(fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Seventeenth Dynasty
She was a secondary consort of Sekenenre TA’OII (c. 1560 B.C.E.) and the mother of Princess ’AHMOSE-HETTINEHU. ’Ahmose-In-Hapi’s remains are those of a strong woman, and her dark hair was in plaits. She was a daughter of Senakhtenre TA’OI.
’Ahmose-Merytamon (fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty
She was a lesser-ranked consort of AMENHOTEP I (1525–1504 B.C.E.) and the daughter of ’AHMOSE and the half sister of Amenhotep I. Little is known of her life, but her remains provide extensive evidence of arthritis and scoliosis, diseases prominent in her royal line. Her mummy was discovered in a cache of royal remains at DEIR EL-BAHRI, moved from her original tomb on the west bank of the Nile at Thebes. The mummy of an infant prince, AMUNEMHET (1), her nephew, was found beside her remains. ’Ahmose-Merytamon’s body was badly damaged, and her arms were broken off her body.
’Ahmose-Nefertari (fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty
She was the daughter of Sekenenre TA’OII and Queen AH’HOTEP (1) and the wife of ’AHMOSE (r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.). ’Ahmose-Nefertari probably married her brother, KAMOSE, the last ruler of the Seventeenth Dynasty, who died in 1550 B.C.E. while engaged in a war with the HYKSOS, or Asiatics, in the northeastern DELTA. When ’Ahmose came to the throne at a young age, she became his Great Wife, or ranking queen. She was ’Ahmose’s sister.
’Ahmose-Nefertari played a unique role in founding the Eighteenth Dynasty and the New Kingdom historical period with her husband. She was visible to Egyptian society in all phases of rebuilding the nation after the expulsion of the Hyksos by ’Ahmose and his forces. Inscriptions in the SINAI Peninsula and on SAL ISLAND at the third cataract of the Nile, in modern Sudan, include her name and rank. The “BUILDING INSCRIPTION” erected in ABYDOS relates how ’Ahmose and ’Ahmose-Nefertari sat together to plan the great mortuary complexes for their mother, Ah’hotep (1), and their grandmother, Queen TETISHERI. Their recorded conversation is tenderly described, concerned with fulfilling obligations to these deceased women who had guided Egypt during the Hyksos crisis.
’Ahmose-Nefertari bore the heir, AMENHOTEP I; Prince ’AHMOSE-SIPAIR (one of the original heirs); Prince Ramose; Princess AH’HOTEP (2); and other daughters. She survived ’Ahmose and counseled Amenhotep I (r. 1525–1504 B.C.E.) during the early years of his reign, having the title “Female Chieftain of Upper and Lower Egypt.” Many honors were bestowed upon ’Ahmose-Nefertari by the court because of her prior role as queen regent. When she died at the age of 70, she was given a portion of Amenhotep’s mortuary temple on the western shore of the Nile at THEBES. Her mortuary cult—the daily offerings and ceremonies made at her tomb—remained popular for almost a century.
’Ahmose-Nefertari was the first Egyptian royal woman to be designated the “GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN.” This title, associated with the deity AMUN, assumed powerful attributes in later eras, providing dynasties with unique political powers. Some lists indicate that she was alive when TUTHMOSIS I came to the throne as Amenhotep I’s heir. At the death of Amenhotep I in 1504 B.C.E., he and ’Ahmose-Nefertari were deified as the patrons of Thebes. ’Ahmose-Nefertari also founded an order of upper-class women, called the “Divine Votaresses of Karnak.” The unusual depictions of ’Ahmose-Nefertari in blue-black tones of deification reflect her status and cult, which remained popular for centuries. The mummified remains of ’Ahmose-Nefertari were discovered in DEIR EL-BAHRI in damaged condition. She was almost bald and had on a human-hair wig. Her front teeth were prominent, a physical trait inherited from her line, and her right hand had been removed.
’Ahmose-Pen Nekhebet (fl. 16th century B.C.E.)
Courtier and military officer of the Eighteenth Dynasty
He served in the reign of ’AHMOSE (r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.), and, like ’AHMOSE, SON OF EBANA, another military chronicler of the era, ’Ahmose-Pen Nekhebet was a noble from Nekheb (modern ELKAB). The military campaigns that led to the expulsion of the HYKSOS, or Asiatics, from Egypt by ’Ahmose are clearly recorded in ’Ahmose-Pen Nekhebet’s tomb. On the walls of the tomb in Elkab, he chronicles
’Ahmose’s campaigns, including the battle with A’ATA and the Nubian forces south of Aswan in modern Sudan.
He lived to take part in at least one campaign conducted by AMENHOTEP I (r. 1525–1504 B.C.E.). ’Ahmose- Pen Nekhebet received many honors during his lifetime, and his tomb chronicles have served succeeding generations by providing a precise and clear firsthand account of his tumultuous era. Some records indicate that he lived until the reign of HATSHEPSUT (r. 1473–1458 B.C.E.)
