Egyptian history midterm 2

story of sinuhe

Middle Kingdom literary tale

written during 12th dynasty (1875-1840 bce)

set during the rule of amenemhet I and senusret I

follows an official (sinuhe) who flees from egypt to syria (after amenenmhet’s death)

he loves a good life in syria (with a family) but returns home

the new king senusret understands why he ran and respects him still

explores themes about kingship, loyality, and Egypts relationships with foreign lands

important because it is one of the earliest Middle Kingdom texts

Amenemhet I

founder of the 12th dynasty

lived in the capital Itj-tawy

strengthened centralized government after the first intermediate periods government instability

ordered irrigation and building projects to better Egypt

important: he strengthened Middle Kingdom government and started reforms

he was eventually assassinated and his son Senusret I took over the throne

Hatshepsut

ruled as a female pharaoh during the 18th dynasty (1473-1458 bce)

she originally co-ruled with thutmose III but later fully became the pharaoh

she wore traditntal male pharaoh attire like the nemes headdress and fake beard

she commissioned many architecture projects one famous one is her temple in the temple complex called deir el bahri

deir el bahri

multi level temple complex located on the West Bank of Thebes 

the 18th dynasty pharaoh Hatshepsut built her funerary temple in this complex

also includes temples for mentuhotep II and thutmose III

mentuhotep II originally built his tempe here to signify the reunification of egypt and transition into the Middle Kingdom era

building structure reflects Middle Kingdom architecture

seqenenre tao

late 17th dynasty ruler

based in Thebes

he fought against the hyksos

his rule lead to the eventual downfall/ expulsion of the Hyksos

his mummy showed a violent head wound which means he probably died in battle

coffin texts

time period is from first intermediate period to middle kingdom

popular in middle egypt but were seen all over

mostly in non royal coffins

the texts granted protection and happiness in the afterlife

important part of Middle kingdom religious beliefs/ practices

hyksos

the Hyksos was group of rulers from the 15th dynasty

from avaris near the eastern delta

their rule was during a period of political conflict/ fragmentation

they fought with the theben 17th dynasty (king seqenenre tao)

other than conflict and military influence they also created advanced technology like horse chariots

amenhotep III

ruled during 18th dynasty

his rule was centered in Thebes

Egypt was thriving at mostly at peace during his rule

he focused on marriage and diplomacy over fighting

his mortuary temple is a sun temple, as he worshiped the sun-disc aten

and he connected his rulership to aten- promoting divine kingship

amarna letters

collection of stone tablets from the reigns of amenhotep III and Akhenaten.

the tablets were found in the city of akhetaten

they show written records of political diplomacy such as alliances, negotiations, and marriages

these tablets are used as direct evidence of writing in the Middle Kingdom

senusret I

he ruled in the early 12th dynasty (start of middle kingdom)

he ruled over the Itj-tawny region

he ordered many building projects, like temples

he also strenghthed trade with nubia

his rule is known for forming the early stages of the middle kingdom

Akhenaten

ruled during the 18th dynasty

establishes a new capital city called akhetaten named after the god aten

his reign is marked by his religious reforms centered around aten

he transformed art, buildings, and government to be more focused on the sun-disc aten

aten

solar god

amarna period

centered in city of akhetaten

pharaoh Akhenaten favored him

he was represented as a sun disk/ sun rays

Sphinx of Hatshepsut

Red granite sphinx of Hatshepsut

from Deir el-Bahari in her mortuary temple

Located in the Cairo Museum

its her head on a lion body - wearing male pariah attire to show her rule

18th dynasty

Akhenaten & Nefertiti

relief plate from an altarpiece

showing the royal couple (Akhenaten & Nefertiti) and their children

the family depiction represents humanity

18th dynasty

found in Akhetaten - was probably a house hold shrine

made from stone

Coffin of Akhenaten, Tomb KV55

Coffin of the Pharaoh Akenaten

in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt

found in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings

18th dynasty

someone removed the pharaoh’s name from the coffin because they believed he was a heretic

Statue of Mentuhotep II

dynasty 11

sand-stone statue that is painted for detail

from his mortuary complex at Deir el-Bahri

similar form to the osiris - the god of the under world

like his crossed arms and dark painted skin - represents his continued rule in the after life