The two statues of Amenhotep son of Hapu

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Amenhotep son of Hapu hailed from an unimportant family in the Delta ton of Athribis (Benha nowadays) he was very remarkable man who began his career as a royal scribe in the court of king Amenhotep III at Thebes. His talent and energies resulted in numerous promotions until he reached some of the highest offices in the country. His building activities in Karnak, Luxor, and the Theban necropolis bear witness to his genius and great responsibilities as “director of all royal works”. His reputation as a sage continued in ancient Egypt for many generations after his death. He was worshipped along with Imhotep as a god of healing. In the Ptolemaic era a chapel was dedicated to both of them at the back of the third terrace of the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari. During his life time Amenhotep was permitted through royal favor to display his statues in the great temple of Amen at Karnak, its here that our two statues were found. He also had a funerary temple in the area reserved for royal tombs, as well as excavating a vast tomb in the Theban necropolis. He died in the year 34 of Amenophis III’s reign.

On the right shoulder the coronation name

Niswbity imn Htp HqA wAst meaning the king of Upper and Lower Egypt Amenhotep (Amen is happy) the ruler of Thebes.

On his chest the birth name of Amenhotep III:

sA ra nb mAat ra meaning lord of the justice of Re

The text written on the papyrus roll contains the titles and names of Amenhotep son of Hapu, also a dedication indicating that he was responsible of the construction of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III and the colossal statues found in front of it

Amenhotep son of Hapu as an old man:

This second statue of imn Htp sA HApu is made out of grey granite. It was discovered to the north of the 7th pylon at Karnak cachette by Legrain in 1901.

It represents him as an old man, a wise man full of experience. This time he wears a long wavy hair wig held behind the ears and the wrinkles around the eyes and on the cheeks because of his old age. The folds of fats have now disappeared from the body which is wrapped in a long kilt tied under the breast. His hands rest flat upon his knee in the attitude of prayer.

The long inscription informs us, after the biographical phrases praising the merits of this great dignitary that Amenhotep had reached the age of eighty when this sculpture was done and that he hopes yet to attain the wise old age of 110. But later on he actually lived till the age of 110.

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As he himself tells us, he was 80 years old before he died and he played a prominent part in the preparation for Amenhotep III’s first sed festival.

Hieroglyphic inscription:

r-paty HAty a sS nswbity sS nfrw imn Htp sA hAbw nqmt

The hereditary prince of Upper and Lower Egypt the royal scribe, the scribe of all the beauty of Amenhotep son of Hapu in Egypt