Tutkheperre Shoshenq

Pharaoh Infobox | Reign=circa 880's BC
PrenomenHiero=N5-L1-t-w-t-HASH [Based on the style of 22nd dynasty royal names, the missing part is likely to be "setep-en-Amun". Lange, p.69.]
Prenomen="Tutkheperre"
NomenHiero=M17-Y5:N35:N36-M8:M8-N35:N29
Nomen="Shoshenq"
Name=Tutkheperre Shoshenq | Predecessor= Unknown
Successor= Unknown
Alt=Shoshenq IIb
Dynasty=22nd Dynasty

Tutkheperre Shoshenq or Shoshenq IIb [ [http://www.thelibyanperiod.leidenuniv.nl/content_docs/resolution_shoshenqs.pdf] At the October 2007 Egyptological Conference on the History and Chronology of the Libyan Period in Egypt at Leiden University, the conference members voted unanimously to designate him as Shoshenq IIb; this does not, however, imply that his existence is recognized by all scholars at this time, but only that there is agreement as to how to refer to him.] is an obscure Third Intermediate Period Libyan king whose existence was doubted until recently. However, in 2004, a GM 203 German article by Eva R. Lange on a newly discovered stone block decoration from the Temple of Bubastis which bears his rare royal prenomen, Tutkheperre, confirms his existence beyond doubt because his name is now found in both Lower and Upper Egypt respectively. [Eva R. Lange, Ein Neuer König Schoschenk in Bubastis, GM 203(2004), pp.65-71.] His prenomen translates approximately as "Appearance (or Coming Forth) of the Image of Re."

This king was first attested in ostraca Louvre E.31886 discovered at Abydos by Émile Amélineau (1850-1915) in his 19th Century excavations there. The ostraca is now located in the Louvre Museum and was examined by M. A. Bonheme in a 1995 paper titled "Les Chechanquides: Qui, Combien?" [M. A. Bonheme, Les Chechanquides: Qui, Combien?, BSFE 134(1995), pp.53-54.] According to Bonheme, the ostraca contains the name 'Tutkheperre [...] Amun| (Shoshenq MeryAmun)|' written in black ink and was discovered among votive deposits of various dates, starting from the New Kingdom onwards near the First Dynasty 'Tomb of Osiris' at Abydos in Upper Egypt. [Bonheme, op. cit., pp.53-54]

The ostraca evidence was not considered conclusive evidence for this king's existence since the writer of this object was assumed to have mistakenly written the small bird or chick symbol for "Tut" instead of the Red Crown symbol for "Hedj", as in king Hedjkheperre Shoshenq I. However, in her recent GM paper, Lange notes that the name Tutkheperre cannot be a mistake for either Shoshenq I or for "Tjetkheperre", Psusennes II's prenomen, because their hieroglyphic symbols are completely different. [Lange, op. cit., p.68] Secondly, the prenomen Tutkheperre is also inscribed in an architectural building in Bubastis. Lange's GM 203 article established that this king was indeed genuine and distinct from either Shoshenq I or Psusennes II. It examines an architectural fragment from the Great Temple of Bubastis which mentions his unique prenomen and nomen: 'Tutkheperre Shoshenq'. The likelihood of an error here is remote because these stone architectural blocks were created by professionally trained royal artisans who would not mistakenly transcribe something as important as a king's throne name onto a royal monument or temple. Tutkheperre Shoshenq's reign was probably brief because he is completely unattested beyond these 2 documents.

22nd dynasty timeline

Karl Jansen-Winkeln surmises in a footnote at the conclusion of Lange's paper that this new king should be dated to the first half of the 22nd Dynasty because his rule is attested in both Lower and Upper Egypt. This is a logical deduction because Shoshenq III of the 22nd Dynasty lost effective control over Upper Egypt in his 8th Year with the accession of Pedubast I at Thebes. Secondly, Lange notes that Tutkheperre Shoshenq is documented at the Temple of Bubastis where other early Dynasty 22 monarchs such as Osorkon I and Osorkon II are well known for their building projects there. Thus, he should be placed somewhere between these 2 kings.

While his precise location in the framework of the 22nd Dynasty is unknown, he may have been one of the unknown "3 Kings"--apart from Shoshenq II--who ruled Egypt between Osorkon I and Takelot I, as Manetho's Epitome states. The only fact which is certain is that he could not intervene in the transition between Shoshenq I to Osorkon I because Osorkon I certainly succeeded his father. This leaves a short interregnum of a few years in the transition between Osorkon I to Takelot I during the 880's BC prior to Takelot I became king. Tutkheperre certainly ruled Egypt prior to the reign of Osorkon II who adopts the generic Ramesses II based prenomen of 'Usimare Setepenre' for his own royal name. Several short-lived kings could plausibly fit in this transition period such as Shoshenq II at 2-3 years and Tutkheperre Shoshenq because Takelot I was a relatively minor son of Osorkon I by Queen Tashedkhons, who was a lesser Wife of the king. Takelot I may thus have had to wait a while before assuming power in favour of other higher ranking royal family members with stronger claims to the throne.

References

*Émile Amélineau, 'Les nouvelles fouilles d'Abydos 1897-1898' (fl), 147.
*Eva R. Lange, Ein Neuer König Schoschenk in Bubastis, Göttinger Miszellen 203(2004), pp.65-71.