Wenennefer (also Wennefer, Wennufer or Unnefer) was an ancient Egyptian

High Priest of Osiris The High Priest of Osiris served at Abydos Abydos may refer to: *Abydos, a progressive metal side project of German singer Andy Kuntz *Abydos (Hellespont), an ancient city in Mysia, Asia Minor * Abydos (''Stargate''), name of a fictional planet ...

at Abydos, during the reign of

pharaoh Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian: '' pr ꜥꜣ''; cop, , Pǝrro; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') is the vernacular term often used by modern authors for the kings of ancient Egypt who ruled as monarchs from the First Dynasty (c. 3150 BC) until the ...

Ramesses II Ramesses II ( egy, rꜥ-ms-sw ''Rīʿa-məsī-sū'', , meaning "Ra is the one who bore him"; ), commonly known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Along with Thutmose III he is often regarded as ...

of the 19th Dynasty.

Biography

His name "Wenennefer" ("the one who continues to be perfect"), is one of the epithets of

Osiris Osiris (, from Egyptian ''wsjr'', cop, ⲟⲩⲥⲓⲣⲉ , ; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤎𐤓, romanized: ʾsr) is the god of fertility, agriculture, the afterlife, the dead, resurrection, life, and vegetation in ancient Egyptian religion. He wa ...

, which alludes to this god's ''post-mortem'' power. Wenennufer was a son of the High Priest of Osiris Mery and the Chantress of Osiris Maianuy. He was married to Tiy also called Nefertari, the daughter of the Overseer of the Granary

Qeni Qeni was the Superintendent of the Granary during the reign of Ramesses II. Qeni and his family came from Asyut. A dyad from Deir Durunka (MMA 17.2.5) records that Qeni was the son of Siese the Elder and that Siese the Younger was in turn his s ...

and his wife Wiay. Wennufer and Tiy had at least two sons, Hori and Yuyu. Wennufer's mother Maianuy was the daughter of the High Priest of Osiris To (sometimes called Tjay) and his wife Buia.H Franzmeier, ''News from Parahotep: The small Finds from his Tomb rediscovered'', Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 2014, pp 151-179 Following a practice typical of the New Kingdom, Wenennefer inherited from his father the office of ''High Priest of Osiris'', and after thirty-five years of priesthood he left it to his son Hori, who in turn was succeeded by Yuyu.

Monuments

Double statue of Wenennefer and his father Mery

The statue (Cairo JdE 35257) depict both Wenennefer and his father Mery. Wenennefer is said to be the son of Mery and Maianuy. Maianuy herself is identified as the daughter of the High Priest of Osiris To and his wife Buia.Kitchen, Kenneth A. ''Ramesside Inscriptions, Translated and Annotated Translations: Ramesses II, His Contemporaries (Ramesside Inscriptions Translations) (Volume III)'' Wiley-Blackwell. 2001, pg 318-327, Wenennufer's Wife Tiy was the chief of the Harim of Osiris. She was the daughter of the Overseer of the Granaries

and his wife Wiay.Kitchen pp. 319 The dorsal surface of the statue gives more information about the extended family of Mery and Wenennefer. Mery is said to be the son of the Dignitary and High Priest of Osiris Hat and his wife Iuy. The parents of Maianuy and Tiy are given again in the inscriptions. The scenes include further relatives. Several are listed as "his son": the Stablemaster Ramose, Prophet of Isis Yuyu, Second Prophet of Osiris Siese, Prophet of Horus Hor, and the Priest and Lector of Osiris Mery. There is also a row of women listed as "his daughter": Sheritre, Wiay, Istnofret, Mutnofret, and Buia.

Family Monument from Abydos

This limestone block comes from Abydos, but is now in the Cairo Museum (JdE 35258). One side shows Wenennufer flanked by two jackals. In the text he his accompanied by two men said to be "his brothers" the vizier

Prehotep I The ancient Egyptian noble Prehotep I (also known as Rahotep, Parahotep, Prehotep the Elder, Parehotp) was Vizier in the latter part of the reign of Ramesses II, during the 19th Dynasty. Family Parahotep is mentioned on two monuments belonging ...

and the Vizier

Nebamun Nebamun (fl. ) was a middle-ranking official "scribe and grain accountant" during the period of the New Kingdom in ancient Egypt. He worked at the vast temple complex near Thebes (now Luxor) where the state-god Amun was worshipped. His name w ...

.Kitchen pp. 320 It is not clear how these men are related because they are not real brothers. Another side shows Wenennefer with his wife Tiy and mother Maianuy in the presence of a barque. The third side shows Wenennufer and his son the Second Prophet of Osiris Siese. The fourth and final side shows Mery holding two standards. Mery is said to be the son of the Dignitary, God's Father and Sealbearer of Osiris Hat and his wife Iuy. The name of Ramesses II appears throughout the scenes.

Standing Statue with standards and Hathor emblems

This statue or architectural element comes from the funerary chapel of Wenennefer in Abydos and is now in the Athens Museum (Inv 106). Wenennefer holds two standards, where one is inscribed for Hathor, Lady of Medjet and Isis, Lady of Medjet, and the other Osiris and Anubis. Wenennefer also holds a Hathor emblem in front of him. The text on this monument provides more family information. Behind his right arm is a text about "his brother" the Vizier Nebamun, who is said to be the son of the dignitary and Sem Priest Ramose and his wife Sheritre. Behind his other arm is a text about "his brother"

. Prehotep is said to be the son of the High Priest of Osiris To and born of Maianuy.

Other

Further monuments include: * A standing statue with a standard (Louvre A66) * A stela from Abydos (Cairo CGC 34505) * A sandstone panel stela (Louvre C97) * Upper part of a sandstone stela (Cairo JdE 32025) Kitchen pp. 324 * Twin figures of Wenennefer and his wife Tiy from Abydos. (Peabody Museum 2657 - Yale 1937.213) * Basalt statuette fragments from Abydos * Granite block statue from Abydos (Bolton Museum 46.03.35)Kitchen pp. 325 * Sculptural fragments from Abydos mentioning Ramesses II * Text of dated statue endowments (Pennsylvania University Museum E9930) * Ebony inlay fragments from Abydos. * Tomb chapel fragments from Abydos. Text mentions Wennenufer, his parents Mery and Wiay, and his wife Tiy. * Funerary statuette from Umm-el-Qaab in Abydos. * Block statue in private collection.Christine Raedler: ''Creating Authority. The High Priest of Osiris Wenennefer and a special Deification of Ramesses II'', in:Tamás A. Bács and Horst Beinlich (editors) ''Constructing Authority, Prestige, Reputation and the Perception of Power in Egyptian Kingship Budapest, May 12–14, 2016'', Wiesbaden 2017, , 215-240

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wenennefer High Priests of Osiris People of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt 13th-century BC clergy Ramesses II