Fragmentary decree of King Neferkauhor

Old Kingdom
ca. 2103–2101 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 103
The royal decrees 14.7.10-.14 were were set up in the gateway of the temple of Min at Coptos, and were buried carefully beneath the floors of the temple later in its history.



This stone contains parts of three edicts. The most interesting publishes the fact that the Vizier Shemay's wife Nebyt is given the title of King's chief daughter, that is, princess, and will have a body-guard and precedence at court. Apparently the title request was made by Shemay himself, and may have been made when he himself ascended to the vizirate. Such titular princesses were not actually close relations of the royal family.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Fragmentary decree of King Neferkauhor
  • Period: Old Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 8
  • Reign: reign of Neferkauhor
  • Date: ca. 2103–2101 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Northern Upper Egypt, Qift (Quft, Keft; Coptos); inc. el-Qala, Temple of Coptos
  • Medium: Limestone
  • Dimensions: H. 43.2 × W. 40.6 × D. 8.9 cm (17 × 16 × 3 1/2 in.)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1914
  • Object Number: 14.7.13
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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