Senenmut - Lover? Father figure?

Senenmut - Lover? Father figure?

I am not comfortable with the "lover" tag which is still being used to show the issues we have in explaining Senenmut’s closeness to Hatshepsut. To my knowledge no-one has yet proven that Senenmut was or wasn't "romantically involved" with Hatshepsut.

I will not go into detail here regards the "evidence" for each side of the discussion, the fact it is still being discussed says a lot. Sometimes we find archaeology which may help us with the jigsaw which is Ancient Egypt, other times we wish for such evidence, but do not know where to look.

Without argument, we know for sure that Senenmut was very close to Hatshepsut in his many roles conducted within her reign. One such role was as tutor to Neferure - a position repeatedly shown via his block tutor statues we see in museums around the world.

Was Senenmut considered by Hatshepsut as a father figure? Did the death of her father allow her to one day require another man to fill such a void in her life? If so, can we discount Senenmut?

Quite possibly, if Senenmut was indeed a father figure - someone whose advice was treated as a necessity - this may have led to the many benefits and titles awarded to Senenmut during his time in the employ of Hatshepsut. His own "words" in his Deir el Bahri tomb have been translated with romantic background meaning. Perhaps the relationship between these two human beings was mutual - a father/ daughter love, which would not have overstepped the barriers of Ancient Egyptian society.

In today's society, if a father, step-father, guardian says to their young ones "You are the most important person in my life, I love you with my heart and my sole. All i do so is for you and all that i am is because of you" these words will be taken in one way. A loving dedication, romantic and loving without ever overstepping the mark.

I wonder (without evidence) whether this particular angle is worth any time.Does anyone have any personal views on this subject which they would like to share?

Regards,

Stuart

Neferure - Christies Auction House

Here is a limestone Stela which i have never seen before. This is a PAST auction and the costs and details involved in the sale are of little value to me. What is of value is the existence of a stela featuring Neferure, complete with a depiction of her as well as her cartouche.

Neferure, Christies

This may be a well known item, but my own limited research has drawn blanks in every direction available to me. I would therefore like to ask a few questions:

1. Who is the goddess to the left. she is a personification of fields, etc but the description does not name her. Perhaps this may give us the information which will allow us to see where this stela would have been erected (?)
2. Neferure is depicted as "the divine wife [of the god Amun]". Would this suggest a date during the sole reign of Hatshepsut? - where it seems (Deir el Bahri) Neferure's status was elevated from Kings Daughter to Gods Wife of Amun (please correct me if i am wrong here).
3. Provenance:
   

   Provenance

   Otto Wegener Collection, Munich, collected in the 1950s
   Edgar Wegener, Hamburg, 1983
   Thomas Wegener, 1995 

No mention here of an excavation. Collected in the 1950's means very little if we wish to bring the stela to life. No excavation reports, no photographs of this item in-situ. I'm also not sure how i include such items in the database.

Regards,
Stuart

Neferura, Heir Apparent - Marianne Luban

This is a very interesting post by Marianne Luban, "Neferure, Heir Apparent".

Marianne picks up where we left off back in August and September.

The life of Neferure is not well known. She may have died young, or she may have married Thutmose III. We certainly await archaeological evidence for the latter - but the point is Neferure's life is very much a mystery.

Marianne has some interesting points to make. Marianne is looking at an area which to my own knowledge is very much up for discussion.

I would like to hear from anyone who wishes to add to what Marianne has posted.

Regards,
Stuart

More on the Neferure fragment in Dundee

Before continuing, it is important that i thank two people for the following information. Rita Murray and Marianne Luban. Rita for your generous help in allowing me to obtain documentation from JSTOR and Marianne for asking questions on the original post, which can be seen here which made me look for a way of securing the location of the fragment within Deir el Bahri (or more correctly, Djeser Djeseru).

With Rita's help, i have been able to locate the following:


A LONG-LOST PORTRAIT OF PRINCESS NEFERURE' FROM DEIR EL-BAHRI By K. A. KITCHEN, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 49 (Dec., 1963), pp. 38-40

I quote:

"I have visited Deir el-Bahri and was able to place the pencil- rubbing of the Dundee head in the gap in the south wall of the Sanctuary. It fitted exactly. The provenance of this relief is thus placed beyond all doubt. My thanks are due to Dr. L. Dabrowski and Eng. W. Kolataj of the Polish expedition working at Deir el-Bahri for their practical help on the spot".

Regards,
Stuart

Statue of Senenmut and Neferure - Field Museum, Chicago Photos

Most of us are familiar with the block and seated (tutor) statues of Senenmut and Neferure. This standing statue of Senenmut holding Neferure (Museum Number 173800) seems to be unique.
 
Made of Diorite, it was gifted to the Field Museum by Stanley Field and Ernest R. Graham in 1925.

The following photographs were kindly provided by Bob Manske and Kmt-Sesh and used with permission.

The different views of the statue allow us to see this statue from more than the usual frontal views we are all used to seeing::

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Kmt-Sesh

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Kmt-Sesh

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Kmt-Sesh

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Kmt-Sesh

Regards,
Stuart

Neferure - McManus Museum, Dundee

Relief fragment featuring Neferure, from the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut.

McManus Museum, Dundee, Scotland

Museum Number: 1977-534

Acquired in 1914 (Donated by Sir James Key Caird)

All other details can be found, along with a photograph of the relief fragment by clicking on the above link.

Regards,

Stuart

Hatshepsut Project - Neues Museum, Berlin

Senenmut und Nefrure
Originally uploaded by Hanne7

Here we have a block statue of Senenmut and Neferure from the Neues (New) Museum, Berlin.

This is one of a number of "tutor statues" featuring Senenmut and Neferure. I haven't been able to find similar statues featuring Neferubity- so my assumption so far is that there are none.

Regards,
Stuart

Senenmut and Neferure - British Museum

Statue of Senenmut and Neferura
Originally uploaded by Lenka P

As a father, i am always taken back when i see sculptures like this wonderful example from the British Museum. To me this appears to be be a very loving, protective picture of what appears to be a father and daughter (at a glance). Thutmose II, Neferure's father would object to such a statement. But where are the statues featuring Neferure and Hatshepsut/ Thutmose III?

Neferure (Neferura if you like) is the only (confirmed) child of Hatshepsut that i am aware of. Here, she is shown with (one of) her tutor(s), Senenmut.

Senenmut is the one person who (outside of recognised family members) is depicted the most with Hatshepsut's daughter, Neferura, but not the only person which i will highlight at a later date.

This is one of many such statues showing such an embrace between these two people. What role did a tutor play in Ancient Egypt? Probably a dominant role in the lives of those who were under their tutorship, after the early days of their wet- nurse.

I highlight this photo due to both Senenmut and Neferura being present. Thanks to Lenka P for the original photo.

Regards,
Stuart

Senenmut and Neferure

I am going through a lot of material at the moment, trying to add to this blog. The Hatshepsut related stuff is limited to time. Time is a factor that keeps on popping up like a little gremlin in my head reminding me that i have a family to take care of.

I am going to broaden my horizons, so to speak. I will start to include sites and items concerning Senenmut (Senemut if you prefer)and Neferure. Although these wonderful people of the past will always have a back seat to Hatshepsut, they are a very large part of the Hatshepsut story and this Hatshepsut project. All information on these will be introductory and i will refer you to further reading, or websites which will aid in more informed learning for those who may be interested.

I will not yet move on to Thutmose I,II, III, Ahmose and other major family members of Hatshepsut. These will follow later as i have to pace myself. As i am learning- as- i go i do not want to end up too far over my head.

At this stage i wish there were two of me. That would certainly solve some of the time issues... Please bare with me as i go. There will be times when this blog goes slightly quiet. I promise you that i will be in the background either reading books, excavation reports, watching documentaries and everything else that has helped me get to month 3 of this blog...

Stuart