Aya (queen)
{{short description|Ancient Egyptian queen consort}}
Aya was an ancient Egyptian king's wife of the early Thirteenth Dynasty (between 1803 and 1649 BCE).K.S.B. Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period (Carsten Niebuhr Institute Publications, vol. 20. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, 1997), p. 243-245
{{hiero|Aya|
Attestations
She is known from two sources. She can be associated with vizier Ankhu.
=Würzburg Martin von Wagner Museum H 35=
At Abydos, Aya appears on a stela now in Würzburg.[https://pnm.uni-mainz.de/3/inscription/1023] PERSONS AND NAMES OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM From this source it is clear that she was part of an influential family of high court officials and was related to the Vizier .Wolfram Grajetzki, Ancient Egyptian Queens: A Hieroglyphic Dictionary. London, Golden House Publications, 2005, p.36 {{ISBN|0-9547218-9-6}} Importantly, is a certain Royal Scribe and Overseer of a Half-Domain, Wepwawethotep {ḫtmw-bjtj; jmj-rꜣ gs-pr wp-wꜣwt-ḥtp}, who married Senebhenas, daughter of Vizier Ankhu.
=Papyrus Boulaq 18=
She appears in the Papyrus Boulaq 18. This is an administrative account belonging to the Theban palace of a Thirteenth Dynasty king. It was found in the tomb of the scribe of the great enclosure Neferhotep. The name of the king in this papyrus is only partly preserved.
High officials mentioned in this text includes Vizier Ankhu and High Steward Aabeni.
=Speculations=
Many scholars read the remains of the king's name in the Papyrus Boulaq 18 as Sekhemre Khutawy Sobekhotep. However, the reading is disputed and other suggestions include King Sehetepkare Intef and King Imyremeshaw.Dodson, Aidan and Hilton, Dyan. The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. 2004. Therefore, there is some doubt over the identification of Aya's husband.