Maatkare (Mutemhat) was an ancient Egyptian high priestess, a God's Wife of Amun during the 21st Dynasty.[1]

Maatkare Mutemhat
God's Wife of Amun
Maatkare Mutemhat depicted in her Book of the Dead
DiedThebes?
Burial
DB320
Dynasty21st dynasty of Egypt
FatherPinedjem II
MotherDuathathor-Henuttawy
ReligionAncient Egyptian religion

History

nTrdwA
t		 ramAatkA
Maatkare
in hieroglyphs
Era: 3rd Intermediate Period
(1069–664 BC)

She was the daughter of High Priest of Amun Pinedjem I, who was the de facto ruler of Southern Egypt from 1070 BCE onwards, then proclaimed himself pharaoh in 1054 BCE. Her mother was Duathathor-Henuttawy, a daughter of Ramesses XI, last ruler of the 20th dynasty. Maatkare received the title of 'Divine Adoratrice': God's Wife of Amun[2] during her father's reign; she was the first God's Wife to take on a praenomen which used to be the prerogative of pharaohs. Her siblings held important positions too: a brother of hers became pharaoh, a sister became queen, and three brothers held the title High Priest of Amun in succession.[1] She was followed as God's Wife by her niece Henuttawy D, daughter of her brother, High Priest Menkheperre.

Several of her depictions are known: she was depicted as a young girl in the Luxor temple, along with her sisters Henuttawy B and Mutnedjmet, also, as high priestess on the facade of the Temple of Khonsu at Karnak, and on a statue which is now in Marseille.[1]

Burial

Her original burial place is unknown; her mummy was found in the DB320 cache along with her coffins, shawabtis and other mummies from her immediate family. A small mummy, originally thought to be a child of hers was later revealed to be that of a pet monkey. (God's Wives were supposed to be celibate.)[1][3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dodson, Aidan; Hilton, Dyan (2004). The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05128-3., p.206
  2. ↑ Clayton, Peter. "Chronicle Of The Pharaohs By Samy Salah". 1994 Thames & Hudson Ltd. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "The Mystery of Maatkare". geocities. Archived from the original on 2009-10-21. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
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