Nefertkau
Encyclopedia
Nefertkau I was a 4th dynasty
Princess
of Egypt
. She was the eldest daughter of King Sneferu
and the mother of vizier Nefermaat II
.
Sneferu and hence a half-sister to king Khufu
. She was the mother of Nefermaat II
, and the grand-mother of Sneferukhaf
.
Nefertkau is explicitly said to be a daughter of Sneferu in inscriptions from the tomb of her son Nefermaat I and her grandson Sneferukhaf
. Sethe argued from the inscription in Nefermaat's tomb that Nefertkau had married her own father and that Nefermaat was Sneferu's son. Reisner argues against this theory and suggests that Nefertkau may have married her brother Khufu
. He does allow for the possibility that Nefertkau married a noble man whose name was lost.
Fourth dynasty of Egypt
The fourth dynasty of ancient Egypt is characterized as a "golden age" of the Old Kingdom. Dynasty IV lasted from ca. 2613 to 2494 BC...
Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. She was the eldest daughter of King Sneferu
Sneferu
Sneferu, also spelled as Snephru, Snefru or Snofru , was the founder of the Fourth dynasty of Egypt. Estimates of his reign vary, with for instance The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt suggesting a reign from around 2613 BC to 2589 BC, a reign of 24 years, while Rolf Krauss suggests a 30-year reign...
and the mother of vizier Nefermaat II
Nefermaat II
Nefermaat II was an Egyptian prince during the 4th dynasty and vizier of his cousin Khafra.- Etymology :Nefer means "beautiful", and maat means "order". Ma'at is a goddess of order and justice. So, Nefermaat means "beautiful Ma'at".- Biography :...
.
Family
Nefertkau was a daughter of pharaohPharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Sneferu and hence a half-sister to king Khufu
Khufu
Khufu , also known as Cheops or, in Manetho, Suphis , was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom. He reigned from around 2589 to 2566 BC. Khufu was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. He is generally accepted as being the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of...
. She was the mother of Nefermaat II
Nefermaat II
Nefermaat II was an Egyptian prince during the 4th dynasty and vizier of his cousin Khafra.- Etymology :Nefer means "beautiful", and maat means "order". Ma'at is a goddess of order and justice. So, Nefermaat means "beautiful Ma'at".- Biography :...
, and the grand-mother of Sneferukhaf
Sneferukhaf
s-nfr-f:r-wSneferukhaf was an Egyptian prince who lived during 4th dynasty. He was a son of Prince Nefermaat II and unknown woman, and thus a grandson of Princess Nefertkau I. He was named after his great-grandfather, Pharaoh Sneferu. He had two sons. He was buried in mastaba G 7070 at Giza.-...
.
Nefertkau is explicitly said to be a daughter of Sneferu in inscriptions from the tomb of her son Nefermaat I and her grandson Sneferukhaf
Sneferukhaf
s-nfr-f:r-wSneferukhaf was an Egyptian prince who lived during 4th dynasty. He was a son of Prince Nefermaat II and unknown woman, and thus a grandson of Princess Nefertkau I. He was named after his great-grandfather, Pharaoh Sneferu. He had two sons. He was buried in mastaba G 7070 at Giza.-...
. Sethe argued from the inscription in Nefermaat's tomb that Nefertkau had married her own father and that Nefermaat was Sneferu's son. Reisner argues against this theory and suggests that Nefertkau may have married her brother Khufu
Khufu
Khufu , also known as Cheops or, in Manetho, Suphis , was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom. He reigned from around 2589 to 2566 BC. Khufu was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. He is generally accepted as being the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of...
. He does allow for the possibility that Nefertkau married a noble man whose name was lost.