Nimaethap
Encyclopedia
Nimaethap was a Queen of Ancient Egypt
at the end of the Second Dynasty.
Khasekhemwy
and the mother of Djoser
, the first Pharaoh
of the Third dynasty of Egypt
. Alternatively, some scholars are of the view that Nimaethap was the daughter of Khasekhemwy, the wife of Pharaoh Sanakht and mother of Djoser
. However, most Egyptologists place Sanakht in the second half of the Third Dynasty thus supporting the theory that Nimaethap was the wife of Khasekhemwy. There is clear evidence that Djoser arranged the queen's funeral.
Nimaethap held the titles of Mother of the King's Children, Mother of the Dual King and Attendant of Horus. In inscriptions dating to the Fourth Dynasty
she is referred to as a King's Wife. She may also have been the mother of Djoser's wife Hetephernebti
.
Seal impressions with her name were found in Khasekhemwy's tomb complex in Abydos
and in Tomb K1 of Beit Khallaf
. Her funerary cult is mentioned in the Saqqara
tomb (LS6) of Metjen, who lived at the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty
.
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...
at the end of the Second Dynasty.
Biography
Nimaethap was possibly the wife of PharaohPharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Khasekhemwy
Khasekhemwy
Khasekhemwy was the fifth and final king of the Second dynasty of Egypt. Little is known of Khasekhemwy, other than that he led several significant military campaigns and built several monuments, still extant, mentioning war against the Northerners...
and the mother of Djoser
Djoser
Netjerikhet or Djoser is the best-known pharaoh of the Third dynasty of Egypt. He commissioned his official, Imhotep, to build the first of the pyramids, a step pyramid for him at Saqqara...
, the first Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
of the Third dynasty of Egypt
Third dynasty of Egypt
For the Sumerian Renaissance, see Third Dynasty of Ur.The Third Dynasty of ancient Egypt is the first dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Other dynasties of the Old Kingdom include the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth...
. Alternatively, some scholars are of the view that Nimaethap was the daughter of Khasekhemwy, the wife of Pharaoh Sanakht and mother of Djoser
Djoser
Netjerikhet or Djoser is the best-known pharaoh of the Third dynasty of Egypt. He commissioned his official, Imhotep, to build the first of the pyramids, a step pyramid for him at Saqqara...
. However, most Egyptologists place Sanakht in the second half of the Third Dynasty thus supporting the theory that Nimaethap was the wife of Khasekhemwy. There is clear evidence that Djoser arranged the queen's funeral.
Nimaethap held the titles of Mother of the King's Children, Mother of the Dual King and Attendant of Horus. In inscriptions dating to the Fourth 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...
she is referred to as a King's Wife. She may also have been the mother of Djoser's wife Hetephernebti
Hetephernebti
Hetephernebti was a queen of the third dynasty of ancient Egypt. She was the only known wife of Pharaoh Djoser.Hetephernebti and a King's Daughter Inetkaes were named on stelae found around Djoser's Sakkara pyramid complex and on a Heliopolis relief showing Djoser accompanied by the two of...
.
Seal impressions with her name were found in Khasekhemwy's tomb complex in Abydos
Abydos, Egypt
Abydos is one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, and also of the eight Upper Nome, of which it was the capital city. It is located about 11 kilometres west of the Nile at latitude 26° 10' N, near the modern Egyptian towns of el-'Araba el Madfuna and al-Balyana...
and in Tomb K1 of Beit Khallaf
Beit Khallaf
Beit Khallaf is a small village 10 kilometers west of Girga in Middle Egypt-Overview:Outside the village are two very large brick mastabas from the Third Dynasty. K1, the largest, has produced remnants from King Djoser and was excavated in 1900-1902. It measures 86 by 45 by 9 metres...
. Her funerary cult is mentioned in the Saqqara
Saqqara
Saqqara is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, serving as the necropolis for the Ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. Saqqara features numerous pyramids, including the world famous Step pyramid of Djoser, sometimes referred to as the Step Tomb due to its rectangular base, as well as a number of...
tomb (LS6) of Metjen, who lived at the beginning of the Fourth 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...
.