Statue of Neferhotep
A rare royal discovery in the heart of Karnak: The statue of Neferhotep overlooks the civilization of ancient Egypt
Neferhotep I descended from a military family from Thebes. His father was called Haankhef and his mother's name was Kami. His father had the title of Aba El-Ilah. Neferhotep I had two brothers, each of whom later assumed the throne, namely Sobekhotep IV and Min-Wazra. Neferhotep's wife was called Seneseb, from whom he had a number of children: Sahathor, the first of his children, Sobehotep, Haankhef, and Harhotep.
A journey through time. From among the stones of the Karnak Temple, an exceptional moment emerges, a moment that revives the history of an ancient king of ancient Egypt. In 2005, an archaeological discovery shook the temple, when a rare royal statue of Neferhotep, one of the rulers of the Thirteenth Dynasty, was unveiled.
Neferhotep, the owner of the sweet name that means “good and beautiful,” was one of the most prominent kings of that era, as he ruled Egypt from 1696 to 1686 BC. Although he was not the son of any previous king, he had an exceptional career that led him to the throne of Egypt, thanks to his father, who was a priest in the temple of Abydos.
The statue embodies King Neferhotep in all his majesty, holding his hand high, wearing luxurious royal clothes, while a royal cobra is adorned on his forehead, a symbol of power and protection. The statue exudes unique beauty, as it is doubled with another statue of the same king, carved from limestone with great precision, reaching a length of 1.8 meters and a width of 2 meters.
The statue remained buried for centuries under a stone gate that formed the entrance to the temple of King Thutmose I, one of the kings of the Eighteenth Dynasty. The statue was lost in the mists of history. It was finally rediscovered in an amazing location near the obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut, wife of Thutmose II and maternal aunt of Thutmose III.
The discovery of the statue of Neferhotep is a jewel added to the record of dazzling archaeological discoveries in Egypt. It provides us with a unique opportunity to learn about aspects of the history and culture of ancient Egyptian civilization, and embodies the creativity of Egyptian sculptors of that era, who excelled in crafting this wonderful statue.
Today, the statue of Neferhotep stands tall in the Luxor Museum, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to meet an ancient king from the ancient Egyptian civilization, and learn about his achievements and inspiring career.
Do you want to travel through time and sail on an amazing journey among the stones of the Karnak Temple? Visit the Luxor Museum, and discover the magic of the statue of Neferhotep, a witness to the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilization!
The end of Neferhotep's rule or the circumstances of his death are unknown. He was succeeded on the throne by his brother Sobekhotep IV, who is believed to have shared his brother's rule. A piece of stone was found in Karnak with both their names engraved on it.
However, it is also believed, according to what was mentioned in the Turin Papyrus, which placed between the name of King Neferhotep and Sobekhotep IV the name of Sahhor, which is the same name as the son of Neferhotep, that he shared the rule with his father, but he died before his father, but no traces of him have been found to support this assumption.
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