Amenhotep (called Huy) was Tutankhamun’s Viceroy to Kush. His Titles included ‘King’s son of Kush’, and Chief of both the Harem of Amun and the Royal Harem of Tutankhamun. He was married to the Lady Taemwadjsy, who bore him at least one son, by the name of Paser. Paser carried on the family tradition becoming the next Viceroy to Kush during the reigns of Aye and Horemheb.

One of the main highlights of Huy’s career was to arrange for the up and coming Horemheb to personally visit the princes of Kush, which resulted in a diplomatic visit to Thebes in person by Prince Heka-Nefa. Huy has depicted this auspicious occasion on the walls of his tomb. The Prince is seen attended by a number of dignitaries paying homage to Huy who received large amounts of tribute on behalf of Tutankhamun.

The Kushite Prince Heka-Nefer was a contemporary of both Huy and Tutankhamun. He was of noble Nubian birth, and the Hereditary Prince of Miam – an ancient name for Aniba. He was taken as a boy to Thebes and educated in the Kap, the nursery school and academy for young persons of royal and noble birth. He was designated ‘page of the harem’, and was thoroughly ‘Egyptianised’ and loyal to the reigning king.

In the pursuit of receiving homage and taxes, Huy would most certainly have come into close contact with the noble Maya, Overseer of the Treasury, and Fan-bearer on the right of the king. With his wife the Lady Taemwadjsy, he would probably have enjoyed social activities with Maya and his wife, Meryt, together with their families and friends.

He would probably have known Maya’s father, Iuy – a Magistrate – and his two wives, Weret and Henutiunu. Maya was the son of Iuy and Weret. His wife, the Lady Meryt was the daughter of Iuy and Henutiunu. Thus, Maya had married his half sister. There were other brothers and sisters that are named, for example two daughters named Tjauenmaya and Mayamenti. There were three known half brothers, Nahuher the Royal Scribe, Nakht, the Treasury Scribe, and Parennefer Overseer of the Bowmen and Overseer of Horses.

As Overseer of the Harems, Huy would have had close connections with the children of the Harems, and the Kap. Here he was most likely to meet Prince Sennedjem, Fan-bearer on the right of the king, Count, Mayor, the God’s Father, and Overseer of nurses. Next to him was Senked, possibly a brother, who was Overseer of Tutors. Both these men were laid to rest in a double tomb in Akhmin, in which both Tutankhamun and Aye featured prominently.

In role as Overseer of Harems, he would undoubtedly have had contact with his counterpart at the Northern Principality at the Royal Palace Harem in Memphis.
The Overseer in charge of the Royal Harem at Memphis was a royal official by the name of Pay. He was also Overseer of the royal private apartments, Overseer of the cattle of Amun and held a temple appointment. He was laid to rest in the Saqqara cemetery at Memphis, and several of his sons succeeded to his various appointments after his death.

In his Diplomatic role, Huy would have come into regular contact with the King’s Viziers, Horemheb, Aye, Usermontu, and Pentu. In his connection with Aye, he would have undoubtedly come into contact with Ay’s presumed son, the General Nakhtmin, named by him as his successor. It is not entirely certain that Pentu is the same person as Akhenaton’s Chief Physician and Chamberlain, but his name was found on a wine docket in Tutankhamun’s tomb. He seems to have played an important role in the restoration of Amun after the Amarna interlude.

Usermontu was another important Vizier, of noble birth by the Lady Maia, Tutankhamun’s wet-nurse. She was of a noble Theban family as the name Montu suggests but was nevertheless laid to rest in the Memphis Saqqara cemetery. Usermontu was an hereditary prince, and held civil duties as Provincial Governor, Priest of Maat and Judge. Other than this, however, very little is known about him.

With regard to his diplomatic missions, Huy cannot have failed to have communications with the army general Ramose (Paramessu) the future Ramesses I, and his brother Khaemwaset, Head of the Archers, suggesting a link with Kush. Maybe he even met their father, a Court Official by the name of Seti.

Finally, he may also have come into contact with Yii, the possible Steward to Tey, the wife of the succeeding Pharaoh, Ay. He seems to have been the son of Ay’s possible son, Nakhtmin and his wife Mutemnub, a possible sister of Tey. As a probable nephew of Ay, he rose to the position of Second Prophet of Amun and High Priest of Mut. His name is spelled exactly as Ay, but to avoid confusion he is usually depicted as Yii.