Mentuemhat the fourth priest of Amun

Mentuemhat the fourth

priest of Amun

Mentuemhat or Montumhat c. 700 BC–c. 650 BC was a wealthy and influential Thebesian nobleman who lived during the 25th and 26th dynasties of Egypt He was the fourth priest of Amun of Thebes He is known for his numerous statues and is buried in Tomb TT34 of the Thebes Necropolis Mentuemhat adopted this style for his own paintings All of Mentuemhat's statues are created in the style of the ancient Egyptian Empire. Mentuemhat's power over Thebes may have inspired his self-portraits

1854 image, looking through the granite doorway above the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari

Mentuemhat appears as a ruler and deity responsible for maintaining stability within the empire Mentuemhat served during the reigns of King Taharka and Psamtik I which spanned parts of the 25th and 26th dynasties of Egypt Mentuemhat's first wife Neskhonshu was the mother of his eldest son and heir Nesfah However no inscription for Neskhonshu was found in TT34 suggesting that Neskhonshu was not buried there The bas-relief in the Temple of Mut depicts the adoption of Nitocris depicting the sacrifice of Mentuemhat

Mentuemhat's stele in the British Museum

his son Nespah and his wife Yerenes Mentuemhat was painted during the 25th and 26th dynasties of Egypt He was the fourth priest of Amun of Thebes c. 700 BC – c. 650 BC. Mentuemhat was also a wealthy and influential Thebesian nobleman who lived in ancient Egypt Mentuemhat's father likely served as mayor of Thebes during the reign of Shebitcu while Mentuemhat's father Nespah succeeded Remmachereu as mayor of Thebes He is known from numerous statues and is buried in Tomb TT34 of the Thebes Necropolis