Akademik

Senenmut

Royal Courtier reign of Hatshepsut, 1503-1482 BC.

Senenmut entered the royal household during the reign of *Tuthmosis II, but became Chief Steward of *Hatshepsut, the famous queen regnant of the Eighteenth Dynasty. He came from an undistinguished background, but amassed great power and wealth as the queen's favoured courtier, holding twenty different offices of which the most influential were the Steward of Amun and the Tutor to the royal heiress, Neferure. There are six statues which show him holding the young princess, and in one statue inscription he claims that he was responsible for *Hatshepsut's building programme at Thebes.

Hatshepsut's most famous monument was the mortuary temple at Deir el Bahri, and here Senenmut had his figure represented in partially concealed wall-scenes in the chapel niches, where he is shown praying for the queen. Most of these images have been mutilated, as have his portraits in the burial chamber he prepared for himself under the temple court. His fate is not known, but he disappears from power several years before the end of *Hatshepsut's reign.

BIBL. Werbrouck, M. Le temple d'Hatshepsout a Deir el Bahari. . Brussels: 1949; Winlock, H.E. Excavations at Deir el Bahri. New York: 1942, pp. 145-53; Hayes, W.C. Ostraka and Name Stones from the Tomb of Sen-Mut (no. 71) at Thebes. New York: 1942. Dorman, P. Monuments of Senenmut: Problems in historical methodology. London: 1988.

Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt by Rosalie and Antony E. David

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(fl. 1479–1455 BC)

High official during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut. Son of Ramose and Hatnefer of apparently humble origin. He held the office of chief steward and tutor of Princess Nefrure. He was in charge of the queen’s building works, notably at Deir el-Bahri. Numerous statues of him survive, most badly damaged, although it is not certain when the damage occurred. There has been much speculation about his relationship with the queen. He may have fallen into disgrace before the end of the reign. No family of his is known. His major tomb at Deir el-Bahri was never completed and is defaced.