Useramen (also called User, Amenuser, or Useramun) was an ancient Egyptian

vizier A vizier (; ar, وزير, wazīr; fa, وزیر, vazīr), or wazir, is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in the near east. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was a ...

under pharaohs

Hatshepsut Hatshepsut (; also Hatchepsut; Egyptian: '' ḥꜣt- špswt'' "Foremost of Noble Ladies"; or Hatasu c. 1507–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. She was the second historically confirmed female pharaoh, af ...

and

Thutmose III Thutmose III (variously also spelt Tuthmosis or Thothmes), sometimes called Thutmose the Great, was the sixth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Officially, Thutmose III ruled Egypt for almost 54 years and his reign is usually dated from 28 ...

of the 18th Dynasty.

Family

Useramen was the son of the vizier

Amethu called Ahmose Amethu called Ahmose was a vizier of ancient Egypt. He served during the reign of Thutmose II and the early years of the reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III of the 18th Dynasty.

, who served during the reign of

Thutmose II Thutmose II (sometimes read as Thutmosis or Tuthmosis II, Thothmes in older history works in Latinized Greek; Ancient Egyptian: /''ḏḥwty.ms''/ ''Djehutymes'', meaning "Thoth is born") was the fourth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egy ...

and the early years of the combined reigns of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III.Hatshepsut
by Anneke Bart His mother's name was Ta-amenthu. Useramen was married to a lady named Tuiu, and the couple is known from their tombs to have had at least four daughters and a son.Porter,B. and Moss R.L.B., Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs and Paintings: The Theban Necropolis, Part One: Private Tombs. Second Edition. Griffith Institute. Oxford. 1994 Useramen came from a very influential family. His father was vizier before him and later his brother

Neferweben Nebweben was an ancient Egyptian vizier of the North under pharaoh Thutmose III of the 18th Dynasty. Family Neferweben was the son of vizier Amethu called Ahmose, who served during the reign of Thutmose II and the early years of the combined ...

became vizier as well. Useramen was also the uncle of

Rekhmire Rekhmire was an ancient Egyptian noble and official of the 18th Dynasty who served as "Governor of the Town" ( Thebes) and Vizier during the reigns of Thutmosis III and Amenhotep II, circa 1400 BCE. He was the nephew of Vizier User, who took offi ...

, who was vizier under Thutmose III.

Vizierate

As vizier Useramen would have been second only to the pharaoh. The vizier was responsible for many of the day-to-day operations of the state. He was installed in this position in year 9 of Hatshepsut's reign (which is also year 5 of Thutmose III), and held the position for 20 years.

Tombs and burial

Useramen had two tombs in the hills of Thebes, Egypt, Thebes. In his tomb

TT61 The Theban Tomb TT61 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. It forms part of the Theban Necropolis, situated on the west bank of the Nile opposite to Luxor. The tomb belongs to an 18th Dynasty ancient Egyptian named Useramen, who was a Vizier durin ...

, his parents, wife and children are mentioned. Tomb

TT131 The Theban Tomb TT131 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. It forms part of the Theban Necropolis, situated on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor. The tomb belongs to an 18th dynasty Ancient Egyptian named Useramen who was a Vizier during t ...

also belongs to Useramen (here named User). The aged vizier Amethu (User's father) is shown with a

chamberlain Chamberlain may refer to: Profession *Chamberlain (office), the officer in charge of managing the household of a sovereign or other noble figure People *Chamberlain (surname) **Houston Stewart Chamberlain (1855–1927), German-British philosop ...

, courtiers and User as a scribe before Thutmose III, and a text records the installation of User as co-vizier. A red granite false door from the tomb of Useramen and his wife Tuiu was discovered at

Karnak The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak (, which was originally derived from ar, خورنق ''Khurnaq'' "fortified village"), comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, pylons, chapels, and other buildings near Luxor, Egypt. Construct ...

, presumably in secondary use. His official titles included 'Mayor of the City', 'Vizier', and 'Prince'.

References

{{Reflist Viziers of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt