Hemetre
Encyclopedia
Hemetre was an ancient Egypt
ian royal woman of the 4th dynasty
. Hemetre may have been a daughter or granddaughter of Khafre. She did not hold the title king's wife and may have even married a non-royal. She is mainly known from her tomb, which is located in the central field of Giza. Her name honors the god Ra
.
. Hemetre was also a priestess of the goddess Hathor
. One inscription mentions that she is "an honored one by the great god" and "she who does what her father likes every day".
Several children of Hemetre are depicted in her tomb. Included are her sons Shepseska(u), Akhetre and Shepsesre(-sheri), and her daughters Hetepheres, Khentkaus, and Meresankh. Hemetre is depicted with her sons and daughters on one of the pillars in the chapel. Hemetre is faced by her sons Akh(et)re and Shepsesre-sheri in one register, while her daughters Hetepheres and Meresankh are depicted below their brothers. Her daughter Khentkaues is shown behind her mother. All five children appear as adults in this scene.
which is part of the Giza Necropolis. The entrance of the tomb leads to a pillared hall. The hall contains a large burial chamber as well as two smaller shafts. Off the chapel is another smaller chapel, again containing a burial shaft. Scenes in the tomb include offering bearers representing offerings from royal estates. These are all related to Khafre.
In the passage way of the tomb the upper part of a false door belonging to the Royal chamberlain Nebsen was found. One of the offering bearers shown in the tomb is named Senebuka. This official was buried nearby.
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...
ian royal woman of the 4th dynasty
Fourth dynasty of Egypt
The fourth dynasty of ancient Egypt is characterized as a "golden age" of the Old Kingdom. Dynasty IV lasted from ca. 2613 to 2494 BC...
. Hemetre may have been a daughter or granddaughter of Khafre. She did not hold the title king's wife and may have even married a non-royal. She is mainly known from her tomb, which is located in the central field of Giza. Her name honors the god 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...
.
Titles
Hemetre was a King's daughter of his body and thus a daughter of one of the kings of the Fourth dynasty of EgyptFourth dynasty of Egypt
The fourth dynasty of ancient Egypt is characterized as a "golden age" of the Old Kingdom. Dynasty IV lasted from ca. 2613 to 2494 BC...
. Hemetre was also a priestess of the goddess Hathor
Hathor
Hathor , is an Ancient Egyptian goddess who personified the principles of love, beauty, music, motherhood and joy. She was one of the most important and popular deities throughout the history of Ancient Egypt...
. One inscription mentions that she is "an honored one by the great god" and "she who does what her father likes every day".
Family
The location of her tomb (Central Field in Giza) suggests that she may be a daughter of Khafre. His name is attested in her tomb. Hasan suggests she may be a daughter or grand-daughter of Khafre, but may have been married to a commoner. Hemetre is never called a King's wife in her tomb.Several children of Hemetre are depicted in her tomb. Included are her sons Shepseska(u), Akhetre and Shepsesre(-sheri), and her daughters Hetepheres, Khentkaus, and Meresankh. Hemetre is depicted with her sons and daughters on one of the pillars in the chapel. Hemetre is faced by her sons Akh(et)re and Shepsesre-sheri in one register, while her daughters Hetepheres and Meresankh are depicted below their brothers. Her daughter Khentkaues is shown behind her mother. All five children appear as adults in this scene.
Tomb
Hemetre's tomb (G 8464) is located in the Central FieldCentral Field, Giza
The Central Field is located to the east of Khafre's causeway and extends to the pyramid town of Queen Khentkaus I. One of the main excavators of the central field is Selim Hassan. The central field is located at the site of some large stone quarries that provided the stones for the construction of...
which is part of the Giza Necropolis. The entrance of the tomb leads to a pillared hall. The hall contains a large burial chamber as well as two smaller shafts. Off the chapel is another smaller chapel, again containing a burial shaft. Scenes in the tomb include offering bearers representing offerings from royal estates. These are all related to Khafre.
In the passage way of the tomb the upper part of a false door belonging to the Royal chamberlain Nebsen was found. One of the offering bearers shown in the tomb is named Senebuka. This official was buried nearby.