Mehu

Mehu was an Ancient Egyptian vizier who lived in the Sixth Dynasty, around 2300 BC. The office of the vizier was the most important one at the royal court. Mehu is mainly known from his monumental mastaba at Saqqara, not far away from the Pyramid of Unas.

The exact dating of Mehu is disputed in Egyptology. Hartwig Altenmüller published the relief decoration of the mastaba and dates him under king Teti. He argues that the one of the brothers of Mehu with the name Iynefret is identical to another vizier also named Iynefret, who might date to the early Sixth Dynasty. Furthermore, Mehu carried the title of an overseer of priest at Djed-sut-Teti, that is the pyramid complex of king Teti.[1] Other argue that he dates slightly later under king Pepy I.[2]

Mehu's family, in particular his parents, remain unknown but he was very likely from Mendes.[3] Mehu had two wives, one called Nebet, the other one Neferkaus.[4]

Mehu was bearing a high number of important titles. These include the titles of the vizier, but he was also Overseer of the treasuries, overseer of the double granary, overseer of Upper Egypt and overseer of all royal works.[5] Several sons are mentioned in the tomb. One son was perhaps called Mery, but his name was several times deleted. Another son was Hetepka. Within the mastaba of Mehu there are parts reserved for a vizier called Hetepka. It is possible that he was the son of Mehu, albeit final evidence for this identification is missing. The vizier Hetepka might have been just a member of Mehu's family. Two other known children of Mehu are a daughter called Merut and a further son called Khuy.[6]

References
  1. Hartwig Altenmüller: Die Wanddarstellungen im Grab des Mehu in Saqqara, Archäologischer Veröffentlichungen 42, Mainz 1998, ISBN 3805305044, 82-83
  2. Nigel Strudwick: The administration of Egypt in the Old Kingdom, London, Boston 1985, ISBN 0710301073, p. 101-102
  3. Moreno García, Moreno (2013). "The Territorial Administration of the Kingdom in the 3rd Millennium". In Moreno García, Moreno (ed.). Ancient Egyptian administration. Leiden, Boston: Brill. p. 132. ISBN 978-90-04-24952-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  4. Hartwig Altenmüller: Die Wanddarstellungen im Grab des Mehu in Saqqara, Archäologischer Veröffentlichungen 42, Mainz 1998, ISBN 3805305044, 78
  5. Hartwig Altenmüller: Die Wanddarstellungen im Grab des Mehu in Saqqara, Archäologischer Veröffentlichungen 42, Mainz 1998, ISBN 3805305044, pp. 34-37
  6. Hartwig Altenmüller: Die Wanddarstellungen im Grab des Mehu in Saqqara, Archäologischer Veröffentlichungen 42, Mainz 1998, ISBN 3805305044, 78-79
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