Khentkaus II
Encyclopedia
Khentkaus II was a Queen of Egypt
. She was a wife of Egypt
ian Pharaoh
Neferirkare Kakai
of the Fifth Dynasty
. She was the mother of Pharaohs Neferefre
and Nyuserre Ini
.
A limestone fragment was found in the pyramid complex mentioning a King's Daughter Reputnebty
, who is followed by a King's Son Khentykauhor. From context, Reputnebty was a daughter of Nyuserre and hence a granddaughter of Khentkaus. A further King's Son Irenre Junior (nedjes) is mentioned.
Titles:
Khentkaus' titles held several titles including the title Mwt-neswt-bity-neswt-bity which she has in common with Khentkaus I
. This title is not well understood and could mean either mother of the dual kings, or dual king and mother of the dual king. Other titles held by Khentkaus II include great one of the hetes-sceptre (wrt-hetes), she who sees Horus
and Seth
(m33t-hrw-stsh), great of praises (wrt-hzwt), king’s wife (hmt-nisw), king’s wife, his beloved (hmt-nisw meryt.f), priestess of Bapef (hmt-ntr-b3-pf), priestess of Tjazepef (hmt-ntr-t3-zp.f), directress of the butchers in the acacia house (khrpt-sshmtiw-shndt), attendant of Horus (kht-hrw), God’s daughter (s3t-ntr), companion of Horus (smrt-hrw and tist-hrw).
The King's Mother Khentkaus is mentioned in the Abusir Papyri
.
next to the pyramid complex of her husband Neferirkare Kakai. The pyramid had initially been excavated in 1906 by Borchardt. The structure was then thought to be a double mastaba and was not excavated very thoroughly. Seventy years later the Czech Institute conducted a thorough excavation of the site. The construction of the pyramid was likely started during the reign of her husband Neferirkare Kakai
and finished during the reign of her son Nyuserre Ini
. The pyramid was robbed during the First Intermediate Period. During the Middle Kingdom the pyramid was reopened and the sarcophagus reused for the burial of a young child. By the end of the New Kingdom the destruction of the site occurred when stones were taken form the site to be reused elsewhere.
The mortuary temple of Khentkaues II was decorated, but the reliefs were damaged and what remains are a collection of fragments. The scenes included scenes of offerings, a funeral meal, agricultural scenes, the procession of funerary estates and scenes depicting the family of King Nyuserre greeting the Queen-Mother.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. She was a wife of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian 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...
Neferirkare Kakai
Neferirkare Kakai
Neferirkare Kakai was the third Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. His praenomen, Neferirkare, means "Beautiful is the Soul of Ra". His Horus name was Userkhau, his Golden Horus name Sekhemunebu and his Nebti name Khaiemnebty.- Family :...
of the Fifth Dynasty
Fifth dynasty of Egypt
The fifth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties III, IV and VI under the group title the Old Kingdom. Dynasty V dates approximately from 2494 to 2345 BC.-Rulers:...
. She was the mother of Pharaohs Neferefre
Neferefre
Neferefre was a Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. His name means "Beautiful is Re" in Egyptian.-Family:Neferefre was the son of king Neferirkare Kakai by queen Khentkaus II, and the elder brother of pharaoh Nyuserre Ini....
and Nyuserre Ini
Nyuserre Ini
Nyuserre Ini , was a Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. He is frequently given a reign of 24 or 25 years and is dated from ca. 2445 BC to 2421 BC. His prenomen, Nyuserre, means "Possessed of Re's Power"...
.
Biography
Khentkaus II was the wife of Neferirkare Kakai. Her pyramid complex was started during the reign of her husband, when her title was still that of king's wife (hmt nswt). The construction of her tomb was halted, possibly when her husband died, and was later resumed during the reign of her son. After the building was resumed her title was king's mother (mwt nswt). Khentkaues is shown on a block with her husband Neferirkare and a son named Ranefer (B).A limestone fragment was found in the pyramid complex mentioning a King's Daughter Reputnebty
Reputnebty
Reputnebty was a Princess of Ancient Egypt, a daughter of pharaoh Nyuserre Ini and possibly queen Reptynub. She was a sister of Princess Khamerernebty and Prince Khentykauhor. She is mentioned on a fragment from the pyramid complex of her grandmother Khentkaus II....
, who is followed by a King's Son Khentykauhor. From context, Reputnebty was a daughter of Nyuserre and hence a granddaughter of Khentkaus. A further King's Son Irenre Junior (nedjes) is mentioned.
Titles:
Khentkaus' titles held several titles including the title Mwt-neswt-bity-neswt-bity which she has in common with Khentkaus I
Khentkaus I
Khentkaus I was a Queen of Ancient Egypt during the 4th dynasty. She may have been a daughter of Pharaoh Menkaure, wife of Shepseskaf and mother of Userkaf, but this is by no means certain. Her Mastaba at Giza - tomb LG100 - is located very close to Menkaure's pyramid complex...
. This title is not well understood and could mean either mother of the dual kings, or dual king and mother of the dual king. Other titles held by Khentkaus II include great one of the hetes-sceptre (wrt-hetes), she who sees Horus
Horus
Horus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in the Ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshipped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times. Different forms of Horus are recorded in history and these are treated as distinct gods by Egyptologists...
and Seth
Seth
Seth , in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is the third listed son of Adam and Eve and brother of Cain and Abel, who are the only other of their children mentioned by name...
(m33t-hrw-stsh), great of praises (wrt-hzwt), king’s wife (hmt-nisw), king’s wife, his beloved (hmt-nisw meryt.f), priestess of Bapef (hmt-ntr-b3-pf), priestess of Tjazepef (hmt-ntr-t3-zp.f), directress of the butchers in the acacia house (khrpt-sshmtiw-shndt), attendant of Horus (kht-hrw), God’s daughter (s3t-ntr), companion of Horus (smrt-hrw and tist-hrw).
The King's Mother Khentkaus is mentioned in the Abusir Papyri
Abusir Papyri
The Abusir Papyri are the largest papyrus findings to date from the Old Kingdom in Ancient Egypt. The first papyri were discovered in 1893 at Abu Gorab near Abusir in northern Egypt. Their origins are dated to around the 24th century BC during the Fifth dynasty of Egypt, making them, even though...
.
Tomb
Khentkaus II had a pyramid complex in AbusirAbusir
Abusir is the name given to an Egyptian archaeological locality – specifically, an extensive necropolis of the Old Kingdom period, together with later additions – in the vicinity of the modern capital Cairo...
next to the pyramid complex of her husband Neferirkare Kakai. The pyramid had initially been excavated in 1906 by Borchardt. The structure was then thought to be a double mastaba and was not excavated very thoroughly. Seventy years later the Czech Institute conducted a thorough excavation of the site. The construction of the pyramid was likely started during the reign of her husband Neferirkare Kakai
Neferirkare Kakai
Neferirkare Kakai was the third Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. His praenomen, Neferirkare, means "Beautiful is the Soul of Ra". His Horus name was Userkhau, his Golden Horus name Sekhemunebu and his Nebti name Khaiemnebty.- Family :...
and finished during the reign of her son Nyuserre Ini
Nyuserre Ini
Nyuserre Ini , was a Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. He is frequently given a reign of 24 or 25 years and is dated from ca. 2445 BC to 2421 BC. His prenomen, Nyuserre, means "Possessed of Re's Power"...
. The pyramid was robbed during the First Intermediate Period. During the Middle Kingdom the pyramid was reopened and the sarcophagus reused for the burial of a young child. By the end of the New Kingdom the destruction of the site occurred when stones were taken form the site to be reused elsewhere.
The mortuary temple of Khentkaues II was decorated, but the reliefs were damaged and what remains are a collection of fragments. The scenes included scenes of offerings, a funeral meal, agricultural scenes, the procession of funerary estates and scenes depicting the family of King Nyuserre greeting the Queen-Mother.