Nakhtmin

Nakhtmin was a prominent military commander during the reign of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty. His distinguished titles included “Fan-bearer on the Right Side of the King,” “King’s Scribe,” “The True Servant Who Benefits His Lord,” and “The Servant Who Ensures the Name of His Lord Endures.” These honours were inscribed on five ushabtis that Nakhtmin dedicated as funerary offerings to Tutankhamun.

The identity of Nakhtmin’s father remains a mystery. Some scholars speculate that he was the son of Pharaoh Ay, with his mother being Iuy, who is identified in a statue as the ‘Adoratrix of Min, Songstress of Isis’. It appears that Ay intended for Nakhtmin to be his successor; however, Nakhtmin passed away before he could claim the throne. A striking statue of him and his wife, now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, bears inscriptions calling him “Crown Prince” (jrj-pꜥt) and “King’s Son” (zꜣ-nswt). While this could imply that he was Ay’s biological son, the title might also refer to “King’s Son of Kush.” Yet, as there is no record of a viceroy of Kush named Nakhtmin—Paser I is believed to have held the role at the time—many historians conclude that Nakhtmin was either Ay’s son or his adopted heir.

Despite being designated as Ay’s successor, Nakhtmin never ruled. Scholars believe he died towards the end of Ay’s reign, as he disappears entirely from historical records. Instead, Horemheb—who had previously been appointed as Tutankhamun’s heir—took the throne.

Nakhtmin’s statue has suffered significant damage, with only the head, shoulders, and the upper torso of his wife remaining. The deliberate defacement of his eyes, nose, and mouth suggests an act of posthumous persecution. Similarly, his stelae, erected in his hometown of Akhmim—also the birthplace of Ay—were desecrated. His tomb, which has never been found, may have suffered the same fate as Ay’s.

A different individual named Nakhtmin was married to Mutemnub, the sister of Ay’s wife, Tey. Their son, Ay, later became High Priest of Mut and Second Prophet of Amun.