Bakenkhonsu
Encyclopedia
Bakenkhonsu or for the Ba (soul), ("Soul of Khons"), was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt
during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II
. Information about his life was found on the back of his statue (which is now located in Munich
). The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.
Bakenkhonsu is named for the god Khon
su
, traveller, a Moon God of Ancient Egypt
and son of Amun.
Bakenkhonsu (“Servant of Khons”), or for the Ba (soul), ("Soul of Khons"), was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt
during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II
. Information about his life was found on the back of his statue (which is now located in Munich
). The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.
Bakenkhonsu is named for the god Khon
su
, traveller, a Moon God of Ancient Egypt
and son of Amun.
Bakenkhonsu (“Servant of Khons”), or for the Ba (soul), ("Soul of Khons"), was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt
during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II
. Information about his life was found on the back of his statue (which is now located in Munich
). The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.
Bakenkhonsu is named for the god Khon
su
, traveller, a Moon God of Ancient Egypt
and son of Amun.
and Ipui. He spent four years at school, starting at the age of four, as was customary at that time. He then worked at the stables of Pharaoh Seti I
for eleven years. There he learned to shoot with a bow and to drive a chariot. It is possible that he also served in the Pharaoh's army.
Bakenkhonsu's career as a priest then began when he joined Amun's priesthood in Thebes
where his father already served as a priest (Ipui later became Second Prophet of Amun). Bakenkhonsu served as a wab priest
(lowest priestly rank) for four years. He was then promoted to the rank of prophet and, twelve years later, he was the Third Prophet of Amun, the third highest ranking priest in the most powerful priesthood of the era. Later he was promoted to second, then to first prophet or high priest, a position he held for twenty-seven years. He died in the last regnal year of Ramesses II, at the age of ninety, and was succeeded as High Priest by his brother Roma-Roi.
Bakenkhonsu was responsible for several building projects for the king, including the eastern temple in the Karnak Temple complex.
Bakenkhonsu was married to Meretseger. Two of their sons, Paser
and Amenmesse became governors of Thebes. Their daughter, Nefertari married Tjanefer, the Third Prophet of Amun and three of her sons and a grandson became high ranking priests (fourth, third, or second prophets of Amun). The family is related to another important family of priests which included Ramessesnakht
, who was High Priest of Amun during the 20th dynasty
, as Nefertari's son Amenemopet married Ramessesnakht's daughter Tamerit/Aatmerit.
, England. He is also noteworthy for a famous block statue
inscribed with four vertical columns of hieroglyphs
relating his life story. The plinth of the block statue is also engraved with hieroglyphs.
His name Soul (of) Khonsu, Soul of The Traveller may relate to the title given on his block statue: Victory Forever for the Soul, using the branch (hieroglyph)
for 'victory', n-khet; Forever, h-Ra
-h, (the h-(wick hieroglyph
)), being in a hieroglyphic block
for 'Eternity', and the 'Soul', in another block for: "for the soul of", or "for the spirit of", yielding: Victory Forever for the Soul.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II
Ramesses II
Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire...
. Information about his life was found on the back of his statue (which is now located in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
). The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.
Bakenkhonsu is named for the god Khon
Sieve (hieroglyph)
The Ancient Egyptian Sieve hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. Aa1 for the shape of a circular sieve; it is also seen as a 'placenta'.-The Egyptian hieroglyph alphabetic letters:The following two tables show the Egyptian uniliteral signs...
su
Folded cloth (s hieroglyph)
The Ancient Egyptian folded cloth hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. S29 for a type of cushioning, a seat-backing.The folded cloth hieroglyph is used in the Ancient Egyptian language hieroglyphs for the alphabetic consonant letter —s.-Origin of folded cloth as seat cushion:The Nimrud...
, traveller, a Moon God of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
and son of Amun.
Bakenkhonsu (“Servant of Khons”), or for the Ba (soul), ("Soul of Khons"), was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II
Ramesses II
Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire...
. Information about his life was found on the back of his statue (which is now located in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
). The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.
Bakenkhonsu is named for the god Khon
Sieve (hieroglyph)
The Ancient Egyptian Sieve hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. Aa1 for the shape of a circular sieve; it is also seen as a 'placenta'.-The Egyptian hieroglyph alphabetic letters:The following two tables show the Egyptian uniliteral signs...
su
Folded cloth (s hieroglyph)
The Ancient Egyptian folded cloth hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. S29 for a type of cushioning, a seat-backing.The folded cloth hieroglyph is used in the Ancient Egyptian language hieroglyphs for the alphabetic consonant letter —s.-Origin of folded cloth as seat cushion:The Nimrud...
, traveller, a Moon God of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
and son of Amun.
Bakenkhonsu (“Servant of Khons”), or for the Ba (soul), ("Soul of Khons"), was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II
Ramesses II
Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire...
. Information about his life was found on the back of his statue (which is now located in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
). The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.
Bakenkhonsu is named for the god Khon
Sieve (hieroglyph)
The Ancient Egyptian Sieve hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. Aa1 for the shape of a circular sieve; it is also seen as a 'placenta'.-The Egyptian hieroglyph alphabetic letters:The following two tables show the Egyptian uniliteral signs...
su
Folded cloth (s hieroglyph)
The Ancient Egyptian folded cloth hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. S29 for a type of cushioning, a seat-backing.The folded cloth hieroglyph is used in the Ancient Egyptian language hieroglyphs for the alphabetic consonant letter —s.-Origin of folded cloth as seat cushion:The Nimrud...
, traveller, a Moon God of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
and son of Amun.
Life
According to the information inscribed on his statue, Bakenkhonsu was the son of Ipui, a priest of Amun. His two younger brothers were Roma-RoiRoma called Roy
Roma called Roy was High Priest of Amun at the end of the reign of Ramesses II and continued into the reigns of Merenptah and likely Seti II. Roma served as third and second priest of Amun and finally as first prophet of Amun...
and Ipui. He spent four years at school, starting at the age of four, as was customary at that time. He then worked at the stables of Pharaoh Seti I
Seti I
Menmaatre Seti I was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt , the son of Ramesses I and Queen Sitre, and the father of Ramesses II...
for eleven years. There he learned to shoot with a bow and to drive a chariot. It is possible that he also served in the Pharaoh's army.
Bakenkhonsu's career as a priest then began when he joined Amun's priesthood in Thebes
Thebes, Egypt
Thebes is the Greek name for a city in Ancient Egypt located about 800 km south of the Mediterranean, on the east bank of the river Nile within the modern city of Luxor. The Theban Necropolis is situated nearby on the west bank of the Nile.-History:...
where his father already served as a priest (Ipui later became Second Prophet of Amun). Bakenkhonsu served as a wab priest
Man-seated: arms in adoration (hieroglyph)
The ancient Egyptian Man-seated: arms in adoration hieroglyph is one of a series of language and visual hieroglyphs used from the earliest dynasties of Ancient Egypt, and that portrays men, women, ideology, and some occupations....
(lowest priestly rank) for four years. He was then promoted to the rank of prophet and, twelve years later, he was the Third Prophet of Amun, the third highest ranking priest in the most powerful priesthood of the era. Later he was promoted to second, then to first prophet or high priest, a position he held for twenty-seven years. He died in the last regnal year of Ramesses II, at the age of ninety, and was succeeded as High Priest by his brother Roma-Roi.
Bakenkhonsu was responsible for several building projects for the king, including the eastern temple in the Karnak Temple complex.
Bakenkhonsu was married to Meretseger. Two of their sons, Paser
Paser (Vizier)
The Ancient Egyptian Noble Paser was Vizier, in the reigns of Seti I and Ramesses II, during the 19th dynasty. He would later also become High Priest of Amun.-Family:...
and Amenmesse became governors of Thebes. Their daughter, Nefertari married Tjanefer, the Third Prophet of Amun and three of her sons and a grandson became high ranking priests (fourth, third, or second prophets of Amun). The family is related to another important family of priests which included Ramessesnakht
Ramessesnakht
Ramessesnakht was High Priest of Amun during many years in the 20th Dynasty. He was appointed as the High Priest at Thebes under Ramesses IV. He served in office until the reign of Ramesses IX...
, who was High Priest of Amun during the 20th dynasty
Twentieth dynasty of Egypt
The Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, New Kingdom. This dynasty is considered to be the last one of the New Kingdom of Egypt, and was followed by the Third Intermediate Period....
, as Nefertari's son Amenemopet married Ramessesnakht's daughter Tamerit/Aatmerit.
Sarcophagus and block statue
Bakenkhonsu's sarcophagus is located in the World Museum LiverpoolWorld Museum Liverpool
World Museum is a large museum in Liverpool, England which has extensive collections covering archaeology, ethnology and the natural and physical sciences. Special attractions include the Natural History Centre and a free Planetarium. Entry to the museum itself is also free...
, England. He is also noteworthy for a famous block statue
Block statue (Egyptian)
The block statue is a type of memorial statue that first emerged in the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. The block statue grew in popularity in the New Kingdom and the Third Intermediate Period, and by the Late Period, this type of statue was the most common. These statues were used in temples...
inscribed with four vertical columns of hieroglyphs
Egyptian hieroglyphs
Egyptian hieroglyphs were a formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians that combined logographic and alphabetic elements. Egyptians used cursive hieroglyphs for religious literature on papyrus and wood...
relating his life story. The plinth of the block statue is also engraved with hieroglyphs.
His name Soul (of) Khonsu, Soul of The Traveller may relate to the title given on his block statue: Victory Forever for the Soul, using the branch (hieroglyph)
Branch (hieroglyph)
The ancient Egyptian Branch hieroglyph, also called a Stick, is a member of the trees and plants hieroglyphs.The branch is an Egyptian language biliteral with the value t, -; it is an ideogram-, for wood, tree, and the linear measure...
for 'victory', n-khet; Forever, h-Ra
Ra
Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the mid-day sun...
-h, (the h-(wick hieroglyph
Wick (hieroglyph)
The Ancient Egyptian Wick hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. V28 for the wick of a lamp.The wick hieroglyph is used in the Ancient Egyptian language hieroglyphs for the alphabetic consonant letter h. A second and equivalent h hieroglyph is the plan view of a reed shelter, O4, Gardiner no...
)), being in a hieroglyphic block
Quadrat (hieroglyph block)
A quadrat block is a virtual rectangle or square in Egyptian hieroglyphic text.The glyphs can be variable in number within the virtual block, though they are often proportioned according to variable standardized rules of scribal methods.The definition for the block in Illustrated Hieroglyphics...
for 'Eternity', and the 'Soul', in another block for: "for the soul of", or "for the spirit of", yielding: Victory Forever for the Soul.
See also
- Branch (hieroglyph)#Block statue of Bakenkhonsu
External links
- Sarcophagus of Bakenkhonsu; 22.0 dm (2.20 m)