Pedubast I

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pedubastis I or Pedubast I (c. 829 BC–804 BC) was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Pedubast is recorded as being of Libyan ancestry and ruled Egypt for 25 years according to Manetho. He first became king at Thebes in Year 8 of Shoshenq III and his highest dated Year is his 23rd Year according to Nile Level Text No. 29. This Year is equivalent to Year 31 of Shoshenq III. He was the main opponent to Takelot II and later, Osorkon B, of the Twenty-Third Dynasty Libyan kings of Upper Egypt at Thebes. His accession to power plunged Thebes into a protracted civil war which lasted for three decades between these two competing factions. Each faction had a rival line of High Priests of Amun with Pedubast's being Harsiese B who is attested in office as early as Year 6 of Shoshenq III and then Takelot E who appears in office from Year 23 of Pedubast I. Osorkon B was Pedubast I and Harsiese's chief rival. This conflict is obliquely mentioned in the famous Chronicle of Prince Osorkon at Karnak.

Recent excavations by the University of Columbia in 2005 reveal that Pedubast's authority was recognised both at Thebes and the western desert oases of Egypt—at the Great Temple of Dakhla where his cartouche has been found. He was succeeded in power by Shoshenq VI.