Kanefer
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Kanefer ( ''K3=(j).-nfr(.w)'' ''"His Ka is beautiful"'') is the name of a prince and King
Sneferu Sneferu or Soris (c. 2600 BC) was an ancient Egyptian monarch and the first pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, during the earlier half of the Old Kingdom period (26th century BC). He introduced major innovations in the design and constructio ...
's son, who took the vizier's office from his older brother
Nefermaat Nefermaat I () was an ancient Egyptian prince, a son of king Sneferu. He was a vizier possessing the titles of the king's eldest son, royal seal bearer, and prophet of Bastet. His name means "Maat is beautiful" or "With perfect justice". Biog ...
. He lived in the late period of the King Sneferu's reign and possibly in early reign phase of his brother
Khufu Khufu or Cheops (died 2566 BC) was an ancient Egyptian monarch who was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, Fourth Dynasty, in the first half of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Old Kingdom period (26th century BC). Khufu succeeded his ...
. Later on the office of vizier passed to the Nefermat's son Hemiun. The fourth dynasty was a period when constructions on the Giza plateau peaked,as well as the development of activity of craftsmen and system organisation of grandiose buildings. Kanefer was allegedly buried in a mastaba at the Dahshur necropolis. Information about his personality and position of power drawn from the remains uncovered in the mastaba is in question. I. E. S. Edwards, C.J.Cadd, ''The Cambridge Ancient history, Early History of the Middle East'', Cambridge University 1971 part 1. p.166Michael Baud, ''Famille royale et pouvoir sous l'Ancient Epirem Égyptien, Tom.''2, Institute Français D'Archologie Oriental, Caire 1999 p.530


Genesis

The vast necropolis of Dahshur is one of the large pyramid cemeteries of the Old and Middle Kingdom (2600–1700 BCE). The appearance of the natural landscape at Dahshur was intensely altered by human impact, especially through mining. The quarries of materials for pyramids buildings appear today as scarps and depressions. The channel beds in the wadis leading to the
Bent Pyramid The Bent Pyramid is an ancient Egyptian pyramid located at the royal necropolis of Dahshur, approximately south of Cairo, built under the Old Kingdom King Sneferu. A unique example of early pyramid development in Ancient Egypt, Egypt, this was th ...
were also altered by use as transport paths for building material and by fluvial erosion. In the area between the pyramids of Sneferu, and northwest of the pyramid complex of
Amenemhat II Nubkaure Amenemhat II, also known as Amenemhet II, was the third pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Although he ruled for at least 35 years, his reign is rather obscure, as well as his family relationships. Family Archaeological fin ...
and
Senwosret III Khakaure Senusret III (also written as Senwosret III or the hellenised form, Sesostris III) was a pharaoh of Egypt. He ruled from 1878 BC to 1839 BC during a time of great power and prosperity, and was the fifth king of the Twelfth Dynasty of th ...
(12th Dynasty),
De Morgan De Morgan or de Morgan is a surname, and may refer to: *Augustus De Morgan (1806–1871), British mathematician and logician. ** De Morgan's laws (or De Morgan's theorem), a set of rules from propositional logic. ** The De Morgan Medal, a trienn ...
had been conducting archaeological research on tombs of the 4th dynasty during year 1894-1895. The first report on the archaeological research carried out by de Morgan was sent to the "''Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres''"on March 8th 1895. Among other things, he also mentioned the opening of the main figures from the Sneferu time, whose tombs were found there. He also opened a mastaba, which he identified Kanefer as the owner, and addressed the title of Kanefer as "''Son of the royal wing, who is the chief of his father, the son of
Sneferu Sneferu or Soris (c. 2600 BC) was an ancient Egyptian monarch and the first pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, during the earlier half of the Old Kingdom period (26th century BC). He introduced major innovations in the design and constructio ...
''".Jacques De Morgan, ''Lettre sur sa seconde campagne de fouilles en Égypte'', 1985

/ref> De Morgan completed all the archaeological survey in 1895 and published a comprehensive work in year 1903.Jacques De Morgan, ''Fouilles A Dahchour II. 1894-1895'', Vienne 1903, p.22-23

/ref>


Mastaba

The Kanefer mastaba is a large brick mastaba (36x25 m) with three wells. Along the eastern wall were two steles and offering tables from two entrance vaulted rooms lined with clay bricks. All that was left was badly damaged at the beginning of this century.Regarding their decoration, only the lower part of the false door and the outer jamb have been preserved, which are now stored separately in the Louvre and in the British Museum (BM). This amount of evidence has led all scholars to take Kanefer without hesitation as an authentic son of Sneferu. Moreover, the false door of Kanefer was built by his son Kaiwareb, dating the reign of Khafra or possibly
Djedefre Djedefre (also known as Djedefra and Radjedef; died 2558 BC) was an ancient Egyptian king (pharaoh) of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, 4th Dynasty during the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Old Kingdom. He is well known by the Hellenization, Hellenized form ...
, too.Nadine Cherpion, ''Mastaba et hypogées d'Ancient empire. Le problème dal la datation, Connaissance de l'Egypte ancienne'', Bruxelles 1989, p. 106-108

/ref>Nicole Alexanian, Thomas Herbis, ''The Necropolis of Dahshur First Excavation Report Spring 2002'', Free University Berlin 200

/ref> In the spring of 2002, an excavation team from the
Free University of Berlin The Free University of Berlin (, often abbreviated as FU Berlin or simply FU) is a public university, public research university in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in West Berlin in 1948 with American support during the early Cold War period a ...
worked in the cemetery east of the
Red Pyramid The Red Pyramid, also called the North Pyramid, is the largest of the pyramids located at the Dahshur necropolis in Cairo, Egypt. Named for the rusty reddish hue of its red limestone stones, it is also the third largest Egyptian pyramid, after ...
and north of the
Amenemhat II Nubkaure Amenemhat II, also known as Amenemhet II, was the third pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Although he ruled for at least 35 years, his reign is rather obscure, as well as his family relationships. Family Archaeological fin ...
pyramid complex in Dahshur. Unfortunately, Morgan's documentation is sketchy, and the publication of Kanefer's tomb has been very superficial, so that in the current situation it is even difficult to locate Kanefer's tomb in the field. On the desert surface, only mastabas on the northwest edge of the cemetery can still be distinguished. However, the areas closer to the pyramid complex
Amenemhat II Nubkaure Amenemhat II, also known as Amenemhet II, was the third pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Although he ruled for at least 35 years, his reign is rather obscure, as well as his family relationships. Family Archaeological fin ...
are covered with extensive piles of rubble.


Steles

Archaeological research in the Kanefer mastaba in Dahshur, found two steles in the style of false doors, one with inscriptions dedicated it to Prince Kanefer, the other dedicated to the mastaba restorer by his son Kaiwareb The first mentioned above, was offered with a broken top part in the acquisition to the Museum Louvre in year 1912, the second less damaged was offered to the British Museum in year 1901. Both mastabas in memory of Prince Kanefer contain records of his titles in the Vizier's administration. Their translation was made by De Morgan, with minor differences by Cherpion and much more comprehensively by Baud.
Prince Kanefer title are:
''Son of the royal flank, he who is chief by his father's side, son of
Sneferu Sneferu or Soris (c. 2600 BC) was an ancient Egyptian monarch and the first pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, during the earlier half of the Old Kingdom period (26th century BC). He introduced major innovations in the design and constructio ...
, loved by his father every day, commander of the palace, beloved of his father, loyal to his father, prophet of Sneferu, commander of the priests, chief of clan, guardian of the palace, governor of the house of the five-great, chief of accounting, in charge of the seal, high priest of Heliopolis, servant of the spirits of Pa-Dep, officiant, eldest son from the royal flank, chief of the pyramid of Sneferu, curator, prophet of Horus-Neb-Mat, (prophet of the name of Sneferu's hawk) in charge of the seal of the god's boat, prophet of Horus, master of Mesen, commander of the priests of
Nekheb Elkab, also spelled El-Kab or El Kab, is an Upper Egyptian site on the east bank of the Nile at the mouth of the Wadi Hillal about south of Luxor (ancient Thebes). Elkab was called Nekheb in the Egyptian language ( , ), a name that refers to ...
in
Elkab Elkab, also spelled El-Kab or El Kab, is an Upper Egyptian site on the east bank of the Nile at the mouth of the Wadi Hillal about south of Luxor (ancient Thebes, Egypt, Thebes). Elkab was called Nekheb in the Egyptian language ( , ), a name t ...
)''.
The stele stored in the BM exhibition dedicated to the memory of father Kanefer, which is in a relatively better preserved condition, again lists some of his titles in its upper part. The texts it bears commemorate the Prince Kanefer son of King Sneferu, and they are mostly concerned with his titles and dignities. The lintel and drum carry short texts with brief titles, and the full list of Kanefer's honours is reserved for the upper parts of the two panels. On several titles, the title ''"King's Eldest Son of His Body''" is prefrontal, as seen in the title "''Overseer of the Sneferu's Pyramid''". On either side of the false doorway there are large figures of Kanefer's eldest son Kaiwareb, dressed in official uniform carrying a sceptre and a monarch's staff


Epilogue

Historical figures from the period of King Sneferu's reign, his sons and successors, who, according to the customs of the time, occupied the highest positions in the administration of the state, they provide a picture on the time of construction of large buildings and the synergy of the management apparatus, efficient builders and in a logistics system developed. Prince Kanefer Sneferu's son is an indispensable figure in this painting. Nigel Strudlick, ''The Administration of Egypt in the Old Kingdom'', Routledge and Kegan Paul, Henle on Themes GB, 198

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Note


See also

Kanefer (High Priest of Ptah)


Literature

* Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton: ''The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt.'' The American University in Cairo Press, Kairo 2004, , p. 52–61 * Michael Haase: ''Das Feld der Tränen. König Snofru und die Pyramiden von Dahschur''. Ullstein, München 2000, , p. 217–219 * Miroslav Barta, ''The Title Inspector of the Palace during the Egyptian Old Kingdom'', Oriental Institute of Science, Vol.67, Praha 1999 * Peter Manuelin, ''Slab stelae of Giza Necropolis'', The Peabody Museum on Natural History of Yale University, Philadelphia, 200


References


External links

{{Commons category, Kanefer (Overseer of commissions) Princes of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt Viziers of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt Dahshur Sneferu Fourth Dynasty of Egypt