Wenennefer (High Priest of Osiris)

Wenennefer (also Wennefer, Wennufer or Unnefer) was an ancient Egyptian High Priest of Osiris at Abydos, during the reign of pharaoh Ramesses II of the 19th Dynasty.

For the High Priest of Amun with a similar name, see Parennefer called Wennefer.
Wenennefer
High Priest of Osiris
Naos depicting Wenennefer (left) while adoring Isis, from Abydos
PredecessorMery
SuccessorHori
Dynasty19th Dynasty
PharaohRamesses II
FatherMery
MotherMaianuy
WifeTiy
ChildrenHori

Biography


[1]
Wenennefer
in hieroglyphs

His name "Wenennefer" ("the one who continues to be perfect"), is one of the epithets of Osiris, which alludes to this god's post-mortem power.[2]

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 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] Wenennufer's Wife Tiy was the chief of the Harim of Osiris. She was the daughter of the Overseer of the Granaries Qeni and his wife Wiay.[6]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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 and the Vizier Nebamun.[8] It is not clear how these men are related because they are not real brothers.[9] Another side shows Wenennefer with his wife Tiy and mother Maianuy in the presence of a barque.[8] The third side shows Wenennufer and his son the Second Prophet of Osiris Siese.[10] 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.[11]

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 I. Prehotep is said to be the son of the High Priest of Osiris To and born of Maianuy.[12]

Other

Further monuments include:

  • A standing statue with a standard (Louvre A66) [13]
  • A stela from Abydos from Abydos (Cairo CGC 34505) [14]
  • A sandstone panel stela (Louvre C97) [15]
  • Upper part of a sandstone stela (Cairo JdE 32025) [16]
  • Twin figures of Wenennefer and his wife Tiy from Abydos. (Peabody Museum 2657 - Yale 1937.213) [16]
  • Basalt statuette fragments from Abydos [16]
  • Granite block statue from Abydos (Bolton Museum 46.03.35)[17]
  • Sculptural fragments from Abydos mentioning Ramesses II [17]
  • Text of dated statue endowments (Pennsylvania University Museum E9930) [18]
  • Ebony inlay fragments from Abydos.[19]
  • Tomb chapel fragments from Abydos. Text mentions Wennenufer, his parents Mery and Wiay, and his wife Tiy.[20]
  • Funerary statuette from Umm-el-Qaab in Abydos.[21]
  • Block statue in private collection.[22]

References
  1. Porter, Bertha and Moss, Rosalind, Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Statues, Reliefs and Paintings Volume V : Upper Egypt - Sites , Griffith Institute. 1964, pp 43
  2. Mark Collier & Bill Manley, How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs, British Museum Press, 1998, ISBN 0-7141-1910-5, p. 42.
  3. H Franzmeier, News from Parahotep: The small Finds from his Tomb rediscovered, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 2014, pp 151-179
  4. Michael Rice, Who is who in Ancient Egypt, 1999 (2004), Routledge, London, ISBN 0-203-44328-4, pp. 219-220.
  5. Kitchen, Kenneth A. Ramesside Inscriptions, Translated and Annotated Translations: Ramesses II, His Contemporaries (Ramesside Inscriptions Translations) (Volume III) Wiley-Blackwell. 2001, pg 318-327, ISBN 978-0631184287
  6. Kitchen pp. 319
  7. Kitchen pp. 319-320
  8. Kitchen pp. 320
  9. H Franzmeier, News from Parahotep: The small Finds from his Tomb rediscovered, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 2014, pp 174
  10. Kitchen pp. 320-321
  11. Kitchen pp. 320-21
  12. Kitchen pp. 321
  13. Kitchen pp. 322
  14. Kitchen pp. 323
  15. Kitchen pp. 323-4
  16. Kitchen pp. 324
  17. Kitchen pp. 325
  18. Kitchen pp. 325-6
  19. Kitchen pp. 326
  20. Kitchen pp. 326-7
  21. Kitchen pp. 327
  22. 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, ISBN 978-3-447-10927-7, 215-240
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