Sobeknakht II

Sobeknakht II was an important local Governor at El-Kab and a supporter of the Theban 16th or 17th dynasty during the Second Intermediate Period. The Cairo Juridical stela, which is dated to Year 1 of the later Theban king Nebiriau I, contains an important geneaological charter which states that Ayameru--the son by Vizier Aya and the King's daughter Reditenes--was appointed Governor of El-Kab in Year 1 of the 13th dynasty king Merhotepre Ini. [Chris Bennett, A Geneaological Chronology of the Seventeenth Dynasty, JARCE 39 (2002), pp.124-125] The reason for this appointment was due to the unexpected death of the childless Governor of El-Kab Aya-junior who was Vizier Aya's eldest son and Ayameru's elder brother. The charter identifies a certain Kebsi as the son of the Governor, and later, Vizier Ayameru. [Bennett, op. cit., p.124]

When Vizier Aya later died, he was succeeded to the Vizerate by Ayameru, his son. Ayameru, in turn, simultaneously transferred the Governorship of Elkab to his son, Kebsi. This means that a period of only 2 family generations or about 40-60 years at most separate Year 1 of the 13th Dynasty king Merhotepre Ini from Year 1 of the Theban king Nebiriau I, who is assigned a reign of 26 years in the Turin Canon. [Bennett, op. cit., p.124-125] The purpose for the creation of the Cairo Juridical Stela was to document Kebsi's sale of his office as Governor of El-Kab to a relative named Sobeknakht in order to settle his personal debts. This aforementioned Sobeknakht was the father of the famous Governor of El-Kab Sobeknakht II, who is the owner of Tomb T10 at Elkab--one of the most richly decorated tombs in Second Intermediate Period Egypt. [PM V 185]

2003 Discovery

Sobeknakht II's tomb was cleaned by British Egyptologists and, in 2003, was found to contain an important secondary inscription with important historical significance. It records a massive Nubian invasion on the small and fragile 16th or 17th Dynasty city state of Thebes which was decisively repulsed by a counterattack led by this now aged Governor. [ [http://www.homestead.com/wysinger/article10.html Tomb Reveals Ancient Egypt's Humiliating Secret] , The Times, July 28, 2003] [ [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/649/he1.htm Elkab's hidden treasure] by Al-Ahram] It also emphasizes Sobeknakht II's important role in protecting the Theban dynasty from being destroyed during this tumultous period.

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