(1) (fl. eighth century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty
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, SHEPENWEPET (2). When she retired, however, she married her brother, SHEBITKU (r. 698–690 B.C.E.) and bore Shepenwepet 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 Adoratrice, 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.
