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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Senemut and Neferure

This is a beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… and Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 – and I love these types of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ because they were seemingly invented by Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… himself and also give some insight into this time period!

Senemut and Neferure
A statue of Senemut holding Neferure (The Louvre)

Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓. Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… 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-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her. But honestly, no one really knows how Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… climbed the social ranks so dramatically and we probably never will! 

This is a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… holding Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, and many of these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ exist, however, this one is a tiny bit different than some of the other similar statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ I have seen. This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 wrapped in a blanket and being held tight by Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…. Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on her head (like royalty) and also at her feet. Was this Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on her head to show that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ intended for Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 to rule as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 after her? 

There are many differing theories on Senemut’s relationship with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓. Many believe (including myself) that they were having an affair. There’s even graffiti from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ builders in some unfinished tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ that show that they too believed that Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 and Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… were romantically involved. Gossiping about relationships seems to have always been something that people have done! 

It has even been speculated by some, based off of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ such as the one I have pictured, that Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… was actually Neferure’s 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀!