Amenhotep, Son of Hapu - COMMONER TO COURTIER., SOURCES

Late in the reign of Thutmose III (1479–1425
B.C.E.–Early in the reign of Tutankhamun
(1332–1322 B.C.E.)

Scribe
Chief of the King’s Works

COMMONER TO COURTIER.

Amenhotep son of Hapu was born in the Nile delta late in the reign of Thutmose III. His father, Hapu, was a commoner. Amenhotep’s first known official position was royal scribe. He was thus an embodiment of the Egyptian belief that education was the key to moving up in society. Eventually, he became Chief of All the King’s Works in the reign of Amenhotep III (1390–1352 B.C.E. ). In this position he supervised enormous building projects. These projects included additions at the Karnak temple, the first stage of the Luxor temple, and the king’s mortuary temple in western Thebes, the largest ever built. After his death, Amenhotep son of Hapu was deified and considered a healing god.

SOURCES

William J. Murnane, “Power Behind the Throne: Amenhotep son of Hapu,” KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 22 (Summer, 1991): 8–13.

Dietrich Wildung, Egyptian Saints: Deification in Pharaonic Egypt (New York: New York University Press, 1977).