Ipy

Stela depicting Amenhotep and his son Ipy. Both Stewards of Memphis Ipy, also transliterated as Apy, was a court official from the time of Amenhotep III and Akhenaten during the Egyptian 18th Dynasty. Ipy was High Steward of Memphis, and a royal scribe.

Biography

Ipy came from a family of well-known court officials. He was the son of Amenhotep (Huy), the High steward of Memphis and his wife May, and he was the grandson of the Mayor of Memphis Heby. The Vizier Ramose was an uncle of Ipy.

Ipy succeeded his father sometime after the first Heb-Sed festival of Amenhotep III. He appears in the tomb of his uncle Ramose at the end of the reign of Amenhotep III when he has taken over his father's duties. He continued in office under Akhenaten, and eventually did not just work in Memphis, but was a presence in Akhetaten as well.

Ipy may have also had a tomb prepared in Amarna. This tomb is now known as tomb 10. The tomb is small and unfinished. Ipy is only given the titles of royal scribe and steward. The tomb contains typical elements such as a copy of the Great Hymn to the Aten and scenes of the royal family worshipping the Aten. Akhenaten and Nefertiti are for instance shown offering votive items – cartouches of the Aten flanked by small statue(s) – to the Aten. Meritaten, Meketaten and Ankhesenpaaten are shown behind their parents shaking sistra.

Martin mentions a tomb for Ipy in Memphis. This tomb has not been located however. The tomb is likely located not far from the tomb of his father Amenhotep (Huy). Two of Ipy's canopic jars were found by Giovanni Anastasi, and are now in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden.