Intef the Elder

Intef, whose name is commonly accompanied by epithets such as the Elder, the Great (= Intef-aa) or born of Iku , was a nomarch residing at Thebes during the First Intermediate Period and later considered a founding figure of the 11th Dynasty, which eventually reunified Egypt.

Rule Intef the Elder was not a king but rather a provincial governor, known as a nomarch, ruling from the city of Thebes 2150 BC. He would have most likely served as nomarch during the reign of one of the Pharaohs of either the 8th, 9th or 10th dynasties, or possibly during the rule of the Herakleopolitan dynasty. Intef the Elder was seemingly perceived as a founding figure of the 11th Dynasty after his death. For example, his name figures in the chapel of royal ancestors (no. 13) erected at Karnak by Thutmose III over 600 years after Intef's death. On his stele Maati asks that prayers be told for "Intef the Elder, the son of Iku". This fragmented stele, the two pieces of which are now in museums located in Strasbourg (inv. no. 345) and Florence (inv. no. 7595), belonged to a minor official also named Intef, who was chosen by his namesake lord to attend a meeting of nomarchs in his place.

Jürgen von Beckerath believes this stele was Intef's funerary stele, originally placed in a chapel near his tomb.