Djehutihotep

Djehutihotep ("Thoth is satisfied") was an ancient Egyptian nomarch of the fifteenth nome of Upper Egypt ("the Hare") during the twelfth dynasty, c. 1900 BC.

== Biography == thumb|Daughter of Djehutihotep, relief in his tomb Djehutihotep lived under the reigns of Amenemhat II, Senusret II, and Senusret III and was one of the most powerful nomarchs of the Middle Kingdom. His tomb—the only one among the necropolis of Deir el-Bersha that wasn't damaged by the explosives used in recent quarrying methods—is well known for the great quality of its decorations, a work carried out by an artist named Amenaankhu. For this reason, it is believed that Djehutihotep died prior to the strict measures reducing the power of the nomarchs that were established by Senusret III. Indeed, as their charge became hereditary at the end of the Old Kingdom, the nomarchs became local rulers effectively, although not nominally, independent of the pharaohs. This situation led to excesses in the exercise of power that worsened steadily during the First Intermediate Period. It was not until Senusret's measures were imposed that such abuse of power later exercised by nomarchs, stopped posing a threat to the integrity of the Egyptian state.