Little is known about Henutsen's life. Some scholars believe, that she was the daughter of pharaohSneferu,[1] but this is not commonly accepted. Henutsen is not known to have ever borne the title "king's daughter" or "king's bodily daughter", both titles which would have unmistakably designated her as a princess. The only document describing her as a princess is the famousInventory Stela from the26th Dynasty (Saite Period). The artifact is identified by scholars as a contemporary fake created by Saitic priests, thus the information about Henutsen's royal status as a princess are questioned.[2] The only royal title that is proven for her is the title of a "king's wife".[3]
Henutsen is known to have given birth to at least two princes,Khufukhaf andMinkhaf. In case that Khufukhaf was not identical to kingKhafre, Henutsen was Khafre's mother, too. All her sons are buried at Giza. Themastaba tomb of Khufukhaf was partially destroyed during theMiddle Kingdom Period in attempt to make place for a temple of the goddessIsis.[3][4]
Henutsen was most possibly interred inPyramid G1-c.[5] Egyptologists believe that this pyramid was originally not part of Khufu's pyramid complex, but later added, as its southern side is not aligned with that of theGreat Pyramid. In fact, the pyramid's southern side is aligned with Khufukhaf'smastaba tomb nearby.Rainer Stadelmann additionally believes that prince Khufukhaf was identical to king Khafre and that Khafre erected G1-c as the tomb for his (now royal) mother.[4] Pyramid G1-c was long time thought to be a satellite pyramid, because it did not come with a boat pit, as it was the case for the pyramidsPyramid G1-a andPyramid G1-b. G1-c was later identified as an unfinished pyramid which was constructed in a hurry.[5]
^Joyce A. Tyldesley:Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt: From Early Dynastic Times to the Death of Cleopatra. Thames & Hudson, New York 2006,ISBN0-500-05145-3, p. 36 & 45.
^Peter Jánosi:Die Pyramidenanlagen der Königinnen (=Denkschriften der Gesamtakademie, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, volume 13). Vienna 1996,ISBN3-70012-207-1, p. 11, 125.
^abZahi A. Hawass:Mountains of the Pharaohs: The Untold Story of the Pyramid Builders. Doubleday, New York 2006,ISBN0-385-50305-9, p. 91-96.
^abMiroslav Verner:The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments. Grove Press, New York 2007,ISBN0-802-19863-5, page 212.
^abZahi Hawass:The Discovery of the Satellite Pyramid of Khufu (G1-d). In: Peter Der Manuelian:Studies in Honor of William Kelly Simpson, Vol. 1. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1996, pp. 379-398.
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