Amenhotep, son of Hapu
Amenhotep, son of Hapu (Egyptian: Amenhotepsahapu, [ Imen hotep sa Hapu ], in transcription Jmn HTP s3 Ḥ3p.w ), lived in the time of the 18th Dynasty (14th century BC) and came from Athribis in the Nile Delta. He was an architect, priest, writer and official under Amenhotep III. and probably died in the 35th year of the reign of this king.
Family and origin
Amenhotep son of Hapu was a Itu and his wife. It was in the reign of Thutmose III. born and grew up in Athribis. As a boy Amenhotep visited the " House of Life ", which was attached to the temple. It is believed that he learned to read and write in the local library and the scriptorium.
His career
From before his entry into the civil service as a clerk in the recruits already advanced age of nearly 50 years, little is known. In his role as recruits writer, he led the construction work at Gebel el- Ahmar, a quarry near Heliopolis. When Amenhotep III. in his 30th year of reign, celebrated his first Sed - festival, Amenhotep was involved in this. For his cultic activity, particularly in the area of the temple, he was awarded the title of a sem- priest in the house of gold.
After the Sed - festival Amenhotep was probably retired from the civil service and used as asset manager of the Princess Sitamun. He was also at the same time fan-bearer on the right of the king, and cattle head of Amun in Upper and Lower Egypt. The plans of the Luxor Temple and the Temple of Amenhotep III. come from him, and also the plans of the later age of Ramses II portico in the Temple of Karnak are attributed to him. His influence must have already been enormous in his lifetime.
Flavius Josephus in his work, On the originality of Judaism about the circumstances that led to the alleged suicide of Amenhotep. In this report of Josephus is the later inserted supplement an unknown writer, who combined those with comment Manetho; obvious to Manetho and the Egyptians to certify an anti-Jewish attitude:
" The other Amenhotep however, the manner and clairvoyant, have yourself .. the wrath of the gods feared for himself, when it should be obvious that they were ( ill ) forced to work ... and that he ( Amenhotep ) it does not dared to say this to the king, but this had taken his life, leaving a record of all these things ... "
His mortuary temple
Amenhotep had on the hill of Qurnet Murrai its own mortuary temple, which is directly west rose the million year house of the ruler. This 1934/35 excavated brick plant was 45 x 110 m tall and had three sanctuaries. In the middle of the first courtyard was a 25 x 26 m large and very deep water basin, which was fed by ground water of the Nile. Around the pool twenty trees were planted in pits. The temple front to the back of the court was adorned by a portico pillars, the temple itself was slightly elevated on a terrace.
Later worship
Ptolemy IV built a temple on the grave of Amenophis, which is suspected in Deir el -Medina. Here was also next to Amenhotep Imhotep revered as a god nor to the 2nd century AD, both always represented as human gods of healing, but Amenhotep is. The main cult centers were in Qasr el Aguz, Deir el- Bahari, Deir el -Medina and at Karnak.