Benerib

ancient Egyptian queen consort

Benerib was a queen consort during the 1st dynasty of Egypt and the wife of Hor-Aha. "Benerib" means "sweetheart"

Benerib
Queen Consort of Egypt
Names of Benerib and Hor-Aha, British Museum
Burial
SpousePharaoh Hor-Aha
IssueUnknown
Full name
Benerib
Dynasty1st Dynasty of Egypt
FatherUnknown
MotherUnknown
ReligionAncient Egyptian Religion

Biography

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Benerib was married to the pharaoh Hor-Aha, but she was not the mother of his successor, Djer. The mother of King Djer is Khenthap, another wife of Hor-Aha.[1] Benerib is believed to be the wife of Hor-Aha because items with his name were found in her tomb at Abydos. A piece of an ivory box with the names of Hor-Aha and Benerib was also discovered at Abydos and is now in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.[2]

Egyptologist John Romer suggested that Benerib’s name, which can mean “sweetheart” or “one who is pleasant at heart”, might not be a name at all but rather a title or description for a person whose gender is also uncertain from the name. Benerib’s titles are unknown, and also the identity of her parents. [3]

Benerib was buried at Umm el-Qa'ab in tomb B14.[4]

References

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  1. Aidan Dodson & Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, Thames & Hudson (2004), p.46
  2. B. Porter and R.L.B. Moss. Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs, and Paintings, V. Upper Egypt: Sites. Oxford, 1937, pg 88,89
  3. Romer, John (2013). A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid. London: Penguin. p. 218. ISBN 978-0-14139-971-3.
  4. B. Porter and R.L.B. Moss. Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs, and Paintings, V. Upper Egypt: Sites. Oxford, 1937, pg 88,89