Mentuhotep II: The Pharaoh Who Reunified Ancient Egypt

An ancient Egyptian mortuary temple, the Mortuary Temple of Mentuhotep II, was constructed for Mentuhotep II. He was the Eleventh Dynasty king, and at the beginning of the Middle Kingdom, he reunited Egypt. This temple was Mentuhotep II’s most innovative and ambitious building project. 

What was Mentuhotep II known for?

Mentuhotep II is considered one of Egypt’s great pharaohs. He was the founder of the Middle Kingdom. He was known for reuniting Upper and Lower Egypt after the First Intermediate Period and created Dynasty XI. At the end of the Old Kingdom, central authority broke down, and the nation entered a period of uncertainty, which is called the First Intermediate Period (c.2181-2055 BC). To re-establish control over Egypt, two power centres fought: One situated at Herakleopolis in the North and the other situated at Thebes (Luxor) in the South. It was Thebes that emerged victorious under Mentuhotep, who reunified the nation, ushering in a period of prosperity. 

How many wives did Mentuhotep II have?

Mentuhotep II had many wives who were buried with him in or near his mortuary temple. 

• Tem might have been his chief wife as she held many titles, including ḥmt-nswt “king’s wife”, ḥmt-nswt mryt.f “King’s wife, his beloved” and wrt-ḥts-nbwj “Great one of the hetes-sceptre of the two Lords”. She had two children with Mentuhotep II. She died after her husband and her son buried her in Mentuhotep’s temple. 
• Neferu II was called “King’s wife” and “King’s wife, his beloved”. She might have been Mentuhotep II’s sister since she also held various titles. 
• Kawit was one of Mentuhotep II’s secondary wives. She held the titles of ḥmt-nswt mryt.f “King’s wife, his beloved” and ẖkrt-nswt, “King’s embellishment”.
• Ashayet, Kemsit, Henhenet, and Sadeh were all Mentuhotep II’s secondary wives. They also held the titles of ḥmt-nswt mryt.f “King’s wife, his beloved” and ẖkrt-nswt-wˁtit “Unique embellishment of the King”. Remember that another theory says that Henhenet was one of Intef III’s secondary wives and might be the mother of Neferu II.

What are some fun facts about Mentuhotep II?

Here are some fun and interesting facts about Mentuhotep II:

• Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II was a Pharaoh of the Eleventh Dynasty. 
• He was the founder of the Middle Kingdom.
• He was the son of Queen Iah and Pharaoh Intef III. 
• He reigned from Circa 2046 to 1995 BCE. 
• His own wife was “King’s Mother” Tem. His other wives were Neferu II (his sister) and five women, as they were buried in his funerary complex. 
• Mentuhotep III was his only son, who was his successor. 
• In his reign, he changed his name several times, perhaps showcasing the important political events. 
• Nebhepetre was his throne name, and he ruled for 51 years. 
• Mentuhotep reunited Ancient Egypt for the first time since the 6th Dynasty. The exact date of reunification is still unknown. 

How long did Mentuhotep II rule?

According to the Turin King List, Mentuhotep II ruled for 51 years. He succeeded his father, Intef III, on the throne. And after that, his son Mentuhotep III succeeded him.  

What did Mentuhotep II do?

The Egyptians admired King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep as the ruler who was known for reuniting Egypt after the era of disunity that followed the end of the Old Kingdom. Descended from a family of Theban rulers, the king constructed his tomb and mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri in western Thebes. 

Was Mentuhotep II black?

In painted sandstone, the statue of Mentuhotep II shows him wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, a divine beard, and a jubilee garment, with pitch-black skin. This artistic choice showcases his relation to the god Osiris, representing fertility, resurrection, and the black, fertile silt of the Nile. 

What Does the Statue of King Mentuhotep II Depict?

The statue of King Mentuhotep II was carved from painted sandstone and demonstrates an important moment in the rebirth of Ancient Egyptian art during the dawn of the Middle Kingdom. The statue shows him wearing a red Deshret crown of Lower Egypt, the ceremonial Osirian beard, and the short white heb-sed robe, all symbols of royal authority. His ceremonial beard is distinguished by its narrowness, length, and curled end. 

The facial features of this statue are powerful, consisting of large ears, a broad nose, and thick lips. His eyebrows are modeled in relief, and his eyes are large with the inner canthi turned down. The knee-length robe he dons is meant to be worn during the sed-festival.

Final Thoughts

The temple of Mentuhotep is not just a monument; it demonstrates rebirth, divine power, and unity. Mentuhotep II gave birth to a new era of Egyptian greatness. Generally, the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II is not open to the general public, though visitors can view it from the adjacent Temple of Hatshepsut. Although it is not open to the general public, there are many places that you can visit in Egypt by booking an Egypt River Cruise with Nile Cruisen.

Other Useful Links

Exploring the Pyramid of Pepi II: History and Secrets