Amenemope (pharaoh)
Amenemope, whose throne name was Usermaatre-Setepenamun, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Twenty-first Dynasty, ruling during the late Third Intermediate Period. His reign is conventionally dated to approximately 1001–992 BC, and he succeeded his presumed father, Psusennes I, on the throne at Tanis. Like his predecessor, Amenemope also held the title of "High Priest of Amun in Tanis," a reflection of the powerful religious and political dual-role held by the Tanite kings. Despite holding authority across Egypt, including recognition from the contemporary High Priests of Amun in Thebes, Amenemope remains a relatively obscure pharaoh outside of his final resting place.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Amenemope's tomb, which was discovered intact by the French Egyptologist Pierre Montet in 1940, offers crucial insights into his reign. Located within the royal necropolis at Tanis, his burial was initially in a separate, albeit smaller, tomb. However, his mummy was later reinterred in a chamber adjacent to his father, Psusennes I, in tomb NRT III. The discovery of the Tanis tombs, which also included the burials of Psusennes I and Shoshenq II, was a monumental find, though it was overshadowed by the outbreak of World War II. The contents of Amenemope's burial reveal a far less extravagant funerary provision than that of his father, with gilded wood and gold leaf replacing the solid silver and gold used for Psusennes I.
The funerary mask of Amenemope, now housed in the Cairo Museum, was made of gilded wood and offers a serene, idealised portrait of the pharaoh. This contrast with the medical analysis of his remains, which revealed a much older man who likely died from a severe skull infection leading to meningitis. The mask also featured a curled divine beard, connecting him symbolically with the god of the afterlife, Osiris. Among the other exquisite artefacts found were pectorals, necklaces, and rings, which, although less lavish, still demonstrate the fine craftsmanship of the Twenty-first Dynasty.
In addition to his burial, scant attestations of Amenemope's activities exist. He is known to have continued the decoration of the chapel of Isis at Giza, as well as making some additions to a temple in Memphis. Manetho, an ancient Egyptian historian, credited Amenemope with a nine-year reign, a duration supported by archaeological evidence. His authority was acknowledged in Thebes, where his name is found on funerary goods from at least nine local burials, suggesting a functional, if distant, relationship between the Tanite kings and the Theban high priests.
Amenemope's reign is a prime example of the dynastic divisions that characterised the Third Intermediate Period, with power shared between the kings in the north and the high priests of Amun in the south. Despite this fragmentation, his burial demonstrates the continuation of royal funerary traditions, albeit on a less opulent scale than in previous eras. Following his death, he was succeeded by Osorkon the Elder, with no known wives or children of his own. The enduring discovery of his intact tomb remains a vital resource for understanding this complex and often poorly documented period of ancient Egyptian history.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Jansen-Winkeln, Karl (2006). Hornung, Erik; Krauss, Rolf; Warburton, David A. (eds.). Ancient Egyptian Chronology. Brill, Leiden/Boston. ISBN 978-90-04-11385-5.
- ↑ Kitchen, Kenneth A. (1996). The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt (1100–650 BC). Warminster: Aris & Phillips Limited. p. 608. ISBN 0-85668-298-5.
- ↑ von Beckerath, Jürgen (1999). Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen. Münchner ägyptologische Studien, Heft 49, Mainz: Philip von Zabern. ISBN 978-3-8053-2591-2.
- ↑ Clayton, Peter (1994). Chronicle of the Pharaohs. Thames & Hudson Ltd.
- ↑ Deprez, Guillaume (May 16, 2020). "The Only Intact Egyptian Pharaohs Tombs Ever Discovered". TheCollector. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- ↑ Derry, Douglas E. (1942). "Report on skeleton of King Amenemopet". Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte. 41.
- ↑ Goyon, Georges (1987). La Découverte des trésors de Tanis. Perséa. p. 608. ISBN 2-906427-01-2.
- ↑ Montet, Pierre (1885-1966) (1951). Montet, Pierre - 1 Les constructions et le tombeau de Psousennes à Tanis (1951).
- ↑ Wente, Edward F. (1967). "On the Chronology of the Twenty-First Dynasty". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 26 (3): 155–176. doi:10.1086/371908. S2CID 161532622.