Amenemhat II

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Preceded by:
Senusret I
Pharaoh of Egypt
Twelfth Dynasty
Succeeded by:
Senusret II
Amenemhat II
Great sphinx thought to been originally carved for Amenemhat II, now on display in the Louvre, Paris
Enlarge
Great sphinx thought to been originally carved for Amenemhat II, now on display in the Louvre, Paris
Reign 1929 BC to 1895 BC
Praenomen
<
ra
S12
D28 D28
D28
>

Nebkaure (nbw-kAw-ra) [1]
The ka's of Re are golden
Nomen
<
i mn
n
m HAt
t
>

Amenemhat (imn-m-HAt)
Amun is in front
Horus name
G5
H k
n
m mAat
Image:srxtail2.GIF
Hekenem Maat (Hknm-mAat)
Horus, the one who is praised with Maat
Nebty name
G16
H k
n
m mAat
Hekenem Maat (Hknm-mAat)
The Two Ladies, the one who is praised with Maat
Golden Horus
G8
U2
Aa11
xrw
Maat Kheru (mAat-xrw)
The golden Horus, true of voice
Burial White Pyramid

Amenemhat II was the third pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, not much is known about his reign. He ruled Egypt for 35 Years from 1929 BC to 1895 BC. Senusret I was his father, Neferu his mother. His wife is not known for sure, recently a 'king's wife' Senet has been proposed.

The most important monument of his reign are the fragments of an annal stone found at Memphis, reused in the New Kingdom. It reports events of the first years of his reign. Donations to various temples are mentioned as well as a campaign to Southern Palestine and the destruction of two cities. The coming of Nubians to bring tribute is also reported. Amenemhat II established a coregency with his son Senusret II in his 33rd Regnal Year when he was aged in order to secure the continuity of the royal succession.

His pyramid was constructed at Dahshur and is only little researched. Next to the pyramid were found the tombs of several royal women some of them were found undisturbed and still contained golden jewellery. His prenomen or throne name, Nubkaure, means "Golden are the Souls of Re."

The court of the king is not well known, Senusret and Ameny were the viziers at the beginning of the reign. Three treasurers are known: Rehuerdjersen, Merykau and Zaaset. The overseer of the gateway Khentykhetywer is attested on a stelae, where he reports an expedition to Punt.

[edit] Sucession

Amenemhat II and his son, Senusret II, shared a brief coregency, which was the last certain one of the Middle Kingdom. The stela of Hapu at Aswan dates to the third year of Senusret II and to the 35th year of Amenemhat, meaning that Senursret was crowned in his father's 33rd regnal year.[2] The name of the younger king is abnormaly placed ahead of the senior king, which may possibly indicate that Senusret was the dominant personality even before his father died, although such speculation rests on far too little evidence for a fair evaluation one way or the other.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1] Amenemhat (II) Nebkaure
  2. ^ Murnane, Willaim J. Ancient Egyptian Coregencies, Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization. No. 40. p.7. The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1977.
  3. ^ Murnane, Willaim J. Ancient Egyptian Coregencies, Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization. No. 40. p.7. The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1977.

[edit] Further reading

  • W. Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt: History,Archaeology and Society, Duckworth, London 2006 ISBN 0-7156-3435-6, 45-48