Gurob Harem Palace
Medinet Ghurab · Mi-Wer · Gurob
New Kingdom to Late Period (1479–600 BCE; peak Amenhotep III–Tut 1390–1320)·Ancient Egyptian (New Kingdom palace)·🇪🇬 Faiyum Governorate, Egypt
About
About Gurob Harem Palace
Gurob (Medinet Ghurab, ancient Mi-Wer 'Great Lake') is New Kingdom harem palace founded Thutmose III (1479 BCE) on Faiyum entrance, inhabited Amenhotep III–Ramesses II as women's palace with international wives (Mitanni burnished ware, Cypriot White Slip, Mycenaean rhyta). Burned papyrus archive documents harem conspiracy (Harris). Petrie 1889–90 found papyrus of Wenamen? Actually Genealogy? Palais 5×3 m rooms, canal harbour. Documents Faiyum land reclamation and diplomatic marriages.
Why it mattersOnly New Kingdom harem palace archaeologically attested; foreign princess pottery archive.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Wenamen papyrus provenance debate
- 02Harem vs domestic workers housing
Theories
- 01Diplomatic marriage harem model (Lacovara)
- 02Faiyum reclamation headquarters (Kemp)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 1479 BCE Thutmose III palace; harem under Amenhotep III c. 1390 BCE
- Period
- New Kingdom to Late Period (1479–600 BCE; peak Amenhotep III–Tut 1390–1320)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (New Kingdom palace)
- Builders
- Thutmose III; expanded Amenhotep III
- Purpose
- Royal harem palace controlling Faiyum entrance and foreign princesses
- Excavation
- Excavated
1479 BCE
Thutmose III founds Mi-Wer
1390 BCE
Amenhotep III harem palace expansion
1155 BCE
Harris Papyrus harem conspiracy
1889
Petrie excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
29.2010° N · 30.9920° E · 28 m · 2 mapped features
Harem Palace Enclosure
palace200×150 m mudbrick palace with women's quarters
29.2020° N · 30.9930° EHarbour Canal
harbour100 m canal to Bahr Yussef linking Faiyum
29.2000° N · 30.9910° E