Through the Eras

MusicAMENEMHAB MAHUSIGNIFICANTPEOPLEin Musicfl. during the reign of Amenhotep III (1390–1352B.C.E.)Chief of Singers of AmunSinger of the Noble Harp of AmunEARLY BELIEVER IN SUN RELIGION. As is true withmost ancient Egyptian individuals, little is known ofAmenemhab’s personal life. He lived during the reignof Amenhotep III, the father of Akhenaten. Akhenatenwas the first king to radically alter Egyptian religion byproclaiming that only the sun should be worshipped asthe god Aten. Amenemhab anticipated Akhenaten’s beliefswith the song he sang about the sun-god Re. Amenemhabmust have been an important member ofAmenhotep III’s court. He traveled with the king to foreigncountries, according to his inscription. Perhaps heknew the young Akhenaten and even influenced theprince’s beliefs. In a stela, Amenemhab speaks of thesun as the creator god, an idea that was part of Akhenaten’sreligion. Amenemhab must have been an importantindividual, but little is known about the details ofhis life.SOURCESCharles Kuentz, “Une Stèle d’un chef de chanteurs,” in Recueild’études égyptologiques dédiées à la mémoire de Jean-François Champollion (Paris: E. Champion, 1922):601–610.Lisa Manniche, Music and Musicians in a Ancient Egypt(London: British Museum Press, 1991).ITIfl. during Dynasty 5 (2500–2350 B.C.E.)SingerFIRST KNOWN PROFESSIONAL SINGER. Iti is theearliest known professional singer whose name is preservedfrom ancient Egypt. Her name appears along withher accompanist, Hekenu, a harpist, represented in a reliefsculpture on the false door of the tomb of the judgeand priest, Nikawre, and his wife, Ihat, at Saqqara. Inthe relief, Iti sits on the ground facing Hekenu. Her righthand makes a gesture toward the harpist. Her left handis raised to her ear, a common way for Egyptian artiststo represent singers. In fact this hand-to-ear gesture isoften used by many Egyptian singers today. Iti wears thetypical Old Kingdom sheath dress that was worn by allclasses of women in this period. Her hair is cropped shortand she is not wearing a wig as would the tomb owner’swife. A hieroglyphic caption gives her name and no otherinformation. Egyptians considered including a person’sname in a tomb to be an honor, especially if the personwas not a family member. If Iti had been a family member,her relationship would have been included. ThusEgyptologists believe that she was a professional singerwho was honored with a portrait in the tomb, ratherthan a member of Nikawre’s family. In spite of herprominence, almost nothing else is known about her.SOURCESLisa Manniche, Music and Musicians in Ancient Egypt (London:British Museum Press, 1991).Emily Teeter, “Female Musicians in Pharaonic Egypt,” inRediscovering the Muses in Women’s Musical Traditions.Ed. Kimberly Marshall (Boston: Northeastern UniversityPress, 1993).NEFERHOTEP, SON OF HENUfl. during the Middle Kingdom (2008–1630 B.C.E.)SingerHarpistHARPIST AND SINGER. Neferhotep, son of Henu,was one of the earliest known singer/harpists from ancientEgypt. His portrait and his song were included onthe stela of a man named Iki. On the stela, Iki is seatedbefore an offering table while his wife stands behind him.Neferhotep plays on the other side of the table. He kneelsnext to his harp as he plays. He is portrayed with therolls of fat Egyptian artists depicted in portraits ofwealthy people. He also wears his hair very closelycropped. His eyes are slits, suggesting either that he isblind or that his eyes are squeezed closed with emotion.Neferhotep’s song is recorded in four short columns ofhieroglyphs carved in front of him. In the song Neferhoteppraises life in the tomb after death.SOURCESMiriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book ofReadings I (Berkeley: University of California Press,1973).Lisa Manniche, Music and Musicians in Ancient Egypt (London:British Museum Press, 1991).Arts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675 B.C.E.–332 B.C.E.) 179