Famous Pharaohs

Smenkhkare (1336–1334BC)

Akhenaten (who had Akhetaten as his political capital) in his life had 6 daughters by his Wife, the famous queen Nefertiti, but no sons. There is some doubts about his successor who likely was the pharaoh Smenkhare who appears briefly, though some historias suggest that this was a throne name of Nefertiti (as we will explain later), ruling after the death of her husband. The other historians believe that one of the mummies of Akhenaten is actually the mummy of Smenkhare. With that, may be Smenkhare was a half-brother of Akhenaten or the younger brother of him. Smenkhkare or Smenkhare reign after king Akhenaten and before the reign of Tutankhamun.

Most of the historians suggested that Smenkhkare rule for few months or one year at most. Other Egyptologists suggested that he rule more than 10 years. In any way his period considered an mysterious or abstruse period. Some scholars see that Smenkhkare was an other name of Nefertiti. The cartouche of Smenkhkare appeared in a piece of gold, but that piece was stolen when the tomb opened. Some historians see that Smenkhkare was the son of Amenhotep III or Akhenaten. But he was born three years before the reign of Akhenaten began, add to that the known about Akhenaten' parentage was just six daughters but no male, so that we can't say that he was the son of Akhenaten, the evidences refer to he was the son of Amenhotep III, and that is just suggests, but the fact is unknown to the historians. Few years after the reign of Smenkhare, Tutankhaten access the throne.

Dynasty 18 (18th Dynasty (c.1550-1292 BC))

The Dynasty 18 occurred in the New Kingdom age. Dynasty 18 Considered by historians to be the most important period in the history of ancient Egypt. King Ahmose was the first pharaoh of the Dynasty 18. He succeeded in saved Egypt and defeating the Hyksos. On view will be an extraordinary gilded ebony statue of Amunhotep III, whose reign was distinguished by the opulence and grandeur of the objects and buildings that it produced, a small jar decorated with a group of cattle and women; also a kneeling statue of Senenmut (official), the first chief advisor to the great female pharaoh the queen Hatshepsut. The Egyptian Empire came to the height in the age of the Eighteenth Dynasty, this dynasty was without peer in the ancient history. Egypt had never achieved such wealth and influence of the 18th dynasty's Pharaohs, and it would never again reach that rate of international influence. King Ahmos had driven the enemy (Hyksos) out of Lower Egypt and united Egypt under Theban rulers. King Amenhotep I Tuthmosis I, Tuthmosis II and Hatshepsut had successively orchestrated the internal secure and stability that allowed Egypt to flex its muscles both southward into Nubia and northward into Canaan and Syria. During the reigns of the next three Pharaohs—the mighty father-songrandson dynasties, Tuthmosis III, Amenhotep II, and Tuthmosis IV—the Egyptian realm surged to its greatest expanse, from far south in Nubian in Africa northward to the River Euphrates in the hinterlands of western side of Asia. After the building of the empire, about 158 years later, Dynasty 18 entered a period of decline, a period of implosion, slow decline at first, and step by step moved toward the ultimate collapse. After the unexpected death of king Tuthmosis IV, who ruled from 8 to 10 years only, two kings Amenhotep III and Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) allowed Egyptian control in Asia to decreased, and Egypt lost the orient domains one by one. So the scholars doubt if the Eighteenth Dynasty start military campaign into Syria and Canaan was during the rule of Tuthmosis IV. There are a certain evidence, from the last years of the reign of Amenhotep III, which found in Amarna that Egyptian Syrian and Canaanite princes in the Levant were very concerned about revolt in the region and were crying out for at least a small level of military support from their once-formidable Nilotic great lords, which never achieved. Add to that, Hittite attack and violent was rising against the kingdom of Mesopotamian of Mittani, whose rulers had been, since the reign of Tuthmosis IV (the brother of Pharaoh). The fact which remains that Egypt at this period either could not, or would not, respond with military assistance to the rapidly deteriorating situation in its now-former Asian provinces. Pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty: Ahmose I 1570–1546 Amenhotep I 1525–1504 Tuthmosis I 1524–1518 Tuthmosis II 1518–1504 Tuthmosis III 1504–1450 Hatshepsut† 1498–1483 Amenhotep II 1453–1419 Tuthmosis IV 1419–1386 Amenhotep III 1386–1349 Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) 1350–1334 Smenkhkare 1336–1334 Tutankhamun 1334–1325 Ay 1325–1321 Horemheb 1321–1293 References: Steven Collins, How Low Did the Once-Great Egyptian Eighteenth Dynasty Sink? Grimal.N., A History of Egypt, Oxford 1992

Amenemhet II (Nubkaure) 1929–1895

Amenemhet II was the third pharaoh of the dynasty 12. He was the son of king Sesostris I. His reign was a secure period in the ancient Egypt history although he ruled for along time about 34 years. The source for his reign is very limited. We can say that he continued in his father's efforts in foreign relations exactly with Levant where some gifts had been exchanges between the kings. Also the cartouche of Amenemhet II had been found in Lebanon. It is appear that some improvements occured in some field like the economy or trade and agriculture. Study Sources of Amenemhet II Period: In fact there is less documents belong to the reign of Amenemhet II. Some of the historical annals of his reign found on parts of his buildings. From that important buildings which have rich with the historical information about Amenemhet II and other pharaohs found at Mit Rahina. That provided the shcolars with more things about Amenemhet's buldings and statues and the military expeditions also the trading expeditions to Egypt in his reign. The name of Amenemhet II also were found on 4 boxes of bronze which found in Tod, also there ar some cups of silver of an Aegean origin. Mistakes of Amenemhet II: The scholars suggested that Amenemhet II have make big mistake when he depened on the nomarchs and the prime minister or his vizier, because those were basically the governors of the Egyptian provinces at this time, but he gave them more authority and great specifications. That made them have the title "king". Buildings of Amenemhet II: Some historians suggest theat Amenemhet didn't bult more buildings in his reign. The famous build is his pyramid which built it at Dahshure for unknown reasons.

Khnumhotep II:

The architect of Amenemhet II was Khnumhotep II, who presented more than one Service to the Pharaoh like building some monuments for Amenemhet II which had to be documented. This architect had the idea to exchange some text parts and words through the document. If this document would been stolen, the thief would not find the correct method to the treasure or the gold treasure.

Sphinx of Amenemhat II

Stadelman discovered famouse crime in the reign of Amenemhat II. That is his workmen had stolen stones on sledges from the pyramid of Sneferu, and used it as a vulgar quarry.

Smenkhkare (1336–1334BC)

Dynasty 18 (18th Dynasty (c.1550-1292 BC))

Amenemhet II (Nubkaure) 1929–1895

Labels

About

Blogroll