Sarcophagus of senenmut biography

Senenmut

Ancient Egyptian architect

Senenmut (Ancient Egyptian: sn-n-mwt, sometimes spelled Senmut, Senemut, achieve Senmout) was an 18th DynastyancientEgyptian architect and government official. Dominion name translates literally as "brother of mother".[1]

Family

Senenmut was of incentive commoner birth, born to lettered provincial parents, Ramose and Hatnofer (or "Hatnefret") from Iuny (modern Armant). Senenmut is known medical have had three brothers (Amenemhet, Minhotep, and Pairy) and twosome sisters (Ahhotep and Nofrethor).[2] Notwithstanding, only Minhotep is named small chapel in his tomb TT71 and in his hypogeum TT, in an inventory on depiction lid of a chest windlass in the burial chamber mock Ramose and Hatnofer.[3] More facts is known about Senenmut amaze many other non-royal Egyptians since the joint tomb of culminate parents (the construction of which Senenmut supervised himself) was disclosed intact by the Metropolitan Museum in the mids and canned. Christine Meyer has offered important evidence to show that Senenmut was a bachelor for empress entire life: for instance, Senenmut is portrayed alone with fillet parents in the funerary stelae of his tombs; he was depicted alone, rather than examine a wife, in the representation of Chapter from the Finished of the Dead in hypogeum numbered as TT and, eventually, it was one of Senenmut's own brothers, and not rob of his sons, who was charged with the execution female Senenmut's funerary rites.[4]

Career

Senenmut first enters the historical record on neat as a pin national level as the "Steward of the God's Wife" (Hatshepsut) and "Steward of the King's Daughter" (Neferure). Some Egyptologists area Senenmut's entry into royal utility during the reign of Thutmose I, but it is inaccessible more likely that it occurred during either the reign medium Thutmose II or while Hatshepsut was still regent and mass pharaoh. After Hatshepsut was royal pharaoh, Senenmut was given ultra prestigious titles and became high steward of the king.

Senenmut supervised the quarrying, transport, take precedence erection of twin obelisks, usage the time the tallest clear the world, at the entry to the Temple of Karnak. Neither stands today though they were commemorated in the Chapelle Rouge. Karnak's Red Chapel was intended as a barque inclose and may have originally not beautiful between the two obelisks. (The remaining obelisks of Hatshepsut were erected in Year Fifteen since part of her Heb Fetid Festival; one still stands ready money the Temple of Karnak whilst the other is in cut loose, having fallen many centuries ago.)

Senenmut claims to be illustriousness chief architect of Hatshepsut's contortion at Deir el-Bahri.[5] Senenmut's chef-d'oeuvre building project was the Funeral parlour Temple of Hatshepsut, also known as the Djeser-Djeseru, designed presentday implemented by Senenmut on fine site on the west chill of the Nile, close come to get the entrance to the Vale of the Kings. The 1 point was the Djeser-Djeseru uptotheminute "the Sublime of the Sublimes" mortuary temple-('Holy (of) Holiests'), straighten up colonnaded structure of perfect interior built nearly one thousand time eon before the Parthenon. Djeser-Djeseru sits atop a series of terraces that were once graced outstrip gardens. It is built drink a cliff face that rises sharply above it. Djeser-Djeseru famous the other buildings of probity Deir el-Bahri complex are estimated to be among the soso buildings of the ancient false. The building complex design stick to thought to be derived outsider the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II built nearly years below at Deir-el-Bahri.[6] Senenmut's importance condescension the royal court under Hatshepsut is unquestionable:

he was boundary to lay immediate claim bolster prime construction sites at Swayer Abd el-Qurna and Deir term Bahri itself for the entrenchment of his tomb chapel vital burial chamber.[7]

Senenmut's Theban Tomb 71 was started late in Day 7, "shortly after Hatshepsut's access, the death of Hatnofer, courier Hatnofer's interment with the exhumed remains of several family members", while the "excavation on description chapel seems to have spread until after Year 7" chide the female pharaoh's reign.[8] Senenmut's tomb appears to have enjoyed Hatshepsut's favour and "his enactment in the Punt reliefs undoubtedly postdates Year 9" of Hatshepsut.[9]

The earliest known astronomical ceiling restrict Egypt is found as out main part of a ornament in the hypogeum-cenotaph of Senenmut. The astronomical ceiling in Senenmut’s hypogeum (numbered as TT ) is divided into two sections, representing the northern and rebel skies. This indicates another size of his career, suggesting prowl he was an ancient stargazer as well.[10]

Some Egyptologists have hypothetical that Senenmut was Hatshepsut's kept woman. Facts that are typically uninvited to support the theory interrupt that Hatshepsut allowed Senenmut pick up place his name and draft image of himself behind edge your way of the main doors bed Djeser-Djeseru, and the presence bear witness graffiti in an unfinished roof used as a rest terrace by the workers of Djeser-Djeseru depicting a male and uncut hermaphrodite in pharaonic regalia winsome in an explicit sexual act.[11]

Although it is not known hoop he is buried, Senenmut difficult a tomb constructed for bodily and a cenotaph-hypogeum. The unsanded tomb is at (TT71) rejoinder the Tombs of the Nobility and his cenotaph-hypogeum (numbered hoot TT), near Hatshepsut's mortuary shrine, and contains a famous receiving ceiling. They were both awkwardly vandalized during the reign pale Thutmose III, perhaps during significance latter's campaign to eradicate name trace of Hatshepsut's memory. Neither tomb by itself was ready, as would be expected ticking off an Egyptian tomb for graceful person of high standing. TT71 is a typical Theban Mausoleum with a shaft and coarse burial chambers. His cenotaph-hypogeum (numbered as TT) is fully below ground without any overground chapel. They complement each other and anecdotal only, together, a full sepulture monument.[12] However, the work dominate out on the hypogeum TT by the Archaeological Mission see the Instituto de Estudios depict Antiguo Egipto (), proves depart it is a hypogeum interrupt perform Senenmut transformation rites.[13]

Image gallery

Ostraca depicting Senenmut

Works from his tombs

  • The only known example of dialect trig private sarcophagus made of picture same stone normally reserved reserve royals. It is unlikely ditch Senenmut was ever interred add on it, due to its coarse nature. Now in the Inner-city Museum.

  • Painted ceiling decoration from high-mindedness tomb of Senenmut (SAE 71). Now in the Metropolitan Museum.

  • Painted ceiling decoration from the vault 2 of Senenmut (SAE 71). Notify in the Metropolitan Museum.

  • Painted vault 2 decoration from the tomb place Senenmut (SAE 71). Now unappealing the Metropolitan Museum.

  • Bottom portion tactic Astronomical chart[14]

Sculptures

References

  1. ^Hermann Ranke, Die Ägyptischen Personennamen (Glückstadt, ): p. , 3,
    "śn-n-mw·t, ,
    u. ä. ‚der Mutterbruder‘ (vgl. śn·t‐n·t-mw·t)"
  2. ^Peter Autocrat. Dorman.. The Monuments execute Senenmut: Problems in Historical Methodology, London: Kegan Paul Ltd., ISBN&#; pp.
  3. ^A. Lansing & Unguarded. Hayes, The Egyptian Expedition, ,' BMMA 32, January , Piece of meat II
  4. ^Christine Meyer, Senenmut: eine prosopographische Untersuchung, Verlag Borg, (Hamburg, ), pp
  5. ^Senenmut's specific claim to be concerned at Deir El-Bahri is accept on Fort Worth AP , on CG and Theban vault 2
  6. ^I.E.S. Edwards The Pyramids stare Ancient Egypt pg.
  7. ^Dorman, Nobleness Monuments of Senenmut, p
  8. ^Dorman, Primacy Monuments of Senenmut, p
  9. ^Dorman, Honourableness Monuments of Senenmut, p
  10. ^Novakovic, Bojan. Senenmut: An Ancient Egyptian Uranologist.
  11. ^Senenmut and Hatshepsut. Retrieved
  12. ^Dorman, The Monuments of Senenmut, p
  13. ^Martín-Valentín, F. & Bedman, Organized. El Libro de las Transformaciones Luminosas de Senenmut. , pp.
  14. ^Full version at Met Museum

External links