Amenhotep, Priest of Amun
Encyclopedia
The Ancient Egyptian official, Amenhotep was a high priest of Amun
, under pharaoh
s Ramesses IX
to Ramesses XI
at the end of the New Kingdom of Egypt. He was also the vizier, or a great confidante of his master, and first prophet of Amun-resonther. He was the son of Ramessesnakht
; his father, mother and both of his grandfathers also worked in the Temple of Amun.
Ramesses IX
made gifts to the high priest, which included gold and silver. There are visual representations of this act which still survive today at the site of Karnak
. The fading power of the dynasty is illustrated by the depiction of Amenhotep being shown in the same scale as Ramesses IX.
He played a key role in the civil war that marked the end of the 20th Dynasty
. During the reign of Ramesses XI, the Viceroy of Nubia, Pinehesy
, attacked Thebes to restore order; Pinehesy besieged the high priest at the fortified temple of Medinet Habu
and defied Ramesses' order to retreat. It is not known if the High Priest, Amenhotep, survived this attack.
Amun
Amun, reconstructed Egyptian Yamānu , was a god in Egyptian mythology who in the form of Amun-Ra became the focus of the most complex system of theology in Ancient Egypt...
, under 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...
s Ramesses IX
Ramesses IX
Ramesses IX was the eighth king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He was the third longest serving king of this Dynasty after Ramesses III and Ramesses XI...
to Ramesses XI
Ramesses XI
Ramesses XI reigned from 1107 BC to 1078 BC or 1077 BC and was the tenth and final king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He ruled Egypt for at least 29 years although some Egyptologists think he could have ruled for as long as 30...
at the end of the New Kingdom of Egypt. He was also the vizier, or a great confidante of his master, and first prophet of Amun-resonther. He was the son of 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...
; his father, mother and both of his grandfathers also worked in the Temple of Amun.
Ramesses IX
Ramesses IX
Ramesses IX was the eighth king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He was the third longest serving king of this Dynasty after Ramesses III and Ramesses XI...
made gifts to the high priest, which included gold and silver. There are visual representations of this act which still survive today at the site of Karnak
Karnak
The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II . Sacred Lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some...
. The fading power of the dynasty is illustrated by the depiction of Amenhotep being shown in the same scale as Ramesses IX.
He played a key role in the civil war that marked the end of 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....
. During the reign of Ramesses XI, the Viceroy of Nubia, Pinehesy
Pinehesy
Pinehesy, Panehesy or Panehasy, depending on different transliteration was Viceroy of Kush during the reign of Ramesses XI, the last king of the Egyptian 20th Dynasty....
, attacked Thebes to restore order; Pinehesy besieged the high priest at the fortified temple of Medinet Habu
Medinet Habu
Medinet Habu is an important Egyptian archaeological and tourist locality on the West Bank of the modern city of Luxor.Somewhat ambiguously, the toponym Medinet Habu can refer to either:...
and defied Ramesses' order to retreat. It is not known if the High Priest, Amenhotep, survived this attack.