Mentuhotep II
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| Mentuhotep II in hieroglyphs |
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Nebhotepre Mentuhotep II (2046-1995 BCE) was a Pharaoh of the 11th dynasty, the son of Intef III of Egypt and a minor queen called Iah. His own wife was the 'king's mother' Tem. Other wives were Neferu (his sister) and five women buried in his funerary complex. His only known son was Mentuhotep III.
The king changed his name several times during his reign, perhaps reflecting important political events. His throne name was Nebhepetre, and he was the first ruler of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. The Turin Canon credits him with a reign of 51 years.[1]
In the 14th year of his reign, an uprising occurred. This was perhaps connected with a war of Mentuhotep II against the rival 10th dynasty at Herakleopolis Magna. Little is known of the events.
Mentuhotep reunited ancient Egypt in the following years for the first time since the 6th dynasty. The exact date of this unification is still unknown.
He is also known for commanding military campaigns south into Nubia, which had gained its independence during the First Intermediate Period. There is also evidence for military actions against Palestine. The king reorganized the country and placed a vizier at the head of the administration. The viziers of his reign were Ipi and Dagi. Treasurer was Khety who was involved in the sed festival of the king. He was followed by Meketre. General was a certain Intef known from his Theban tomb.
He was buried in a large tomb he had constructed at Deir el-Bahri. Mentuhotep II built temples and chapels at several places in Upper Egypt.
[edit] Further reading and links
- W. Grajetzki, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt: History,Archaeology and Society, Duckworth, London 2006 ISBN 0-7156-3435-6, 18-23
- Labib Habachi: King Nebhepetre Menthuhotep: his monuments, place in history, deification and unusual representations in form of gods. Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte 19 (1963), p. 16-52
- "The Mortuary Temple of Mentuhotep II by Mark Andrews
| Preceded by Intef III |
Pharaoh of Egypt Eleventh Dynasty |
Succeeded by Mentuhotep III |
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| Early Dynastic Rulers | Narmer · Hor-Aha · Menes |  |
| Old Kingdom Rulers | Djoser · Sneferu · Khufu · Khafra · Menkaura · Pepi II | |
| Middle Kingdom Rulers | Mentuhotep II · Mentuhotep IV · Senusret III · Amenemhat III · Sobekneferu | |
| New Kingdom Rulers | Hatshepsut · Thutmose III · Amenhotep III · Akhenaten · Tutankhamun · Ramesses I · Seti I · Ramesses II | |
| Other Rulers | Shoshenq I · Piye · Taharqa · Psammetichus I · Ptolemy I · Cleopatra VII | |
| Consorts | Tetisheri · Ahmose-Nefertari · Ahmose · Tiye · Nefertiti · Ankhesenamun · Nefertari · Mark Antony | |
| Court officials | Imhotep · Weni · Ahmose, son of Ebana · Ineni · Senemut · Rekhmire · Yuya · Maya · Yuny · Manetho · Pothinus | |
