around 1380 B.C.E., at the age of 80, a funerary chapel
was erected for him beside Amenhotep III’s temple.
Amenhotep, Son of Hapu, was depicted in many stat-
ues placed in KARNAKtemple, a royal favor in that age. He
is shown usually with long wavy hair instead of a formal
wig. His association with the god AMUNbrought about a
claim by the temple priests of the Twenty-first Dynasty
(1070–945 B.C.E.) that Amenhotep had divine origins. He
was deified alongside IMHOTEP, the architect of the STEP
PYRAMID of DJOSER (r. 2630–2611 B.C.E.). Clinics or
shrines were developed for their cults, and ceremonies
were conducted in their memory throughout Egypt.
Amenia(fl. 14th centuryB.C.E.)Woman of the court in
the Eighteenth Dynasty
She was the commoner wife of HOREMHAB(r. 1319–1307
B.C.E.). Amenia married Horemhab when he was a mili-
tary man, serving in Egypt’s army and attaining the rank
of chief of the forces and king’s deputy in the reign of
TUT’ANKHAMUN(r. 1333–1323 B.C.E.). Horemhab was also
decorated for valor by AKHENATEN(r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.)
in ’AMARNA.
Horemhab built a vast tomb for himself and Amenia
in SAQQARA, the MEMPHISnecropolis, while he was a mili-
tary officer. This tomb, recently uncovered, depicts
Horemhab as a commoner, although the URAEUS, the sym-
bol of royalty, was added to some of his figures there dur-
ing his reign. Amenia was buried in Saqqara, probably
dying before Horemhab took the throne of Egypt. Queen
MUTNODJMET(1), who became Horemhab’s Great Wife,
was buried beside Amenia in Saqqara rather than having
a tomb in the royal necropolis at THEBES.Ameni-A’amu(fl. 19th century B.C.E.) Mysterious royal
personage in the Thirteenth Dynasty
He is historically associated with AMENEMHET III (r.
1844–1797 B.C.E.). A small pyramid at DASHUR is
inscribed with his name and royal insignias. These
inscriptions appear to place him in the reign of Amen-
emhet III, perhaps as the designated heir to the throne.Amenirdis (1) (fl. eighth century B.C.E.)Royal womanThe Colossi of Memnon
She was the sister of PIANKHI(1) (750–712 B.C.E.) and the
daughter of KASHTA and Queen PEBATMA. As a royal
princess, Amenirdis was adopted by SHEPENWEPET(1) as
her successor in the role of GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN or
Divine Adoratrice of Amun, the office of high priestess
and political representative of the ruling family. This role,
carried out in THEBES, descended over the years from the
title of God’s Wife held by New Kingdom queens starting
with ’AHMOSE-NEFERTARI, the wife of ’AHMOSE I (r.
1550–1525 B.C.E.). The high priestess presided over a
harem of Amun’s devotees and conducted ceremonies.
Amenirdis could not marry while serving as Divine
Adoratrice of Amun, adopting her successor, SHEPEN-
WEPET(2). When she retired, however, she married her
brother, SHEBITKU(r. 698–690 B.C.E.) and bore Shepen-
wepet III. Statues have been recovered depicting
Amenirdis in royal regalia. Like other high priestesses,
she built a tomb in KARNAK. Some priestesses were
buried in a necropolis called “the vineyard of Anubis.”
Such women held considerable political power over
Upper Egypt, the southern territories, serving as a
“voice” of the god Amun and thus able to dictate many
policies. They were recruited mostly from the ranks of
the royal families of Egypt and wore the crowns and
ornaments of queens.Amenirdis (2)(fl. seventh century B.C.E.)Royal woman
of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty
Amenirdis was destined to become a GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN
or a Divine Adoratrice of Amun, a high priestess of the
deity at THEBES. She was designated as the successor of
the high priestess SHEPENWEPET(2). When PSAMMATICHUS
I(r. 664–610 B.C.E.) came to power, however, he sent a
large fleet of ships to Thebes, bearing his daughter
NITOCRIS(2), who then assumed the role of Divine Ado-
ratrice, an act that overthrew the Nubian control of
Egypt. Amenirdis, a member of the overthrown family of
NECHO I(r. 672–664 B.C.E.), was ousted from Thebes. Her
role was ended because she no longer had the political
base necessary to influence Egypt’s affairs.32 AmeniaA statue of the famed sage Amenhotep, Son of Hapu; he is
distinctive because of his flowing hair; now in the Egyptian
Museum, Cairo.(S. M. Bunson.)