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Prince Rahotep

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For the pharaoh of the same name, see Rahotep.
Rahotep
Prince of Egypt
Statue of Rahotep
Burial
Mastaba, Meidum M6 M6 [1]
SpouseNofret
King's Acquaintance
IssueDjedi, Itu, Neferkau, Mereret, Nedjemib, Sethtet
FatherSneferu
MotherSneferu's first wife Hetepheres I
ReligionAncient Egyptian religion
OccupationPriest of Ra

Rahotep, (r’-htp(.w) - satisfied in god Ra[2]), was a prince, the son of pharaoh Snofru and his first wife Hetepheres I, in ancient Egypt during the 4th Dynasty, reign of his father Snofru possibly his brother Chufu to.[note 1].

Biography

Rahotep sacrifice chamber width her children[1]
Died, Neze-Ib, Mereret
Atu-Itu, Sethet, Nefereku
Rahotep with his wife Nofret at the offering table, mastaba Medum M6[1][3]

As a member of the royal family, he was entrusted with a number of important functions in the administration of the state. Its historical importance derives from the knowledge gained from the exploration of his tomb no. 6 in Meidum, near the pyramid of pharaoh Snofru. Rahotep was surely enough an influential magnate, and if we consider the time of intensive pyramid building, especially in Dasher, [note 2], as to which required the necessary logistical base of all works, the organisation of the construction itself and the provision of the necessary manpower. Social structures for artisans and their families were built around large buildings, as they later developed in Giza during the reign of Rahotep's brother Cheops, as evidenced by archaeological findings in Heit el-Ghurhab.[4] Rahotep took part in these works with the title of "head of construction supervision", albeit within the scope of his provincial powers. His affiliation with the royal family was emphasised by a series of titles, which were both symbolic or religious, and titles expressing his active competence.

Tomb

The tomb was uncovered by Merited in 1871 [5]and its detailed research was described by Petrie in 1892.[6][7] The body of it is, however, all built of bricks throughout, and is now about 6.6 m high, after most of the gravel top is gone. It will be seen on the plan that it was at first symmetrical 52 m long, and 33 m wide, with a central pit, two false doors on the East face, and a second pit nearly behind the North door. The innermost south - west corner inside this is a division in the mass of brickwork, which can hardly have any designed meaning, as it runs too close to the chamber. Afterwards it was enlarged on the South, and west, and a large addition was made on the North, marked as the "annex". The decoration of the tomb walls were badly damaged and only partial drawings were identified as presented by Petrie [1]

Rahotep&Nofret statue

Rahotep's statue with inscriptions his titles[5]
King's Son of his Body Ra-Hotep, General of the Army Expedition, Supervisor/Overseer of the Works,
King's Son of his Body, Elder of the Chamber, Unique one of the Shepenty,[note 3] Great Prophet (Priest) of Heliopolis, unique one of festivals, craftsman of the Ames sceptre

The most famous find of Mariette's workmen was the statue of Rahotep and his wife Nofret, simultaneously exhibited in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. At the head of the statues are hieroglyphic records of Rahotep's functions.[8] Rahotep’s titles were inscribed on a magnificent statue of him which, with a statue of his wife, was excavated from his mastabas at Meidum in 1871 by Auguste Mariette. These describe him as "High Priest of Ra at Heliopolis" (with the added title, "Unique to Heliopolis, Ra’s town of Greatest of Seers"), "Director of Expeditions and Supervisor of Works".[9] He also has a title given to high nobility, "The son of the king, begotten of his body".[10]
Nofret and Rahotep had three sons Djedi, Itu and Neferkau and three daughters, Mereret, Nedjemib and Sethtet as they are depicted in Rahotep’s tomb.[11]
Overall, the frescoes provide a picture of the grandmaster's life before ~26. centuries BC. A similar image is also provided by the tomb of Rahotep's brother Nefermaat Meidum No. 16 [note 4][3]


Representations of Rahotep

  • Nofret and Rahotep's statue at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo[1]
    Nofret and Rahotep's statue at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo[1]
  • Nofret-(Nfr-t)[12][3]
    Nofret-(Nfr-t)Nofret(from the statue)[12][3]
  • Fresco in the niche of the southern wall of the tomb of Rahotep Meidum No.6
    Fresco in the niche of the southern wall of the tomb of Rahotep Meidum No.6
  • Rahotep’s slab stela at the British Museum
    Rahotep’s slab stela at the British Museum
  • Stele of Rahotep's mastaba, on display at the Louvre
    Stele of Rahotep's mastaba, on display at the Louvre

Note

  1. ^ Zahi Hawass note on possible Huni as his father, but still no evidence exists.
  2. ^ Dasher was chosen mainly for its proximity to the Nile and the easy transport of building materials for Snofru’s pyramids construction
  3. ^ Chief administrator at Wadi El Natrun
  4. ^ Eldest son of Pharaoh Snofru, Vizier, Keeper of the royal seal

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rahotep (prince).
  1. ^ a b c d Flinders Petrie, Medum, London 1892 [2]
  2. ^ Herman Ranke, Die Ägyptische Perosenennamen Vol.1, Glückenstadt 1935, p.2019(ger)
  3. ^ a b c Henri Gauthier, Le livre des rois d'Égypte, D'Archeolgie Oriental Paris 1907 (fr)[3]
  4. ^ Mark Lehner, The Giza Plato Mapping Project vol.1[4]
  5. ^ a b Auguste Marietta, Gaston Mossier, Les Mastabas L’Ancient Empire, Gide Libraire Éditeur, Paris 1885[5]
  6. ^ Petrie P.15
  7. ^ GPS 29°23'54.24"N 31° 9'38.73"E
  8. ^ Mariette p.487
  9. ^ Rice, Michael (1999). Who's who in Ancient Egypt. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-15448-2.
  10. ^ El-Shahawy, Abeer (2005). The Egyptian Museum in Cairo: A Walk Through the Alleys of Ancient Egypt. Dar al-Mushaf. p. 71. ISBN 978-977-17-2183-3.
  11. ^ Dodson, Aidan; Hilton, Dyan (2004). The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05128-3.,
  12. ^ The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Ian Shaw, c 2000, p.129.
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