Prince Rahotep

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Rahotep
Prince of Egypt
Statue of Rahotep
Burial
SpouseNofret
IssueDjedi, Itu, Neferkau, Mereret, Nedjemib, Sethtet
FatherSneferu or Huni
MotherSneferu's first wife or Huni's wife
ReligionAncient Egyptian religion
OccupationPriest of Ra

Rahotep was a prince in ancient Egypt during the 4th Dynasty. He was probably a son of Pharaoh Sneferu and his first wife,[1] although Zahi Hawass suggests his father was Huni.[2]

Rahotep (R' htp) means "Ra is Satisfied". Ra is a god of the Sun. Hotep means "satisfied". (Another meaning is 'Ra-peaceful', 'Ra-content'.)
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Biography

Rahotep’s titles were inscribed on a magnificent statue of him which, with a statue of his wife, was excavated from his mastaba at

Heliopolis (with the added title, unique to Heliopolis, Ra’s town, of "Greatest of Seers"), Director of Expeditions and Supervisor of Works.[3] He also has a title given to high nobility, "the son of the king, begotten of his body".[4]

Rahotep's older brother was

Nefermaat I, and his younger brother was Ranefer. Rahotep died when he was young, and so his half-brother Khufu became pharaoh after Sneferu’s death.[5]

Rahotep’s wife was Nofret. Her parents are not known.

Nofret and Rahotep had three sons – Djedi, Itu and Neferkau – and three daughters – Mereret, Nedjemib and Sethtet. They are depicted in Rahotep’s tomb.[6]

Representations of Rahotep

  • Rahotep’s slab stela at the British Museum
    Rahotep’s slab stela at the British Museum
  • Nofret and Rahotep's statue at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
    Nofret and Rahotep's statue at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
  • Nofret and Rahotep's statue at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
    Nofret and Rahotep's statue at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
  • Stele of Rahotep's mastaba, on display at the Louvre
    Stele of Rahotep's mastaba, on display at the Louvre
  • Nofret-(Nfr-t) (from the statue)[7]
    Nofret-(Nfr-t)
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    (from the statue)[7]

References