AHHOTPE

    Ahhotpe was one of the powerful royal women who wielded great influence at the beginning of the New Kingdom. She was a member of the family of Theban princes who drove the *Hyksos from Egypt and established the Eighteenth Dynasty.

    Consanguineous royal marriages at this period probably underlined the women's role in transmitting sovereignty in this new dynasty. Ahhotpe married her brother, *Seqenenre Ta'o II and they were the offspring of Ta'o I and his wife Tetisheri (whose parents were commoners). Ahhotpe's son, *Amosis I, founded the Eighteenth Dynasty and in an inscription on a stela at Karnak, which praises *Amosis I, Ahhotpe's contribution is also emphasised; she rallied the soldiers in Egypt and stopped a rebellion which probably occurred in the difficult period when the Theban rulers were establishing their power.

    She was widely revered and had a long life, although her influence waned when *Amosis I's queen, *Ahmose-Nefertari, came to power. Nevertheless, she was given a magnificent burial, for her coffin and mummy case were discovered in the vicinity of the Valley of the Kings and the fine jewellery and ornaments which once adorned her mummy (mostly given to her by *Amosis I) are now in the Cairo Museum.