Har Kuh

Har Kuh (also spelled Harkuh or Herkhuf) was an Egyptian explorer, governor, and official who lived during the late Old Kingdom, specifically the reigns of pharaohs Merenre Nemtyemsaf I and Pepy II of the Sixth Dynasty (c. 2200 BCE). He is best known for his expeditions into Nubia (ancient Kush), documented in autobiographical inscriptions on his tomb at Qubbet el-Hawa near Aswan.

Har Kuh served as governor of Upper Egypt and held various titles related to trade and exploration. He led four separate expeditions into Nubia. The first was undertaken with his father, Mekher, and the latter three were commissioned by the pharaohs. These expeditions were primarily focused on establishing trade routes and acquiring valuable goods from Nubia, including ebony, ivory, incense, panther skins, and other exotic materials.

His inscriptions provide valuable insights into the political and economic relationships between Egypt and Nubia during the Old Kingdom. They detail the challenges of traversing the desert, interacting with Nubian leaders, and transporting goods back to Egypt. A particularly famous section of his inscription recounts a message he received from the young Pharaoh Pepy II, who was overjoyed to hear of Har Kuh's successful return with a dancing dwarf (likely a pygmy) and instructed him to take great care in bringing the dwarf back safely to the royal court.

Har Kuh's tomb at Qubbet el-Hawa is a significant archaeological site, offering further information about his life, career, and the administration of Upper Egypt during the Sixth Dynasty. His expeditions contributed to Egypt's wealth and power, and his writings provide a rare first-hand account of exploration and trade in the ancient world.