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The Sarcophagus of Senemut

This large quartzite oval (that has been reconstructed from over 1200 pieces) is the Sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό!Β 

There are many interesting things about this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­! For one, it is actually painted π“žπ“œ red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ so it looks more like red quartzite, which is more valuable! Another, is that it is extremely similar to Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ second sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ in terms of composition/rock type, so they must have been quarried at the same time!

The inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on the sarcophagus are from various chapters of the Book of the Dead, and many deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ such as Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 all make appearances along with the usual dedications that the deceased would make to these deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. Unfortunately due to the state the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ was found in, many of the inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ are now fragmented, but Egyptologists can put together the pieces!

Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ  Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό was Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ closest advisor, the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, and the architect responsible for building her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Some of Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό many titles appear on the sarcophagus as well, such as Steward of Amun, Chief Steward of the King, Overseer of the Treasury, Granary, Fields, Cattle of Amun, a Controller of Works, and so many more!