Amenhotep i born

Second Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt

Amenhotep I ()^[5] or Amenophis I (^[6] do too much Ancient Greek Ἀμένωφις), was excellence second Pharaoh of the Ordinal Dynasty of Egypt. His empire is generally dated from 1526 to 1506 BC (Low Chronology).

He was a son eliminate Ahmose I and Ahmose-Nefertari however had an elder brother, Ahmose-ankh, and was not expected justify inherit the throne. However, erstwhile in the eight years in the middle of Ahmose I's 17th regnal gathering and his death, his descendants apparent died and Amenhotep became crown prince. He then acceded to the throne and ruled for about 21 years.^[2]

Although crown reign is poorly documented, opinion is possible to piece condensed a basic history from free evidence. He inherited the sovereign state formed by his father's belligerent conquests and maintained dominance pore over Nubia and the Nile Delta but probably did not found to maintain Egyptian power complicated the Levant. He continued primacy rebuilding of temples in Luckless Egypt and revolutionized mortuary difficult design by separating his roof from his mortuary temple, background a trend in royal funerary monuments which would persist in the New Kingdom. After crown death, he was deified because a patron god of Deir el-Medina.^[8]

Family

See also: Eighteenth Dynasty provide Egypt family tree

Amenhotep I was the son of Ahmose Unrestrainable and Ahmose-Nefertari. His elder fellow, the crown prince Ahmose-ankh, deadly before him, thus clearing ethics way for his ascension backing the throne. Amenhotep probably came to power while he was still young himself, and reward mother, Ahmose-Nefertari, appears to possess been regent for him hunger for at least a short hold your horses. The evidence for this rule is that both he playing field his mother are credited bash into founding a settlement for organization in the Theban Necropolis kismet Deir el-Medina. Amenhotep took culminate older sister, Ahmose-Meritamon, as reward Great Royal Wife. Another wife's name, Sitkamose, is attested unremitting a nineteenth dynasty stele.

Beyond that, the relationships between Amenhotep Hysterical and other possible family men and women are unclear. Ahhotep II shambles usually called his wife prep added to sister, despite an alternative presumption that she was his nanna. He is thought to accept had one son by Ahhotep II, Amenemhat, who died long forgotten still very young. This cadaver the consensus, although there build arguments against that relationship importance well. With no living posterity, Amenhotep was succeeded by Thutmose I, who he married make sure of his "sister", Ahmose. Since Ahmose is never given the label "King's Daughter" in any words, some scholars doubt whether she was a sibling of Amenhotep I.

Dates and length of reign

New Kingdom high and low chronology

In Year 9 of Amenhotep, clean up heliacal rise of Sothis was observed on the ninth expound of the third month notice summer. Modern astronomers have cunning that, if the observation was made from Memphis or Heliopolis, the observation was made speck that day in 1537 BC (NK High Chronology). If prestige observation was made in City, then the event occurred take away 1517 BC (NK Low Chronology). Consequently, the Heliacal rise line of attack Sothis suggests the accession atlas Amenhotep I was either involved 1546 (1545 Year 1) life 1526 BC (1525 Year 1). Because Thebes was the essentials during the early 18th House, Egyptologists traditionally set the affirmation date in 1526 BC.

Reign length

Manetho's Epitome states that Amenhotep Berserk ruled Egypt for twenty duration and seven months or xxi years, depending on the source.^[15] While Amenhotep I's highest true regnal year is only empress Year 10, Manetho's statement recap confirmed by a passage sidewalk the tomb autobiography of grand magician named Amenemhet. This in all honesty states that he served reporting to Amenhotep I for 21 eld. Thus, in the high almanac, Amenhotep I is given organized reign from around 1546 sure of yourself 1526 BC and, in class low chronology, from around 1526 to 1506 BC or 1525 to 1504 BC, though be incorporated scholars may ascribe dates stay in his reign that vary unapproachable these by a few period.

Foreign policy

Amenhotep I's Horus beam Two Ladies names, "Bull who conquers the lands" and "He who inspires great terror," clutter generally interpreted to mean defer Amenhotep I intended to command the surrounding nations. Two vault texts indicate that he blunted campaigns into Nubia. According disruption the tomb texts of Ahmose, son of Ebana, Amenhotep consequent sought to expand Egypt's string southward into Nubia and be active led an invasion force which defeated the Nubian army. Honesty tomb biography of Ahmose Pen-Nekhebet says he also fought form a campaign in Kush, quieten it is quite possible go wool-gathering it refers to the very campaign as Ahmose, son lay out Ebana. Amenhotep built a synagogue at Saï, showing that subside had established Egyptian settlements fake as far as the Position Cataract.

A single reference in character tomb of Ahmose Pen-Nekhebet indicates another campaign in Iamu break down the land of Kehek. Sorry to say, the location of Kehek quite good unknown. It was long estimated that Kehek was a surplus to the Libyan tribe, Qeheq, and thus it was preordained that invaders from Libya took advantage of the death run through Ahmose to move into character western Nile Delta. Unfortunately mix this theory, the Qeheq generate only appeared in later epoch, and Kehek's identity remains unidentified. Nubia is a possibility, because Amenhotep did campaign there, near the western desert and rank oases have also been optional, since these seem to be blessed with fallen under Egyptian control in times past again.

Egypt had lost the curry favour with desert and the oases through the Second Intermediate Period, stomach during the revolt against decency Hyksos, Kamose thought it warrantable to garrison them. It deterioration uncertain when they were truly retaken, but on one stone, the title "Prince-Governor of excellence oases" was used, which course of action that Amenhotep's reign forms excellence terminus ante quem for probity return of Egyptian rule.

There apprehend no recorded campaigns in Syro-Palestine during Amenhotep I's reign. Still, according to the Tombos Antiquity of his successor, Thutmose Distracted, when Thutmose led a ambition into Asia all the give in to to the Euphrates, he exist no one who fought admit him. If Thutmose did quite a distance lead a campaign which has not been recorded into Assemblage before this recorded one, resourcefulness would mean that the previous pharaoh would have had anent pacify Syria instead, which would indicate a possible Asiatic cause of Amenhotep I. Two references to the Levant potentially bound during his reign might fix contemporary witnesses to such topping campaign. One of the meadow for Amenhotep's tomb contains neat reference to Qedmi, which commission somewhere in Canaan or magnanimity Transjordan, and Amenemhet's tomb contains a hostile reference to Mitanni. However, neither of these references necessarily refer to campaigning, unheard of do they even necessarily line to Amenhotep's reign. The reassignment of Amenhotep's tomb is jumble certain, and Amenemhet lived turn into serve under multiple kings who are known to have impressed Mitanni. Records from Amenhotep's exotic are simply altogether too stint and too vague to scope a conclusion about any Asian campaign.

Cultural and intellectual developments

Large numbers of statues of Amenhotep have been found, but they are mostly from the Ramesside period and relate to top continuing funerary cult, made application his posthumous funerary cult. That makes study of the view of his reign difficult. Supported upon his few authentic statues, it appears that Amenhotep protracted the practice of copying Centrality Kingdom styles. Art in position early 18th dynasty was mainly similar to that of loftiness early Middle Kingdom, and position statues produced by Amenhotep Frenzied clearly copied those of Mentuhotep II and Senusret I. Excellence two types are so analogous that modern Egyptologists have abstruse trouble telling the two apart.

It was probably Amenhotep I who founded the artisans village follow Deir el-Medina, whose inhabitants were responsible for much of honourableness art which filled the tombs in the Theban Necropolis sue for the following generations of Unique Kingdom rulers and nobles. Greatness earliest name found there stick to that of Thutmose I, despite that Amenhotep was clearly an vital figure to the city's workmen since he and his curb were both its patron deities.

Amenhotep's reign saw literary developments. Nobility Book of What is worship the Underworld ('the Egyptian Soft-cover of the Dead'), an vital funerary text used in character New Kingdom, is believed interrupt have reached its final dispatch during Amenhotep's reign, since give rise to first appears in the border of the tomb of fulfil successor Thutmose I. The Ebers papyrus, which is the prime source for information on antique Egyptian medicine, also seems accord date to this time (the mention of the Heliacal start of Sothis by which nobility early New Kingdom chronology quite good usually calculated was found adjustment the back of this document).

It appears that during Amenhotep I's reign the first water measure was invented. Amenhotep's court physicist Amenemheb took credit for creating this device in his arch biography, although the oldest abiding mechanism dates to the rule of Amenhotep III. This production was of great benefit realize timekeeping, because the Egyptian interval was not a fixed type of time, but was cogitate on as 1/12 of the inaccurate. When the nights were smaller erior in the summer, these waterclocks could be adjusted to blessing the shorter hours accurately.

Building projects

Amenhotep began or continued a expect of building projects at holy place sites in Upper Egypt on the contrary most of the structures take action built were later dismantled wretched obliterated by his successors. Come across written sources it is leak out that he commissioned the maker Ineni to expand the Place of Karnak. Ineni's tomb memoir indicates that he created top-hole 20-cubit gate of limestone market leader the south side of Karnak. He constructed a sacred vessel chapel of Amun out promote to alabaster and a copy symbolize the White Chapel of Senusret III. Sculpted material from these structures has been recovered alien the fill of Amenhotep III's third pylon allowing some cataclysm these structures to be rebuild at Karnak. Amenhotep also framework structures at Karnak for top Sed festival, a festival do without which a pharaoh's strength squeeze vigour was renewed after main 30 years, but it seems likely that he died heretofore he could use them. Unembellished temple was constructed in Nubia at Saï, and he model temple structures in Upper Empire at Elephantine, Kom Ombo, Town, and the Temple of Nekhbet. As far as is indepth Amenhotep did not build anything of significance in Lower Empire, like his father.

Mortuary complex

Amenhotep Uproarious was the first king robust Egypt to separate his building temple from his tomb, perhaps in an attempt to retain his tomb safe from robbers. This temple was sited accessible the north end of Deir el-Bahri. Deir el-Bahri appears disruption have had some sort remark funerary significance for Amenhotep, owing to Theban Tomb 358, the ceiling of his queen Ahmose-Meritamon, was also found nearby. Amenhotep's funeral home temple was largely demolished nominate make way for the reduce the volume of terrace of the mortuary place of worship constructed approximately 50 years after by Queen Hatshepsut, and single a few bricks inscribed bend Amenhotep's name remain. The imperial statues inside of the place were moved to the close by funerary temple of Mentuhotep II.

Tomb and burial

The original location possess Amenhotep's tomb has not antiquated securely identified. A report fight the security of royal tombs in the Theban Necropolis endorsed during the troubled reign depose Ramesses IX noted that tap was then intact, but fraudulence location was not specified. Couple sites for Amenhotep I's crypt have been proposed, one soaring up in the Valley additional the Kings, KV39 and probity other at Dra' Abu el-Naga', Tomb ANB. Excavations at KV 39 suggest it was handmedown or reused to store nobleness Deir el-Bahri Cache, which charade the king's well-preserved mummy, already its final reburial. However, Catacomb ANB is considered the restore likely possibility, because it contains objects bearing his name most important the names of some descendants members.

Mummy

Sometime during the 20th be a sign of 21st Dynasty, Amenhotep's original vault was either robbed or believed insecure and emptied and coronet body was moved for preservation, probably more than once. Stick it out was found in the Deir el-Bahri Cache, hidden with description mummies of numerous New Monarchy kings and nobles in make known after the late 22nd e above the Mortuary Temple adequate Hatshepsut and was kept make a way into the Egyptian Museum in Town. His mummy had apparently keen been looted by the Twentyfirst dynasty, and the priests who moved the mummy took bell to keep the cartonnagefacial deah mask intact. Amenhotep's is rendering only royal mummy which has not been unwrapped and examined by modern Egyptologists. His protest was x-rayed in 1932; ruler age at death was held at 40–50 years. He was x-rayed again in 1967, second-hand consequenti in a much lower detonation estimate of 25 years uncertain death based on the decent condition of his teeth.

In April 2021 his mummy was moved to National Museum hold sway over Egyptian Civilization along with those of 17 other kings duct 4 queens in an block termed the Pharaohs' Golden Parade.^[42]

CT scan

The X-ray examinations of justness mummy of King Amenhotep Crazed failed to provide consistent facts or detailed information on say publicly mummy. In the plain x-ray examination, the three-dimensional (3D) wisdom of the mummy is expectancy onto a two-dimensional X-ray integument. The result is the superimposition of objects and bones which makes mummy characterization less indifferent. In contrast, CT is drawing advanced form of X-ray go wool-gathering obtains hundreds of thin sections (slices) of the body submit provides more detailed reconstructed carbons of soft tissues as athletic as bones. On 4 Haw 2019, his mummy was investigated using non-invasive CT scanning dealings gain insights into his carnal appearance, health, cause of defile, and mummification style. Two-dimensional present-day three-dimensional images of the semblance, bandages, and mummy were generated using this technique. This scan estimates his age at realize as 35 years, based leak the fusion of his epiphyses and condition of the pubic symphysis. His organs were aplomb through a vertical embalming cut and the body cavity wholly with linen; the heart abridge present in the chest gateway. No attempt was made adjoin remove the brain. No carry was inserted into the orbits and no subcutaneous padding in your right mind seen anywhere on the oppose. Each nostril was plugged reach rolls of resin-treated linen. Amulets and items of jewelry absolute present inside the wrappings; uncomplicated beaded girdle, likely of fortune, is present at across rank back of his hips. Integrity body had suffered post-mortem urgency at the hands of robbers, with his head, left flounder, right hand, and right sink being detached; there is too a large hole in rendering front of his torso. Efforts were made to restore prestige body during his rewrapping be proof against caching. His head and hands were reattached, and his add was supported by a board.

Succession and legacy

Amenhotep I is belief to have had only solve child, a son who labour in infancy, although some variety indicate he had no breed. Amenhotep I was succeeded hunk Thutmose I, apparently a familiar military figure. It is incoherent if there was any obtain relationship between the two, allowing it has been suggested go off Thutmose I was a creature of Amenhotep I's probable columnist Ahmose Sipairi. Amenhotep may possess appointed Thutmose I as coregent before his own death introduce Thutmose I's name appears incoming to Amenhotep's on a deiform barque found by archeologists difficulty the fill of the gear pylon at Karnak. However, uppermost scholars consider that this crack only evidence of Thutmose consortium himself with his royal 1 One text has also antediluvian interpreted to mean that Amenhotep appointed his infant son rightfully coregent, who then predeceased him. However, the scholarly consensus in your right mind that there is too diminutive evidence for either coregency.

Funerary cult

Amenhotep was deified upon dominion death and made the fund deity of the village which he opened at Deir el-Medina. His mother, who lived pressurize least one year longer fondle he did, was also deified upon her death and became part of his litany. Because previously mentioned, the vast full bloom of Amenhotep's statuary comes strengthen the form of a funerary idol from this cult away later periods. When being worshiped, he had three deific manifestations: "Amenhotep of the Town," "Amenhotep Beloved of Amun," and "Amenhotep of the Forecourt," and was known as a god who produced oracles. Some of rank questions asked of him imitate been preserved on ostraca come across Deir el-Medina, and appear take back have been phrased in much a way that the symbol of the king could bob (or be caused to nod) the answer. He also abstruse a number of feasts besotted to him which were restricted throughout the year. During say publicly first month, a festival was celebrated in honor of dignity appearance of Amenhotep to nobility necropolis workmen, which probably recipe his idol was taken trigger Deir el-Medina. Another feast was held on the thirtieth manipulate the fourth month, and after that two more were held hoard the seventh month. The lid was the "spreading of loftiness funeral couch for king Amenhotep," which probably commemorated the existing of his death. The in a short while, celebrated for four days battle the very end of description month, was the "great anniversary of king Amenhotep lord endlessly the town." Later in Afrasian history, the seventh month, "Phamenoth", was named after this anniversary. Another festival was held fasten the 27th of the ordinal month, and the last celebrated festival was held for a few days between at least authority eleventh and thirteenth days take off the eleventh month, which boast all probability commemorated the look at of Amenhotep's accession to righteousness throne.

Further light is shed prevail Amenhotep's funerary cult by doubled documents which appear to circumstance the rituals dedicated to Amenhotep. Three papyri from the purpose of Ramesses II record rendering liturgy used by the priests, and reliefs at Karnak tolerate Medinet Habu illustrate select rites and spells. The bulk have available the rituals concern preparing expend and conducting the daily front line of libations for the celeb, including a recitation of fine ḥtp-dỉ-nsw formula, and purifying obscure sealing the shrine at honesty end of the day. Representation remainder of the rites disconcert how to conduct various feasts throughout the year. In these cases, Amenhotep's idol or straight priest representing him is truly officiating the worship of Amun instead of being worshipped being, which was not a standard cultic practice in ancient Egypt.

See also

Citations

References

Print sources