Maiherpri The powerful Nubian buried in the valley of Kings

Unfortunately, little is known about Maiherpri, and the only sources found so far that give us a close knowledge about him are the titles discovered within his tomb (KV36). Maiherpri’s name was translated to “lion of the battlefield”, which may refer to his role in the army, and he also has the titles “one who follows the king on his march to foreign countries north and south” and “bearer of the fan at the king’s right hand”. 

Maiherpri was an ancient Egyptian nobleman buried in tomb KV36 in the Valley of the Kings. It is possible that he lived during the reign of Thutmose IV, and received the honor of being buried in the royal cemetery. His name translated as lion of the battlefield. His titles include nursery child and fan bearer on the king’s right side.

There is speculation that the first surname indicates that he was raised in royal custody as a prince of a vassal region, or perhaps he was the son of a lesser wife or concubine of the pharaoh. He was among the first during the New Kingdom to hold the second title, and it is literally true that he was at the pharaoh’s side, most likely as an advisor or bodyguard. This same title was also used to refer to the viceroys of Kush later in the New Kingdom.

When did Maiherpri live?

Artifacts from Maiherpri’s tomb KV36 in the Valley of the Kings

Although based on the funerary objects and mummification process, this was almost certainly during the New Kingdom period, almost certainly the 18th Dynasty. Some seem certain that it was Thutmose IV (grandfather of Akhenaten, father of Amenhotep III) with whom Maiherpri shared a close bond as fan-bearer and “lion of the battlefield.” However, Maiherpri was also found with a linen shroud bearing Hatshepsut’s cartouche.

This has led some Egyptologists such as Steindorff and Keppel to believe that Maiherpri may have lived somewhere between the rules of Hatshepsut’s father Thutmose I to Thutmose III.

Based on some objects, such as a vase found inside the tomb, Gaston Maspero first dated Maiherpri to the reign of Amenhotep II, something that Egyptologist Cyril Aldred agreed with, but Maspero later changed his mind to the reign of Amenhotep III instead, based on a striking similarity between the items in tomb KV46, which belonged to Tuya and Yuya (the parents of Amenhotep III’s senior royal wife, Tiye), and those of Maiherpris funerary items.

Dylan Bickerstaffe investigates the discovery and documentation of Tomb KV36 and assesses what we should now know about ‘The Lion of the Battlefield’

During his short tenure as director of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority (August 1897 – late 1899), Victor Loret spent most of his time conducting excavations.

The highlight of this was undoubtedly his work in the Valley of the Kings, where, in just over a year, he discovered six new tombs, including those of the pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty – Thutmose III (KV34); Amenhotep II (KV35, which contained the second cache of royal mummies); and Tuthmosis I (KV38) – which proves that the main valley was not just a cemetery for the pharaohs of the Nineteenth and Twenty-first Dynasties, “Raamesid.”

Excavations south of the tomb of Amenhotep II (KV35), and near the main axis of the Valley of the Kings, led to the discovery of a small, undecorated column tomb (KV36). On March 30, 1899, Loret was able to descend from the vertical shaft, look into the single chamber below, and thus became the first to discover a largely intact burial in the Valley of the Kings – the Maiherpri Necropolis. Almost the entire floor area of ​​the room was littered with artefacts – clearly disturbed, but relatively intact.

Replica of the “Bed of Osiris” from Tutankhamun’s Tomb and Treasures Gallery with barley sprouting in a bed shaped like Osiris. 

Unfortunately, Loret (who was an extremely diligent excavator and record-taker) was soon forced to resign from the administration and left for France to pursue a lecturing career, leaving the tombs of both Maiherpri and Tuthmosis I unpublished.

Until recently, the location of objects within the Maiherpri burial chamber could only be vaguely determined from brief comments in the museum catalog by George Darcy, and from some general points written “for popular consumption” (published in the journal Sphinx) by the German explorer and botanist Georg Schweinfurth, who visited the cemetery while the objects were being removed.

He stated that the lidless coffin was located “upside down in the middle of the room”, but unfortunately he only mentioned the location of most of the items relating to a large box coffin – its location was never stated! He said the game board and related pieces were found “between the coffin and the wall of the room”, with provisions and box wreaths “in the north corner behind”; and that thirteen large storage jars containing embalming materials were “on the wall opposite the coffin.” Other clues were little more than fuel for the imagination: “…weapons and strange artifacts were uncovered in the burial chamber…”

This was the situation facing Egyptologists until 2004, when Patrizia Piacentini of the University of Milan discovered Loret’s notebooks in the archives of the Institut de France – at the Académie des Inscriptions et des Beaux-Lettres in Paris. These drawings were published in La Valle Dei Re Riscoperta (2004). Among the finds were Loret’s annotated sketches, which carefully recorded the location of items within Maiherpri’s tomb and occupied pages 13 to 30 of his second notebook (notebook).

It is clear from these notes that he began by recording the layout of objects visible when first entering the tomb on 30 March 1899, and then made additional notes as the objects were cleared to reveal other objects hidden beneath and behind them.

Who Was Maiherpri?

The tomb’s decontamination work was completed on April 2, and the entire funerary collection was prepared and ready for shipment to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo on April 7. There, the museum’s curator, George Darcy, eventually cataloged the items, and confirmed that the burial was that of a courtier: “the fan-bearer to the right of the king”, and the “Child of the Cape”, Maiherpri, whose book and papyrus of the dead showed him to be a dark-skinned young man And curly black hair.

When Darcy unwrapped the mummy (on 22 March 1901) he found that it was a man of about 24 years of age, probably of Nubian origin, with dark skin and curly black hair, confirming the image on the funerary papyrus.

However, the identical hair found on the mummy turned out to be a wig, and the facial features were distinctive of the royal house of the Eighteenth Dynasty, leading some commentators to question Maiherpri’s ethnicity. However, the title “Ibn al-Kab” indicates that he was raised and educated in a palace nursery, and was perhaps the son of a king born to a Nubian princess/queen.

In this environment he may have become a close companion of his half-brother, and the eventual heir to the throne. His title of “fan-bearer at the king’s right hand” is that of a particularly favored courtier.

He may have served as a bodyguard in battle, and his name – Maiherpri, “Lion of the Battlefield” – may have been the reality behind Ramesses II’s depiction (as at Abu Simbel) of a lion accompanying his chariot.

The amount of archery equipment found in the tomb—including two quivers, a large number of arrows, and two armguards—seems to indicate warfare, in which the Egyptians continually emphasized the importance of archers. However, the presence of two dog collars – one bearing the dog’s name, Tantanuit – may also indicate that Maiherpri sometimes served as the king’s ‘hunting master’.

In February 1902, a team working for Howard Carter (on behalf of American millionaire Theodore Davis) discovered a yellow wooden box bearing Maiherpri’s name and titles, buried in a hollow in the rock above his grave (KV36). Inside were two sheets of very fine leather, carefully cut to form an apron. The box may have been left behind by thieves, who discovered that its contents were not what they had hoped.

Which King Did Maiherpri Serve?

One question remains: Which king served Maiherpri? Pierced ears, aprons, and the title of “fan-bearer at the king’s right hand” became popular during the reigns of Amenhotep II and Tuthmosis IV; The papyrus resembles the Kha papyrus from the era of Amenhotep III.

The date of the burial cannot be before the reign of Hatshepsut, whose name (Matkara) appears on one of Maiherpris linen covers. It is clear that this linen could have been used after the king’s death, but it is unlikely that it would have been acceptable after its persecution at the end of Thutmose III’s reign.

In fact, all of the above features can be shown to be consistent with a date in the reign of Thutmose III (especially if Nubian contexts are included), and the funerary mask of Maiherpri is exactly the same style as the mask of Hetenover, the mother of Hatshepsut’s vizier Senenmut.

The tomb (KV36) is slightly further away from the tomb of Thutmose III (KV34) than from the tomb of Amenhotep II (KV35), although the latter is separated by a steep ridge. In both cases, the young “lion” was a friend of the warrior pharaoh. 

Maiherpri Mummy

Mummy of Maiherpri, a Nubian courtier buried in ancient Egypt

Maiherpri’s grave was discovered in 1899 by Victor Loret. Maherbury’s mummified body was unwrapped by George Darcyon on 22 March 1901, and those who studied the mummy discovered that Maiherpri was extremely well mummified, even with gold foil applied to the incision scar on his hip. Despite the missing skin on the soles of his feet, which Egyptologists believe occurred during the mummification process rather than any theft, Maiherpri’s mummy was in good condition.

Maiherpri’s mummy was decorated with a wig of tight curls sewn into his scalp.

Maiherpri: Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Maiherpri?

Maiherpri was a high-ranking official of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. He held elite court titles and likely had Nubian ancestry. He was buried in the Valley of the Kings, a rare honor for a non-royal.

Why is Maiherpri significant?

He is one of the earliest known individuals of Nubian origin buried in the royal valley, which signals high status and close ties to the king. His burial goods and papyrus offer clear evidence of his role and identity at court.

What does his name mean?

Maiherpri means Lion on the Battlefield. The name hints at a martial or protective role linked to the royal court.

Where is his tomb?

His tomb is KV36 in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor. It lies among royal burials from the 18th Dynasty.

When did he live?

His exact reign is disputed among Egyptologists, with proposals ranging from Hatshepsut’s era through Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, or Thutmose IV.

What were his titles?

He was a Child of the Nursery, which means he grew up within the royal household, and a Fan-bearer on the Right Side of the King, a title for trusted courtiers who stood near the ruler. These titles mark him as an insider at the highest level.

How do we know he had Nubian ancestry?

His Book of the Dead shows him with dark skin and Nubian features in a consistent, respectful style. The mummy’s hair and features also support this view, and his status confirms that people of Nubian origin held power at court.

What was found in his tomb?

The burial contained nested coffins, a mummy, canopic jars, shabtis, fine leather items, wigs and cosmetics, and an illustrated Book of the Dead. Some items were missing due to ancient theft, but the assemblage remained rich.

Was the tomb intact when discovered?

It had been robbed in antiquity, yet many high-quality objects survived. The find still gives a clear look at an elite 18th Dynasty burial.

Who discovered KV36 and when?

Victor Loret found KV36 in 1899 during his work in the Valley of the Kings. He documented the contents soon after.

Where are his artifacts today?

Objects from his burial are in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. His Book of the Dead papyrus is in the Louvre, Paris.

How old was Maiherpri when he died?

Examinations suggest he died as a young adult, likely in his mid to late twenties. The cause of death is unknown.

Was Maiherpri a pharaoh?

No. He was a powerful courtier with rare access and honors, not a king.

Can you visit KV36?

KV36 is not generally open to visitors. You can see objects linked to Maiherpri in museum displays instead.

What does his burial tell us about Nubians in ancient Egypt?

It shows that people of Nubian origin could rise to the top ranks, share in royal education, and receive prestigious burials. His life reflects close cultural ties between Egypt and Nubia during the 18th Dynasty.