Ita (princess)

Ita was an Ancient Egyptian king's daughter who lived in the 12th Dynasty around 1850 BC. She is known from the statue of a sphinx found in Qatna in modern Syria. The statue is today in the Louvre (AO 14075).[1] On this statue she bears the titles noblewoman (iryt-p`t) and king's daughter of his body. She is better known from her burial next to the pyramid of king Amenemhat II at Dahshur. The burial was found intact and contained a decorated wooden coffin with longer religious texts including her name and a set of precious personal adornments, including a richly adorned dagger.[2] It is uncertain whether both women are identical.[3] The location of the tomb might indicate that she was indeed a daughter of Amenemhat II.

  • Sphinx dedicated to Ita. Louvre, AO 13075.
    Sphinx dedicated to Ita. Louvre, AO 13075.
  • Dagger of princess Ita found in her coffin.
    Dagger of princess Ita found in her coffin.
  1. ^ Biri Fay: The Louvre Sphinx and Royal Sculpture from the Reign of Amenemhat II, von Zabern, Mainz 1996, ISBN 3-8053-1760-3, pp. 30-32, 44-45
  2. ^ Jacques de Morgan et al.: Fouilles a Dahchour 1894-1895. Volume II, Holzhausen, Vienna 1903, pp. 50–55
  3. ^ Biri Fay: The Louvre Sphinx and Royal Sculpture from the Reign of Amenemhat II, von Zabern, Mainz 1996, ISBN 3-8053-1760-3, pp. 44