THEIR NAMES CARVED ABOVE
THE ENTRANCE TO THE ROCK-CUT CHAMBER

  photograph ©1999 Greg Reeder  

Here at the entrance to that part of the tomb carved into the rock, the names of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep are inscribed as one name over the doorway. Both have the jar hieroglyph which is the name of the potter god Khnum. The name Niankhkhnum on the right with the jar and the ankh sign is translated as "Khnum has life." The name Khnumhotep on the left with the jar and the offering sign means "Khnum is satisfied." Hotep means "peace" or "satisfaction" and is a hieroglyph of a loaf of bread on a table as an offerings for the dead. The name Khnum besides being a reference to the god Khnum also meant "joined together" and "to unite with" and later included "associates, companions, friends,"and even "house mates". Their names inscribed together above the entrance to the rock-cut chamber, may be a design element to suggest a play on words, meaning "joined in life and joined in peace", and may have reference to the closeness of the two and their desire to remain together in this life and the next. We cannot be sure at what point in their lives they assumed these names. Were they both born with these names or did the names come about from the close relationship they shared during their lifetime?

 


BACK TO THE FLOORPLAN
 FORWARD TO NEXT SCENE