(1) (fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Seventeenth Dynasty
She was the consort of Sekenenre TA’OII (c. 1560 B.C.E.) and the mother of the founder of the New Kingdom, ’AHMOSE (r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.). The daughter of Senakhtenre TA’OI and Queen TETISHERI, Ah’hotep was raised in DEIR EL-BAAS, just north of Thebes, during the period in which the HYKSOS, or Asiatics, ruled the northern territories. She bore two sons, KAMOSE and ’Ahmose, and two daughters, ’AHMOSE-NEFERTARI and ’AHMOSE-HETEMPET.
When Ta’o II began the war of unification, Ah’hotep stood as guardian of the Theban throne. She received Ta’o’s body when he was slain and then sent her firstborn son, Kamose, on the same crusade. Kamose died in 1550, and ’Ahmose became the new ruler. Ah’hotep served as regent for this young son, marrying him to his sister, ’Ahmose-Nefertari, who was possibly Kamose’s widow. For almost 10 years, Ah’hotep ruled the Theban
’Ahmose 15
lands of southern Egypt, maintaining an uneasy peace with the Hyksos. When ’Ahmose began his spectacular campaign against the Asiatics, Ah’hotep maintained order and recruited more and more units for the army. Her name was linked with that of ’Ahmose in inscriptions, as in the fortress of BUHEN, south of ASWAN on the Nile.
She died at the age of 90 after the nation was unified, and she was given a vast mortuary complex at THEBES, being buried near Kamose. Magnificent offerings were provided for her burial, including a ceremonial ax (a military honor) and a golden boat mounted on a wooden chariot with bronze wheels. ’Ahmose praised her on a stela at KARNAK, saying: “She is the one who performed the rites and cared for Egypt.” The immense coffin of Ah’hotep was found in 1881, used for PINUDJEM (1). Her mummified remains were discovered in a small tomb near the entrance to the VALLEY OF THE KINGS. No original tomb has been identified.
Ah’hotep (2) (fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Eighteenth Dynasty
She was the consort of AMENHOTEP I (r. 1525–1504 B.C.E.). The daughter of ’AHMOSE and Queen ’AHMOSENEFERTARI, Ah’hotep married her brother and is listed as “King’s Daughter, King’s Wife, King’s Mother.” Amenhotep I, however, died without an heir. The son born to him by Ah’hotep died in infancy. This baby, AMUNEMHET (1), was discovered in a cache of mummies alongside his aunt, ’AHMOSE-MERYTAMON. Ah’hotep was buried in THEBES.
