Amenirdis I

Amenirdis I Amenirdis was a daughter of King Kashta and Queen Pebatjma. She would have been the sister of Shabaka and likely the sister of Piye, Queen Khensa, Queen Peksater and princess Neferukakashta. (Dodson-Hilton, Pg 238)

Hieroglyphics spelling out the names of Amenirdis Khaneferumut. (Created by Jean Rijlant. ) Her titles include those of King’s daughter (sat-nsw), God’s Adoratrix (dwat-netjer), God’s Hand (djeret-netjer), God’s Wife of Amun (hemet netjer-en-amun). Amenirdis was installed in Thebes as the heiress to Shepenwepet I by either Kashta (her father) or Piye. As heiress she would have been given the title of Adorer of the God (dwat-netjer). It is not known when Shepenwepet I died and Amenirdis became God’s Wife, but it may have been during the reign of Shabaqa. (Bryan)

Small situla bearing the names Grey gneiss bowl with the name of Amenirdis I. British Museum EA 4701 of Amenirdis and her father Kashta. (British Museum)

Amenirdis later adopted her niece Shepenwepet II, daughter of Piye as her successor. Amenirdis died during the reign of Taharqa. She was succeeded by Shepenwepet II (Morkot)

Amenirdis before Amun; On the right: line drawing of Amenirdis. (Photo by Alain Guilleux - for more detail and more pictures see: temple of Amenirdis) Monuments, Statues, etc Temple of Osiris Heqadjet (Karnak)

Amenirdis Mutneferu is given life by Amun and Mut Image from Wikimedia Commons Shebitqo (Shabataqa) and Amenirdis add a small court and a pylon to this temple. Amenirdis as shown with Shebitqo making offerings to Amun. Wadi Hamamat: Inscriptions dated to year 12 of Shabaqo can be found and some also mention Amenirdis. [Dodson-Hilton]

Amenirdis I (EA46699 British Museum)

Amenirdis I at the Aswan Museum

Statue of Amenirdis from Karnak, now in the Cairo Museum (CM CG565)

The British Museum statue is made of granite and Amenirdis is depicted with the vulture headdress, a modius and the double plumes combined with the horned sundisk. At the Aswan Museum a statue of Amenirdis I shows the God's Wife with a modius, double plumes and horned sundisk as well. The face of the statue is sadly damaged. This image is courtesy of Alain Guilleux. More detailed and full length images appear on his website (link) The statue of Amenirdis from Karnak, now in the Cairo Museum (CM CG565) depicts Amenirdis wearing a tripartite wig, with a vulture headdress and two uraei flanking a vulture on her brow. The double uraei (sometimes crowned) reappear in the iconography of royal women during the 25th dynasty. ( Lillesø, pp 142143) She wears a fairly simple sheet dress and carries a fly whisk in her left hand. [Dodson-Hilton, pg 235] See also: Alain Guilleux - page for wonderful full length image.

Shabti of Amenirdis. The text is part of Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead (Liverpool Museum 61.202.166)

Burial:

Funerary Chapel in Medinet Habu Amenirdis was buried in the funerary Chapel in Medinet Habu

From this time period we have:

Harwa, Chief Steward of Amenirdis (BM EA 32555) The name of Amenirdis appears between the two goddesses. TT37 - Harwa, Chief Steward of the God's Wife Amenirdis I. Saite Period. (25th dyn) Parents: Pedemut (Scribe) and Estaweret. TT 404 Akhamenrau (3h(.t)-Jmn-r.w), Chief steward of the Divine Adoratrix, Dynasty 25 Temp. Amenardis I and Shepenwepet II. Son of Pekiry (Prophet of Amun) and Mereskhons. Akhamenrau succeeded Harwa (TT37) in the function of Great Stewart of the Divine Adoratrice of Amun-Ra.

Peshuper, Scribe. The name of Amenirdis is inscribed on his right shoulder. British Museum EA 1514 (image used with general BM permission) Peshuper, Scribe of the Divine Adoratrice Amenirdis

References

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Betsy Bryan, Property and the God’s Wives of Amun, Johns Hopkins University Dodson and Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, London 2004 Ebba Kerrn Lillesø, Two Wooden Uræi, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 61 (1975), pp. 137146

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Porter and Moss, Topographical Bibliograpy of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs and Paintings: The Theban Necropolis, Part One: Private Tombs. Second Edition. Griffith Institute. Oxford. 1994