Pehenuikai was an Ancient Egyptian official of the Fifth Dynasty. His main office was that of a vizier, making him to the most important man at the royal court, only second to the king. Beside being vizier, he was also holding many other important titles, such as Overseer of the treasuries, overseer of the scribes of the king's document, overseer of the double granary and overseer of all royal works of the king.[1]
Pehenuikai is mainly known from his mastaba at Saqqara, one of the largest mastabas at this site (Mariette number D 70).[2] Big parts of the mastaba's decoration were copied and published by the expedition of Karl Richard Lepsius (Lepsius tomb 15).[3] In the tomb is also depicted Pehenuikai's family. His wife was called Hetepheres, one son was called Iti.
The exact dating of Pehenuikai is uncertain. A certain Shepsi who had a mastaba nearby, was most likely his father. The latter dates perhaps under king Sahure. Pehenuikai must date one generation later, probably under king Nyuserre Ini.[4]
- ^ Strudwick 1985, p. 84.
- ^ Mariette & Maspero 1889, pp. 370–372.
- ^ Karl Richard Lepsius: Denkmaeler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien nach den Zeichnungen der von Seiner Majestät dem Koenige von Preussen, Friedrich Wilhelm IV., nach diesen Ländern gesendeten, und in den Jahren 1842–1845 ausgeführten wissenschaftlichen Expedition auf Befehl Seiner Majestät. 13 vols. Berlin: Nicolaische Buchhandlung, 1849, volume II, pl. 45-48
- ^ Strudwick 1985, pp. 84–85.