Nianchchnum & Chnumhotep

Nianchchnum and Chnumhotep lived in the Old Kingdom, probably during the 5th Dynasty, and belonged to the king’s circle. Both held high court offices, including the title “Overseer of the Royal Manicurists”. This position brought them into immediate proximity to the ruler. Although both men were married and had children, they were buried together in a mastaba in Saqqara.

The reliefs in their tomb show the two men unusually often as a pair: sitting side by side, embracing one another, holding hands and touching noses. In Egyptian visual language, such gestures were among the strongest signs of physical closeness and are otherwise often reserved for married couples. The nose-touching in particular recalls depictions of lovers. How their relationship should be understood remains disputed in scholarship. They have been interpreted as brothers, twins, close companions or lovers.

In Egyptian, sn could mean both “to kiss” and “to smell”. The touching noses of Nianchchnum and Chnumhotep therefore point to special closeness, breath and bodily connection.