(r. 1040–992 B.C.E.), also holding
several religious offices in the royal court in TANIS.A
tomb was prepared for Wendjebaendjeb in Psusennes I’s
own mortuary complex near the temple of AMUNin Tanis.
He was buried in a granite sarcophagus from the Nine-
teenth Dynasty (1307–1196 B.C.E.), usurped for his use.
It has also been reported that the sarcophagus belonged
originally to Queen MUTNODJMET (1), the consort of
HOREMHAB (r. 1319–1307 B.C.E.) of the Eighteenth
Dynasty.Weneg (Wadjnes) (fl. 27th century B.C.E.)Obscure
ruler of the Second Dynasty
He was reportedly the successor to NINETJER. At ABYDOS
and SAQQARAhe was called Wadjnes. Vases bearing his
seals were found in the pyramid complex of DJOSER(r.
2630–2611 B.C.E.) in Saqqara. No tomb has been identi-
fied for Weneg.Weni (Unis, Wenis) (fl. 23rd century B.C.E.)Military
official serving Pepi I
Weni was a commander and expedition leader for PEPI I
(r. 2289–2255 B.C.E.). An innovative, energetic individ-
ual, Weni used mercenary troops to further Egypt’s
domains. His tomb in ABYDOScontained a limestone stela
that provided biographical details and insights into this
Old Kingdom Period. Weni was an aristocrat who
assumed court offices after serving apprentice roles in the
reign of Pepi’s father, TETI(2323–2291 B.C.E.). Fulfilling
duties as the warden or governor of various royal sites,
Weni was also asked to investigate a harem conspiracy
led by a minor consort, Queen WERET-IMTES(2).The fate
of the royal lady was not disclosed on the stela.
Weni then led a large army of Egyptians and Nubian
mercenaries (the first ever recorded in Egyptian texts) to