Amenemhat

A name borne by four kings of Dynasty XII., but not confined to the use of royalty. It originated probably in a war cry, "Amen to the front!" One of the finest tombs at Beni Hasan is that of an Amen-em-hat (variant Ameni), "Great chief of the Oryx Nome," and "confidential friend of the king" (Usertsen I.). From the inscriptions we learn that he made expeditions with, or on behalf of, his royal master. One of these expeditions was against the black people of Cush, on the southern Egyptian frontier. Under Mentu-hetep of Dynasty XI., another Amen-em-hat received orders to transport the king's sarcophagus and its cover from the quarry to the eternal resting-place of his lord.