Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef
Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef was an ancient Egyptian king of the Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt, who ruled during the Second Intermediate Period, when Egypt was divided between the Theban-based 17th Dynasty in Upper Egypt and the Hyksos 15th Dynasty who controlled Lower and part of Middle Egypt.
Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef is referred to as Intef VII in some literature, while others refer to him as Intef VIII.
Reign
Little more is known concerning the reign of this king except that he was a short-lived successor of Nubkheperre Intef. Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef ruled for a brief period from Thebes.Ryholt saw indications that Intef VIII did not have an independent reign, but was a coregent of Intef VII with a reign length set at 0 years.
Coptos, block
The Danish Egyptologist Kim Ryholt has argued that Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef was possibly a co-regent of Nubkheperre Intef based on a block from Koptos, which preservesRyholt observes that the length of the damaged cartouche would fit well with the long prenomen of Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat.
Burial
It is believed he was buried in a pyramid tomb in the 17th Dynasty royal necropolis at Dra' Abu el-Naga' and that his tomb was only found and looted in the late 19th century.Wooden Sarcophagus, Louvre E 3020
His only clear attestation is his coffin – Louvre E 3020 – now in France. His sarcophagus contained the corrected nomen of this king as well as his prenomen, Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat, "which was added in ink on the chest of the coffin."The coffin has led to significant debate. Dodson argued that Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef was most probably a short-lived Theban king who died within months of his accession to power since the temple "scribes were probably still used to writing Inyotef in the manner of Nubkheperre, leading to the corrected mistake on the coffin ". This would also explain the modesty of Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef's coffin, which lacked a royal uraeus and is stylistically similar to the clearly non-royal coffin of Kamose. Intef, hence, would not have had the time to create a proper royal coffin in his abbreviated reign.
Ryholt suggested that Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef died prematurely and was buried in a royal coffin that initially belonged to Nubkheperre Intef; hence, Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef did not enjoy an independent reign of his own.
Dodson criticised Ryholt's proposal that Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat Intef died during the reign of his predecessor and was buried in Sekhemre-Wepmaat Intef's original royal coffin. Dodson observes that the form of the name Intef written here and the added king's prenomen of Sekhemre-Heruhirmaat on this king's coffin was composed in an entirely different hand from the remaining texts on the coffin. Dodson also stresses that