Wennefer
Wennefer1, god's father, beloved of the god, sm-priest, prophet of Ptah, High Priest of Letopolis2, possibly also overseer of the workers, master of the secrets of the secret chamber3; son of Tanetamun4, probably to be identified with Tanetamun, wife of Heriu I5; probably identifical with Wennefer6, god's father, beloved of the god, sm-priest, prophet of Ptah, priest of the temples of Memphis, prophet of Osiris at Rakotis, prophet of the gods of the temple of Osiris at Rakotis, prohet of Anubis on his mountain, prophet of the gods of the temple of Anubis on his mountain, prophet of Serapis, prophet of the mothers of Apis.... prophet of the gods of Pahepnebes, prophet of the statues of king Nectanebo II of the temple of the domain of Osiris at Rakotis, of the temple of the "mounting of Anubis", and of the temple of Serapis, prophet of king Menes, prophet of king Teti, prophet of Osiris.... Memphis, gods father and prophet of Heka who is at Hetkaptah.... of each third phyle of the temple of Memphis, master of the secrets of the august place who sees Serapis in the palace of the horizon, god's father and prophet7; father of Nesnunuer8 by Semsem9; chronology uncertain, probably late 3rd century BC10.
[1] PP IX 5366a. Gr: Onnophris. Ý
[2] Berlin 46 -- see L. Kákosy, Fs 150 Bestehen des Berliner ägyptischen Museums, 113. Ý
[3] pLouvre 5450, 3058 and 3138, see T. Deveria, Catalogue des manuscrits égyptiens au musée égyptien du Louvre 95ff. The identification is proposed in PP, and endorsed by J. Quaegebeur, JNES 30 (1971) 239, 267. It appears to be supported by the fact that the two Wennefers have a mother of the same name. However, I am very sceptical, since the Louvre papyri lack the title of wnr (HPL) and the overseer title is not held by any other recorded HPL. Ý
[4] Berlin 46. Ý
[5] L. Kákosy, Fs 150 Bestehen des Berliner ägyptischen Museums, 113, 118 dates the coffin to the 2nd or 1st century BC. The other surviving coffins of the HPLs are all datable to the late 3rd and early 2nd century BC. The absence of any reference to the cult of Arsinoe II on the coffin inscription suggests to me that it predates Ahmes, since this priest and probably all later HPLs were involved with this cult. Additionally, the argument of J. Quaegebeur, JNES 30 (1971) 239, 266f., that the descendants of Wennefer listed on Louvre C 316 should be closely related to Ahmes, seems sound. Hence there seems every reason to identify Tanetamun, mother of Wennefer HPL, with Tanetamun, the mother of Ahmes, wife of Heriu I. Ý
[6] PP III 5657. The titles of this priest show that he was very senior in the hierarchy. Additionally, Louvre C 316, shows his grandson Wennefer son of Nesnunuer as an officiant with Ahmes HPL, Heriu II (later) HPL, and Horemhotep III HPL. J. Quaegebeur, JNES 30 (1971) 239, 266f., argued that these should all be members of the same family. This makes sense to me. Ý
[7] Louvre 328, see D. Wildung, Die Rolle ägyptischer Könige im Bewußtsein ihrer Nachwelt 15ff. Ý
[8] Louvre C 316, Louvre 328. Ý
[9] Louvre 328. Ý
[10] See discussion above. Ý
Update Notes:
7 December 2002: Created page
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