HATSHEPSUT AND HER ADVISERS

SENENMUT (SENMUT)  Hatshepsut’s main advisor  He was her architect in Karnak, Luxor and Deir el-Bahri.  He personally supervised the quarrying of her obelisks at Aswan. Sketch of Senenmut from his tomb

SENENMUT CONT…  He featured prominently in the Punt expedition as one of his many tasks was to oversee the Amun storehouse.  He was also the tutor of her daughter, Neferure and appears in statues with her at least 6 times.  He had many titles and seems to have more like a vizier than just an advisor.

 Senenmut came from humble beginnings but he was bright and worked really hard and managed to get a job with Thutmose I.  He was given a statue by both Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III that praises him for his works and efforts.

 It is rumoured that Hatshepsut and Senenmut had an affair.  Evidence of this comes from the fact that his name appears in the tomb of Hatshepsut several times.  He was also building a tomb for himself under her tomb.  Finally, there is the controversial ‘pharaoh graffito’ that is said to portray Hatshepsut and Senenmut although historians have refuted this for some time. IT IS NOT RELIABLE EVIDENCE OF AN AFFAIR

 Senenmut disappeared from Egyptian records around year 16 of the reign of Hatshepsut.  It is unclear whether he fell out of favour or he died.  Some say it was Thutmosis III who tried to get rid of him because of the influence he had over Hatshepsut

INENI  Ineni originally held a position during the reign of Thutmosis I and continued in his position under Hatshepsut.  His main title was ‘overseer of the granary of Amun’.  He was also a scribe.  He had been in charge of building the hall of Hatshepsut at Karnak and it was him who had the idea to bury the pharaohs in the valley of the kings.  He had considerable power

THUTIY (DJEHUTY)  He was the successor of Ineni as ‘Overseer of the double gold and silver houses’  He oversaw the creation of her obelisks and measured the precious metals bought from Punt.  His name was later erased from his tomb.  Stela describing Djehuty as ‘overseer of royal cattle’

 His tomb contains a list of his many titles, including; –He who gives instructions to the craftsmen –He who gives regulations –Chief of prophets in Hermopolis –Favourite of Horus, Lord of the palace –Wearer of the royal seal, overseer of every handicraft of the king –Great companion of the Lord of the Two Lands

PUEMRE (IPUYEMRE)  Was an architect under Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III  He was also the second priest of Amun.This makes him very powerful  He inspected the obelisks before they were placed in Karnak  “I inspected the erection of a great shrine of ebony, wrought with electrum.”

AHMOSE PEN-NEKHBET  Was a noble much favoured by Hatshepsut.  He helped Senenmut to raise Neferure  “I reared her eldest daughter, the Royal daughter, Neferure triumphant.”

HAPUSENEB  Was the vizier of Hatshepsut.  He was also a High priest of Amun and Chief of the Prophets of the south and North  He was one of the most powerful people in Egypt