Ameneminet making a libation

This tableau depicts Ameneminet making a libation and performing an act of incensing in front of King Montouhotep II, whose effigy is positioned on a pedestal at the foot of the Theban mountain’s rising slopes. The inscription “The monarch of Upper and Lower Egypt, Neb-hepet-Ra; the divine father of Ptah-Sokaris who resides in the chetit, Ameneminet, just to voice” is written directly in front of the sovereign’s head in black hieroglyphics on a yellow backdrop. The king is dressed in a large white robe and wears an Upper Egyptian mitre with a frontal uraeus on his head. He wields the Heqa sceptre, a symbol of rulership, as well as the Hedj mace, a symbol of royal strength and authority.

“The Great Royal Wife, Neferys” comes next in the sequence (this name without doubt being a variant of Nefertari). Her head, which is shown as being protected by a vulture and topped with two towering straight feathers, may catch attention. The queen stands barefoot beside the Theban mountain: this raises the question whether this is a statue or rather a living person acting out this role. She is clutching a floral garland in her hand. The Hathor cow is behind her, wearing the Menat necklace around its neck. The deceased is being welcomed by Neferys. Despite the fact that her skin is shown as black, we have already seen in the instance of queen Ahmes-Nefertari statues that this does not imply she is a negroid.
The depiction of King Montuhotep in this tomb is far from unique among Theban tombs. Another comparable representation can be seen, for example, in Inerkhau TT359. Sesostris III, king of the XIIth dynasty, appears to have founded a divine worship of Montuhotep (XIth dynasty). As a result, Ameneminet is simply repeating a rite that was already established during his time.