Quick Facts
Biography
Sobekemsaf (sbk-m-z3=f) was an ancient Egyptian queen of the 17th dynasty. She was the wife of Pharaoh Nubkheperre Intef and sister of an unidentified pharaoh, probably Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef, Sobekemsaf II or Senakhtenre Ahmose.
Her name ("Sobek protects him") is grammatically masculine. Although a female version of the name (sbk-m-z3=s) did exist, the queen is named Sobekemsaf in all sources, so it was not an error on the scribe's part, but she was probably named for an ancestor. Masculine names for females were not uncommon during the Second Intermediate Period.
She is mentioned on a bracelet and a pendant (now in the British Museum), and on a stela found in her family's hometown Edfu. The stela, dated to the 18th dynasty, mentions reconstruction of the tomb of her daughter Princess Sobekemsaf. The stela also names the queen's sister Neferuni and their mother, whose name is lost, but her title shows she was the daughter of a pharaoh, probably Rahotep.
Sobekemsaf's titles were: King's Wife (ḥm.t-nswt), Great Royal Wife (ḥmt-nỉswt wr.t), United with the White Crown (ẖnm.t-nfr-ḥḏ.t), King's Daughter (z3.t-nỉswt), King's Sister (zn.t-nswt)