Statue of Anen, Second Priest of Amun

Queen Tiye was not born a princess. Her parents, Yuya and Thuya, came from a family of provincial officials, yet Amenhotep III made her his great royal wife, and her relatives rose with her. Her brother Anen became second prophet of Amun, second of the four highest priests of the god at Karnak. He also held titles from the ancient sun cult of Heliopolis, among them Greatest of Seers, the title of the high priest of Ra there.

The inscription on this statue calls him one who knows the procession of the sky, an astronomer priest who followed the paths of the heavenly bodies. That, the museum explains, is why the spots on his leopard skin, the garment of a priest, are carved as stars. He is also one who puts things in their proper place, meaning the offerings set out for the gods, and one who appeases the gods with his voice. On the ornament at his belt you can read the names of his brother-in-law, Amenhotep III.