Rekhmire

Rekhmire
Vizier
False door from TT100, now in the Louvre.
Dynasty18th Dynasty
PharaohThutmose III and Amenhotep II
BurialThebes TT100

Rekhmire was an ancient Egyptian noble and official of the 18th Dynasty who served as "Governor of the Town" (Thebes) and Vizier during the reigns of Thutmosis III and Amenhotep II, circa 1400 BCE. He was the nephew of Vizier User, who took office at the time of the fifth year of Queen Hatshepsut’s reign. User's official titles included mayor of the city, vizier, and prince. Rekhmire is noted for constructing a lavishly decorated tomb for himself in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, containing lively, well preserved scenes of daily life during the Egyptian New Kingdom.[1][2] His tomb is also important as it contains a full copy of a text detailing the duties of the office of the vizier, known as the Installation of the Vizier.[3][4]

He was also High Priest of Annu or Heliopolis. The cause of his political and personal downfall remains unclear. It is suspected that he fell into disgrace and was deposed.[5] His tomb was Theban Tomb 100.

Retjenu Syrians bringing presents in the tomb of Rekhmire, circa 1400 BCE (actual painting and extrapolated drawing)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rekhmire.
  1. ^ Lynn Meskell, Private Life in New Kingdom Egypt, Princeton University Press 2002, p.46
  2. ^ Leonard Cottrell, The Lost Pharaohs: The Romance of Egyptian Archaeology, Evans 1950
  3. ^ Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume II: The New Kingdom, University of California Press 1978 pp.21ff.
  4. ^ J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part Two; §§ 666ff.
  5. ^ Sigrid Hodel-Hoenes, Life and Death in Ancient Egypt: Scenes from Private Tombs in New Kingdom Thebes, Cornell University Press 2000, p.140