Online Activities: Ancient Egypt

Who is Who?

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Rahay: Fourth Dynasty. Artist who worked in the tomb of Meresankh III. He was able to leave his own image, named, in the tomb, and thus share in the offerings left for the princess.

Ra-wer of Giza: Fourth Dynasty to Fifth Dynasty. Rawer held priestly offices under several Fourth Dynasty kings, but lived on into the reign of Neferirkare. He was an intimate friend of the royal family, whose elaborate tomb contained many statues and images of himself and his family (see Hetepheres, catalogue 131). One exquisite relief of Rawer himself was carved from calcite, a stone seldom used for non-royal people. A story in his tomb concerns the kindness of King Neferirkare. (item 144 in the Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids)

Ra-wer of Sakkara: Sixth Dynasty. Vizier. Ra-wer's tomb at Sakkara seems to have been deliberately damaged after his death, and his name erased. No relatives are mentioned in his tomb, nor were the usual mortuary provisions present.

Redjedef: see Djedefre

Redjief: Third Dynasty. King's Daughter. A black basalt statue of her may be the oldest image of a royal woman. Her serious, resolute expression resembles King Djoser. (item 16 in the Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids)

Sabu: Fifth and early Sixth Dynasties. High Priest of Ptah at Memphis, favorite of Wenis and Teti. His informal name was Ibebi. He was succeeded by another Sabu, this one nick-named Tjety. The inscriptions reveal that, until the time of the second Sabu, there had always been two High Priests of Ptah.

Sahure: Fifth Dynasty, about 2490-2475 BCE. King. During this king's reign, the cult of the sun god, Re continued to be very important. He built a Sun Temple as well as a pyramid. Though his Sun Temple has never been located, and his pyramid and its temples are now dilapidated, both were originally adorned with exquisite carvings, some of which can be seen in Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids. He moved the royal cemetery to Abusir. International trade flourished in his reign, and expeditions were sent to Sinai and Sudan. (item 109 in the Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids)

Sasenet: Sixth Dynasty. General and, according to later stories, intimate friend of Pepy II.

Sekhemkhet: Third Dynasty. King. About 2611-2605 BCE. Sekhemkhet planned to be buried in a pyramid complex even bigger than Djoser's, but his monument was never completed. A unique calcite sarcophagus, sealed, was found in a burial chamber underneath his unfinished pyramid. However, when the seal was broken, it was clear that no body had ever been placed inside. A set of lovely golden bangles was found in the tomb, and the mummy of the king himself may yet be discovered in one of the many unexplored passages.

Sebni and Mekhu: Sixth Dynasty. Sebni and his father, Mekhu, were noble explorers stationed in the south of Egypt. They were soldiers and traders, whose work took them into Lower Nubia. On one expedition, Mekhu lost his life. His son set out with troops and a hundred donkeys loaded with presents and trade goods to retrieve his father's body so that he could bring it back to Egypt for embalming and proper burial in a cliff tomb above Elephantine.

On his way back to Egypt, Sebni sent gifts of Nubian goods, including an elephant tusk, to the Residence. Pepy II responded to Sebni's gift and his virtuous behaviour by sending embalmers and all the necessary equipment, of royal quality, to prepare Mekhu for eternity. Sebni then proceeded to Memphis with all the goods his father would have brought as well as his own, and was rewarded for his enterprise, filial piety, and good sense by gifts of land. The tomb he shares with his father can still be visited at Aswan.

Semen-ku-ptah: see Itush

Senedjemib: Fifth Dynasty. Vizier of King Djedkare Isesi. His mastaba at Giza records three letters written to him in the king's own handwriting, offering evidence that kings were literate in the Age of the Pyramids. He is one of several officials from the Old Kingdom who seem to have formed friendships with their kings. Many members of his family also served at court. At least four of his descendents followed him as vizier.

Sepa: Third Dynasty. Official. Sepa had many titles, including Chief of the Tens of the South, and Royal Acquaintance. He may have lived during the reign of King Djoser. Two almost life-size stone statues of him are the oldest large non-royal images known. (item 12 in the Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids)

Setka: Fourth Dynasty. King's Son of Djedefre. Setka did not live to become King of Egypt. He is shown in a very fine, though small, red porphyroid granite statue seated as a scribe, to show that King's Sons were literate men, capable of writing and receiving letters, and understanding the business of the country. Several King's Sons were remembered after their deaths as men of wisdom as well as learning. In his statue, Setka appears soft-bodied, even plump; rulers were usually shown muscular and energetic. (item 250 in the Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids)

Shepseskaf: Fourth Dynasty. King. About 2472-2467 BCE. Successor and probably son of Menkaure. Shepseskaf married his sister, Khentkaues I. Choosing not to be buried at Giza, he built a large mastaba in the shape of a sarcophagus at Sakkara South. In another break with tradition, his funeral was conducted by another of his wives, Bunefer.

Sneferu: Fourth Dynasty, about 2575-2551 BCE. King. Sneferu, who was remembered in folktales as a kindly ruler, ordered construction of at lest three huge pyramids, and three or four small ones. There would certainly have been full employment in Egypt during his reign! On carved blocks from his temple, women representing his estates bring offerings. Other pieces of relief, showing a sed-festival, may well come from one of his buildings. (item 22a or 22b in the Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids)

Sneferu-nefer: Fifth dynasty. Sneferu-nefer was a musician at court, Overseer of Palace Singers and Overseer of Entertainments. The responsibility to entertain the divine king and his family, and to arrange music for religious ceremonies was a serious one, and well-rewarded in the Old Kingdom. Sneferu-nefer is shown as a naked youth in a fine painted limestone statue. A number of nude statues are known from the late Old Kingdom; they may have suggested that the deceased was ready to be born again into the next life, where he would have eternal youth. (item 135 in the Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids)

Sistrum Teti: Sixth Dynasty. King. About 2323-2291 BCE. Teti was first king of this dynasty, the last of the Age of the Pyramids. His viziers were Kagemni and Mereruka. Teti was buried in a pyramid at Sakkara, with Pyramid Texts on the walls. According to the historian Manetho, he was assassinated. (item 182 in the Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids)

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