Amenemhat II

Pharaoh Infobox | Name=Amenemhat II |

Caption=Great sphinx thought to been originally carved for Amenemhat II, now on display in the Louvre, Paris
NomenHiero=i-mn:n-m-HAt:t
Nomen="Amenemhat (imn-m-HAt)"
Amun is in front
PrenomenHiero=ra:S12 D28*D28:D28
Prenomen="Nubkaure (nbw-kAw-ra)"
"Golden are the souls of Re" [Peter Clayton, Chronicle of the Pharaohs, Thames & Hudson Ltd, (1994), p.78] | HorusHiero=H-k:n-m-mAat
Horus="Hekenem Maat (Hknm-mAat)"
Horus, the one who is praised with Maat
NebtyHiero=H-k:n-m-mAat
Nebty="Hekenem Maat (Hknm-mAat)"
The Two Ladies, the one who is praised with Maat
GoldenHiero=U2:Aa11-xrw
Golden="Maat Kheru (mAat-xrw)"
The golden Horus, true of voice
Reign=1929–1895 BC
Predecessor=Senusret I
Successor=Senusret II
Father=Amenemhat II
Mother=Neferu III
Spouse=Keminub, Kaneferu
Children=Senusret II, Khenemetneferhedjet I, Ita, Itakayet, Itaweret, Khnemet, Neferet, Sithathormerit
Dynasty=Twelfth Dynasty
Burial=White Pyramid
Nubkhaure Amenemhat II was the third pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, not much is known about his reign. He ruled Egypt for 35 Years from 1929 BC to 1895 BC and was the son of Senusret I through the latter's chief wife, Queen Nefru. [Clayton, op. cit., p.81] His queen is not known; although recently a certain 'king's wife' named Senet has been proposed. His prenomen or throne name, Nubkaure, means "Golden are the Souls of Re."

The most important monument of his reign are the fragments of an annal stone found at Memphis, reused in the New Kingdom. It reports events of the first years of his reign. Donations to various temples are mentioned as well as a campaign to Southern Palestine and the destruction of two cities. The coming of Nubians to bring tribute is also reported. Amenemhat II established a coregency with his son Senusret II in his 33rd Regnal Year when he was aged in order to secure the continuity of the royal succession.

His pyramid was constructed at Dahshur and is only little researched. Next to the pyramid were found the tombs of several royal women some of them were found undisturbed and still contained golden jewellery.

The court of the king is not well known, Senusret and Ameny were the viziers at the beginning of the reign. Three treasurers are known: Rehuerdjersen, Merykau and Zaaset. The overseer of the gateway Khentykhetywer is attested on a stelae, where he reports an expedition to Punt.

Succession

Amenemhat II and his son, Senusret II, shared a brief coregency, which was the last certain one of the Middle Kingdom. The stela of Hapu at Aswan dates to the third year of Senusret II and to the 35th year of Amenemhat, meaning that Senusret was crowned in his father's 33rd regnal year. [Murnane, William J. "Ancient Egyptian Coregencies, Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization (SAOC) 40." p.7. The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 1977.] The name of the younger king is placed ahead of the senior king, which may possibly indicate that Senusret was the dominant personality in the coregency even before his father died, although such speculation is based on far too little evidence for a fair evaluation one way or the other. [Murnane, William J., op. cit., p.7.]

References

External links

* [http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/chronology/amenemhatII.html Amenemhat (II) Nubkaure (1914-1879/76 BCE)]

Further reading

*W. Grajetzki, "The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt: History,Archaeology and Society", Duckworth, London 2006 ISBN 0-7156-3435-6, 45-48