168) Khentkaus III
Egyptian Queen from the 5th Dynasty
Lived Around 2450 BC, Ancient Egypt
Alternate Spelling: Khentakawess III
Her tomb was uncovered in 2015.
She was either the mother or wife of Pharaoh Neferefre. The location of the tomb points to her more likely being his wife but that still isn’t certain.
The confusion stems from the fact that her tomb says she is both the wife and mother of the king.
Before the discovery of her tomb there had been no prior knowledge of her.
She is named the third because two other queens of the same name had been previously discovered.
If she is the wife of Neferefre then she is most likely the daughter of Neferirkare Kakai (and possibly his queen Khentkaus II) and the mother of Menkauhor Kaiu—meaning her father was a pharaoh, her husband was a pharaoh, and her son was also a pharaoh.
Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked
Located In My Personal Library:
National Geographic History Magazine Article "Tomb Reveals Previously Unknown Egyptian Queen" (June/July 2015 Edition)
Secret Egypt by Zahi Hawass
Sources: