Hekenuhedjet[pronunciation?] was an ancient Egyptian queen consort of the 4th Dynasty, a wife of pharaoh Khafre. She is depicted in the tomb of her son, the vizier Sekhemkare.[3]

Hekenuhedjet in hieroglyphs
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Hekenuhedjet[1]
Praise of the White Crown[2]

On the western wall of the chapel Hekenuhedjet is shown seated behind her son Sekhemkare. She is depicted slightly larger than him. She has one of her arms around his shoulders. Facing them are scenes depicting boats. The text is damaged, but describes Hekenuhedjet as the great favorite and a priestess. Part of a title containing the words "his beloved" are visible.[1]

In another scene in the chapel Hekenuhedjet and her son are seated before offering tables. Her son is called "The King's Son of His Body", "Director of the Palace", "Master of the Secrets of the Toilet-house", "Possessor of Honor in the Presence of His Father". Hekenuhedjet's titles are the "Possessor of Honor", "She Who Sees Horus and Set", "Priestess of [..]".[1]

Titles

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According to Grajetzki, Hekenuhedjet's titles were: Great of Sceptre (wr.t-ḥts), She who sees Horus and Seth (m33.t-[ḥrw]-stš), King's Wife (ḥm.t-nỉswt), King's Beloved Wife (ḥm.t-nỉswt mrỉỉt=f), Priestess of Bapef (ḥm.t-nṯr b3-pf).[4]

Sources

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  1. ^ a b c Hassan, Selim. Excavations at Gîza 4: 1932-1933. Cairo: Government Press, 1943.
  2. ^ Silke Roth: Die Königsmütter des Alten Ägypten von der Frühzeit bis zum Ende der 12. Dynastie (= Ägypten und Altes Testament, Band 46). Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2001, ISBN 3447043687, page 393.
  3. ^ Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson, London 2004, ISBN 0-500-05128-3, p.56.
  4. ^ Grajetzki, Ancient Egyptian Queens: A Hieroglyphic Dictionary, Golden House Publications, London, 2005, ISBN 978-0-9547218-9-3