Hemiunu was the son of Nefermaat I and Atet, and the grandson of Sneferu or Huni. He acted as Vizier during the reign of Khufu. His statue, like that of his relative Prince Ankhhaf is unusual in its obvious realism. It bears a list of his titles: “Member of the elite, high official, vizier, king’s seal bearer, attendant of Nekhen, and spokesman of every resident of Pe, Priest of Bastet, priest of Shesmetet, priest of the Banebdjed (The Ram of Mendes), Keeper of the Apis Bull, Keeper of the White Bull, whom his lord loves, elder of the palace, High Priest of Thoth, whom his lord loves, courtier, Overseer of Royal Scribes, priest of the Panther Goddess, Director of Music of the South and North, Overseer of All Construction Projects of the King, king’s [grand]son of his own body”.
The second title from last is perhaps the most important as it confirms that he was the overseer in charge of building the burial place of the pharaoh (among other monuments). As a result he is often credited as the architect responsible for the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. He was buried in a mastaba close to the pyramid.
Bibliography
- The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt (2004) Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton
- An Introduction to the Archeology of Ancient Egypt (2008) Kathryn A. Bard
- “The Old Kingdom”, J Malek in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000) Ed I. Shaw
- Who’s Who in Ancient Egypt (1999) Michael Rice
Copyright J Hill 2008