The discovery of a tomb at Dra Abu el-Naga (Luxor) at the end of 2022 was somehow lost in all the excavation news in Egypt last year (although, of course, it was mentioned in the news section in AE 136). The tomb of the Thirteenth Dynasty vizier Ankhu was a very exciting find for several reasons. There are very few known burials of officials from the Thirteenth, and Ankhu was one of the most remarkable officials of this dynasty, so finding his tomb is of special importance.
The Thirteenth Dynasty (c.1795 to after 1650 BC) consisted of a large number of kings, many with short reigns, which gives the impression of a particularly unstable period. However, looking at the administration, a different picture emerges. The evidence from the holders of palace and provincial offices suggests that there was great stability in the administration. A number of officials are better known than many of the kings of the period, and the vizier Ankhu is one of the most prominent.
Vizier Ankhu
Ankhu came from an influential family that managed to hold the office of vizier for several generations. Before the recent discovery of his tomb, Ankhu was known from a large number of monuments, and is better attested than many of the short-reigning kings of the period. Indeed, some scholars have argued that, at this time, the vizier was the real power at the royal court, placing the kings on the throne or removing them when necessary, although recent research is more cautious about this. Nevertheless, Ankhu is attested under at least two kings: Khendjer (c.1790 BC) and Sekhemrasewadjtawy Sobekhotep II (c.1780 BC), who are separated by several intervening kings. While these kings came and went, the vizier Ankhu stayed in office.
