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Summary of This Activity |
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Who
was Akhty-hotep? |
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Based on the style of this
relief, Egyptologists have been able to determine when it was
created and, therefore, when Akhty-hotep lived. The hieroglyphic
inscriptions on the false door in the offering chamber list
Akhty-hotep’s official titles, indicating his role in
society.
Although the simple kilt shown on the figure of Akhty-hotep
in the BMA’s relief indicates that he was a commoner,
the staff and scepter he holds symbolize authority. Inscriptions
on the false door confirm that he held extremely important official
positions. Although only a few of these titles are listed here,
they give a sense of Akhty-hotep’s importance in ancient
times.
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What is a false door?
False doors did not actually open and close. Instead,
they represented the point through which a deceased person’s
soul could magically pass between this world and the afterlife.
Offering rituals took place in front of the false door,
located in the innermost tomb chamber. |
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These titles would have been
understood by most ancient Egyptians, but their meanings may
be less clear to us today.
Inspector of the Wer Phyle of the Great House:
This title suggests that Akhty-hotep oversaw a work crew, possibly
one that built King Sneferu’s pyramids. The words “wer
phyle” refer to one of five specific types of work crews
in the Old Kingdom.
“Overseer of the King’s Harim” or
“Overseer of the King’s Private Apartments”:
This title indicates that Akhty-hotep had direct responsibility
for the king’s secondary wives or for his living area
(acquiring provisions, supervising staff, overseeing security).
Both of these positions were quite prestigious and would have
given Akhty-hotep access to the ruler’s private life.
Chief (or Manager) of the Great Estate: The
“Great Estate” seems to refer to the place where
the king lived, including the palace and its surrounding land.
This title therefore indicates that Akhty-hotep was in charge
of an enormous amount of wealth and property.
Keeper of the Property of the Great House:
This title indicates Akhty-hotep’s direct responsibility
for the king’s property and, therefore, his physical comfort
and well-being. The word “pharaoh” was derived from
the Egyptian word per-a-a, which means the “Great
House,” or palace.
Hem-netjer Priest of Bastet: This
title defines Akhty-hotep as a high-ranking priest of Bastet,
an important goddess often shown in the form of a cat. As a
priest of Bastet, Akhty-hotep would have been responsible for
satisfying the goddess’s physical needs, such as feeding
and dressing her cult statue. Considerable advantages—including
wealth and power—came with the duties of priesthood.
Hem-netjer Priest of Khnum: This title
identifies Akhty-hotep as one of the highest-ranking priests
in the Egyptian hierarchy. Hem-netjer literally means
“servant of the god,” and priests with these titles
were in charge of satisfying a god’s physical needs (for
food and clothing, for example) through a cult statue. Khnum
was a major early creator deity believed to fashion gods, humans,
and animals on a potter’s wheel. He is usually depicted
with a ram’s head and a man’s body.
The Ka-Servant Who Is before the Throne: A
ka-servant was responsible for serving the spirit (ka)
of his master both in life and after the master’s death.
The expression “before the throne” suggests that
Akhty-hotep was the ka-servant for the king or a member
of the royal household. |
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