Gilukhipa
| Gilukhipa in hieroglyphs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kirgipa (kyrgypɜ) The sun goddess Hepa is my strength | |||||||
Gilukhipa | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Kirgipa, Kilu-Hepa |
| Occupation | Queen of Egypt |
| Spouse | Amenhotep III |
| Parent | Shuttarna II |
Gilukhipa, or more probable Kilu-Hepa in Hurrian language, in the Egyptian language Kirgipa, was the daughter of Shuttarna II, king of Mitanni. She was the sister of Tushratta (later King of Mitanni), Biria-Waza and Artashumara.
Biography
For political reasons, Gilukhipa was sent to Egypt to join Amenhotep III in marriage. The Egyptian pharaoh made a special issue of commemorative scarabs on the occasion of his marriage to Gilukhipa in his 10th regnal year, where he recorded that the princess was escorted by 317 ladies-in-waiting, women from the Mitanni king's royal palace.[2] Gilukhipa became known as the "Secondary King's Wife," meaning she was secondary to Amenhotep III's chief wife, Queen Tiye.
Twenty-six years later, her niece Tadukhepa also became Amenhotep's wife.