Neferhetepes (Userkaf)

Neferhetepes in hieroglyphs

Neferhetepes was the wife of the Ancient Egyptian king Userkaf, who was the first king of the Fifth Dynasty. She was also the mother of king Sahure who was the successor of Userkaf. Furthermore she was most likely mother of Meretnebty, who was the wife of Sahure. The most important titles of Neferhetepes were mother of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt and daughter of the god.^[1]

Neferhetepes was known for a long time from a reference in the tomb of the official Persen. His tomb is not far away from the pyramid of Userkaf and therefore, there were some speculations about her identity and her relation to this king. However, recently were found several reliefs at the causeway of the pyramid belonging to king Sahure. Here, Neferhetepes is shown as mother of king Sahure and she was therefore most likely the wife of Userkaf who was the predecessor of Sahure.

Neferhetepes was most likely buried in a small pyramid next to the one of Userkaf.^[2]

Neferhetepes lived most likely till the end of Sahures reign and is therefore not identical with the king's daughter Neferhetepes of the Fourth Dynasty.^[3]

References

1. ^ Tarek El Awady: The royal family of sahure. New evidence, in: M.Barta; F. Coppens, J. Krjci (Hrsg.): Abusir and Saqqara in the Year 2005, Prague 2006 ISBN 80-7308-116-4, p. 192-98
2. ^ Audran Labrousse und Jean-Philippe Lauer: Les complexes funéraires d'Ouserkaf et de Néferhétepès. Band 1 und 2, IFAO, 2000
3. ^ Tarek El Awady: The royal family of sahure. New evidence, in: M.Barta; F. Coppens, J. Krjci (Hrsg.): Abusir and Saqqara in the Year 2005, Prague 2006 ISBN 80-7308-116-4, p. 197-98