Senebsumai

Senebsumai was an ancient Egyptian official of the early 13th Dynasty with the title high steward and later treasurer.

Senebsumai
High steward, Treasurer
Dynasty13th dynasty
MotherSerukh-ib
Senebsumai
in hieroglyphs
Stela showing Senebsumai, seated on the left, and his servant, Horiwah, motioning before him

Attestation

Senebsumai is known from a remarkable series of monuments, the preservation of which makes him the best attested Egyptian official of the early 13th dynasty.

Scarabs There are more than thirty scarab seals identified to date that relate to Senebsumai. This also is the highest number of seals for a thirteenth dynasty official. All of these finds reinforce an understanding of his longevity in offices held and the respect given to him.

Stelae He is known from more than twelve stelae all coming from Abydos. Most of the stele show Senebsumai with other, lower officials in scenes depicting them as they performed work for him. Senebsuma son of Serukh-ib is known from four stelae, three in the Cairo Museum (CG20075, CG20334, CG20459), and one in the British Museum (EA252). Stela Turin Cat. S. 1303, belongs to the treasurer Senebsumai and is dedicated to him by the 'master of the house for the palace' Khentikhety-hotep.[1]

Other items Several other artifacts have been discovered at important Ancient Egyptian sites that are associated with Senebsumai. Fragments of accounts mentioning him were found in El-Lahun. A bronze statue of him was found at Hawara, a site associated with Amenemhat III.[2] A relief or a coffin fragment with coffin texts bearing his name and titles is recorded from finds at Dahshur.

Career

The earliest known records of his career identify Senebsumai as high steward; later he became treasurer.

High Steward

As high steward, Senebsumai worked under the treasurer. In this function he was the main administrator of the royal estates.

Treasurer

As treasurer, Senebsumai would have been among the highest officials in the land. He also held ranking titles like Royal Sealer and Sole Companion. An important colleague of treasurer Senebsumai was the high steward Ameny.

Literature
  • Herman de Meulenaere: Les monuments d'un haut dignitaire de la 13e dynastie, In: Chronique d'Égypte, Bulletin périodique de la Fondation Egyptologique Reine Elisabeth, 60 (1985), S. 75 - 84

References
  1. Miniaci, Gianluca; Grajetzki, Wolfram (2016) The stela of Senebsumai in Egyptian Museum of Turin, Cat. 1298 online
  2. New York, George Ortiz Collection 034
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