Nakhtmin
Encyclopedia
Nakhtmin held the position of generalissimo
during the reign of Pharaoh
Tutankhamun
of the eighteenth dynasty
of Ancient Egypt
. His titles during the reign of Tutankhamun included "the true servant who is beneficial to his lord, the king's scribe
", "the servant beloved of his lord", "the fan-bearer on the right-hand of the king", and "the servant who causes to live the name of his lord." These titles were found on five ushabti
s that Nakhtmin offered as funerary presents for Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
He was the heir to the throne during the reign of the Pharaoh Ay
though he never became a pharaoh
. It is assumed that he died towards the end of the reign of Ay (when he seemingly vanished from all records) and Horemheb
, the designated heir of Tutankhamun, became pharaoh
instead.
Ay
, his mother being known from a statue to be the 'Adoratrix of Min
, Songstress of Isis
' Iuy. She is thought to be Ay's first wife, and could therefore be the mother of Nefertiti
and Mutnodjmet. Nakhtmin appears to have been the chosen successor to Ay, but died before he could succeed. On a beautiful statue of Nakhtmin and his wife Mutnodjmet in the Egyptian Museum
in Cairo
, Nakhtmin was identified as the son-in-law of the king. This title could be completed as the son of the king of his own body which would make him the son of Ay, or it could be completed as the son of the king of Kush
. There is no record of a Viceroy of Kush by the name of Nakhtmin, and it seems that the nobleman Paser was Viceroy during that time period. This has led to the identification of Nakhtmin as Ay
's son.
The statue with the inscription has suffered extensive damage. Only two pieces remain, the head and shoulders of Nakhtmin and the upper part of the body and head of his wife. Both statues look as though the eyes, nose and mouth have been deliberately damaged. This has been interpreted as some form of persecution even after death. His stelae--which had been set up at his (and Ay's) native city of Akhmim
--were defaced. It is assumed that his tomb, which was never discovered, has been given the same treatment as that of Ay.
Another man called Nakhtmin was married to Mutemnub, the sister of Ay's wife Tey
. They had a son named Ay, who was High Priest of Mut and Second Prophet of Amun.
Generalissimo
Generalissimo and Generalissimus are military ranks of the highest degree, superior to Field Marshal and other five-star ranks.-Usage:...
during the reign of 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...
Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun , Egyptian , ; approx. 1341 BC – 1323 BC) was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty , during the period of Egyptian history known as the New Kingdom...
of the eighteenth dynasty
Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt
The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
of Ancient Egypt
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...
. His titles during the reign of Tutankhamun included "the true servant who is beneficial to his lord, the king's scribe
Scribe
A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing...
", "the servant beloved of his lord", "the fan-bearer on the right-hand of the king", and "the servant who causes to live the name of his lord." These titles were found on five ushabti
Ushabti
The ushabti was a funerary figurine used in Ancient Egypt. Ushabtis were placed in tombs among the grave goods and were intended to act as substitutes for the deceased, should he/she be called upon to do manual labor in the afterlife...
s that Nakhtmin offered as funerary presents for Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
He was the heir to the throne during the reign of the Pharaoh Ay
Ay
Ay was the penultimate Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 18th dynasty. He held the throne of Egypt for a brief four-year period , although he was a close advisor to two and perhaps three of the pharaohs who ruled before him and was the power behind the throne during Tutankhamun's reign...
though he never became a 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...
. It is assumed that he died towards the end of the reign of Ay (when he seemingly vanished from all records) and Horemheb
Horemheb
Horemheb was the last Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty from either 1319 BC to late 1292 BC, or 1306 to late 1292 BC although he was not related to the preceding royal family and is believed to have been of common birth.Before he became pharaoh, Horemheb was the commander in chief...
, the designated heir of Tutankhamun, became 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...
instead.
Crown Prince
Nakhtmin may have been the son 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...
Ay
Ay
Ay was the penultimate Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 18th dynasty. He held the throne of Egypt for a brief four-year period , although he was a close advisor to two and perhaps three of the pharaohs who ruled before him and was the power behind the throne during Tutankhamun's reign...
, his mother being known from a statue to be the 'Adoratrix of Min
Min
Min may refer to:*Min , an Egyptian fertility god*Min , a modern working copy of an Ancient Egyptian ship of Hatshepsut's time*Min , a South Korean celebrity most popularly known as a member of miss A*Min *Min River...
, Songstress of Isis
Isis
Isis or in original more likely Aset is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the matron of nature and magic...
' Iuy. She is thought to be Ay's first wife, and could therefore be the mother of Nefertiti
Nefertiti
Nefertiti was the Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nefertiti and her husband were known for a religious revolution, in which they started to worship one god only...
and Mutnodjmet. Nakhtmin appears to have been the chosen successor to Ay, but died before he could succeed. On a beautiful statue of Nakhtmin and his wife Mutnodjmet in the Egyptian Museum
Egyptian Museum
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It has 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms....
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Nakhtmin was identified as the son-in-law of the king. This title could be completed as the son of the king of his own body which would make him the son of Ay, or it could be completed as the son of the king of Kush
Kingdom of Kush
The native name of the Kingdom was likely kaš, recorded in Egyptian as .The name Kash is probably connected to Cush in the Hebrew Bible , son of Ham ....
. There is no record of a Viceroy of Kush by the name of Nakhtmin, and it seems that the nobleman Paser was Viceroy during that time period. This has led to the identification of Nakhtmin as Ay
Ay
Ay was the penultimate Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 18th dynasty. He held the throne of Egypt for a brief four-year period , although he was a close advisor to two and perhaps three of the pharaohs who ruled before him and was the power behind the throne during Tutankhamun's reign...
's son.
The statue with the inscription has suffered extensive damage. Only two pieces remain, the head and shoulders of Nakhtmin and the upper part of the body and head of his wife. Both statues look as though the eyes, nose and mouth have been deliberately damaged. This has been interpreted as some form of persecution even after death. His stelae--which had been set up at his (and Ay's) native city of Akhmim
Akhmim
Akhmim is a city in the Sohag Governorate of Upper Egypt. Referred to by the ancient Greeks as Khemmis, Chemmis and Panopolis, it is located on the east bank of the Nile, 4 miles to the northeast of Sohag.- History :Akhmim was known in Ancient Egypt as Ipu, Apu or Khent-min...
--were defaced. It is assumed that his tomb, which was never discovered, has been given the same treatment as that of Ay.
Another man called Nakhtmin was married to Mutemnub, the sister of Ay's wife Tey
Tey
Tey was the wife of Kheperkheprure Ay , who was the penultimate pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 18th dynasty. She was also the wetnurse of Queen Nefertiti....
. They had a son named Ay, who was High Priest of Mut and Second Prophet of Amun.