Meryre II was an ancient Egyptian noble known as the superintendent of Queen

Nefertiti Neferneferuaten Nefertiti () ( – c. 1330 BC) was a queen of the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, the great royal wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nefertiti and her husband were known for a radical change in national religious policy, in which ...

, and held the title of royal scribe, steward, overseer of the two treasuries, overseer of the royal harem of Nefertiti. He had a tomb constructed at

Amarna Amarna (; ar, العمارنة, al-ʿamārnah) is an extensive Egyptian archaeological site containing the remains of what was the capital city of the late Eighteenth Dynasty. The city was established in 1346 BC, built at the direction of the Ph ...

, although his remains have never been identified. The tomb has the last dated appearance of Akhenaten and the Amarna family.

Tomb of Meryra II

The tomb of Meryra II is the royal sepulcher known as Amarna Tomb 2. The tomb dates back to the 18th Dynasty.Davies, Norman de Garis. The Rock Tombs of El Amarna. Part II – The Tomb of Panehesy and Meryra II. London, 1905. Facsimile i
Internet Archive
Egypt Exploration Society (2004) It is located in the northern side of the

wadi Wadi ( ar, وَادِي, wādī), alternatively ''wād'' ( ar, وَاد), North African Arabic Oued, is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some instances, it may refer to a wet (ephemeral) riverbed that contains water ...

that splits the cluster of tombs known collectively as the Northern tombs, near to the city of

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning the North Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via a land bridg ...

. The tomb has been largely destroyed. It was decorated with the last dated appearance of

Akhenaten Akhenaten (pronounced ), also spelled Echnaton, Akhenaton, ( egy, ꜣḫ-n-jtn ''ʾŪḫə-nə-yātəy'', , meaning "Effective for the Aten"), was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh reigning or 1351–1334 BC, the tenth ruler of the Eighteenth D ...

and the Amarna family, dating from the second month, year 12 of his reign. Norman de Garis Davies originally published details of the tomb in 1905.

Inscribed scenes

South Wall West Side: The Queen filling the King's cup

is shown standing before a seated

, pouring a drink through a sieve for the king.

Meritaten Meritaten, also spelled Merytaten, Meritaton or Meryetaten ( egy, mrii.t-itn) (14th century BC), was an ancient Egyptian royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Her name means "She who is beloved of Aten"; Aten being the sun-deity whom h ...

stands between Akhenaten and Nefertiti, facing her father and offering him something. Behind Nefertiti we see Meketaten offering a perfume cone, while Ankhesenpaaten offers a bouquet of flowers. Below this scene we see female musicians and male servants.

South Wall, East Side: Reward of Meryra

Meryra is shown before the window of appearance. Akhenaten and Nefertiti are shown handing out collars of gold. In the palace behind the window we see Merytaten and Meketaten handing gold collars to their mother. Ankhesenpaaten is shown standing before Neferneferuaten Tasherit and

Neferneferure Neferneferure ( egy, nfr-nfr.w-rꜥ "beautiful are the beauties of Re") (14th century BCE) was an ancient Egyptian princess of the 18th Dynasty. She was the fifth of six known daughters of Pharaoh Akhenaten and his Great Royal Wife Nefertiti. ...

. Ankhesenpaaten is shown wearing large earrings and three bracelets on each arm. She also appears to be wearing a rather elaborate cape or collar.

East Wall: Presentation of tribute

On the east wall of the main chamber is a scene depicting the tribute of 'the chieftains of every foreign land'. Akhenaten and Nefertiti are shown sitting on a throne in a kiosk with all six of their daughters standing behind them. This tribute is dated to regnal year 12, second month of the Seed season, day 8. Their six daughters are shown behind them. Meritaten, Meketaten and Ankhesenpaaten are shown holding hands. Neferneferuaten is holding something in her hands. Neferure is shown holding a gazelle. The youngest daughter,

Setepenre Setepenre is an often-used title of Egyptian kings (pharaohs), meaning "Elect of Re". It was also used as a personal name in at least two instances. Pronunciation In Akkadian records, the name (referring to Ramesses II) is rendered in cuneiform s ...

, holds a bouquet of flowers while petting the gazelle her older sister is holding.

North Wall East Side: Meryre rewarded by the King

Meryre is shown before "The Lord of the Two Lands (Ankheperure), Son of Re (Smenkhare- Djeser-Kheperu), and the

Great Royal Wife Great Royal Wife, or alternatively, Chief King's Wife ( Ancient Egyptian: ''ḥmt nswt wrt'', cop, Ⲟⲩⲏⲣ Ⲟⲩⲣϣ), is the title that was used to refer to the principal wife of the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, who served many official ...

(Meritaten), ." The scene shows the royal couple bestowing honors and gifts on Meryre. The scene appears on the wall adjacent to the wall depicting the Durbar of year 12. Dodson, Aidan, Amarna Sunset: Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb, and the Egyptian Counter-reformation, The American University in Cairo Press, 2009 Smenkhare may have served as a co-regent to Akhenaten. Meritaten was the Great Royal Wife to Smenkhare, while Nefertiti continued as the chief consort of Akhenaten.Aldred, Cyril, Akhenaten: King of Egypt ,Thames and Hudson, 1991 (paperback), Nefertiti still held the Great Royal Wife title in year 16, hence Smenkhare must have been a co-regent or otherwise ruled with his wife Meritaten sometime after year 16 of Akhenaten.

References