God’s Wives of Amun The Kushite princess Amenirdis I was a
powerful God’s Wife of Amun The adoption of king Kashta’s
daughter, Amenirdis I, as God’s Wife of Amun made Kushite rule
in Thebes legitimate. Occupied by a woman of the reigning royal
family, the office of God’s Wife had served as a mediator
between the god and the king since the time of Egypt’s New
Kingdom. Each God’s Wife adopted her successor. Amenirdis would
have been presented for adoption by the Kushite pharaoh. The
office of God’s Wife was a power center in its own right and
controlled vast economic resources belonging to the Temple of
Amun at Thebes. God’s Wives enjoyed many privileges of royalty
Lavish coronation ceremonies marked the succession of a God’s
Wife to office. God’s Wives received throne names and had their
names written in cartouches just like the kings of Egypt. They
were endowed with their own estates, property, staff, and
administrators. Their tombs were on the grounds of Ramesses
III’s temple at Medinet Habu in Thebes instea