Queens
The Queens of the 18th Dynasty played very powerful and influential roles. These included; assisting the Pharaoh with his reign, acting in military campaigns and associating themselves with the gods. Women relatives of the Pharaoh also had a range of duties and enjoyed considerable status.
Mutemwiya
Amenhotep III mother. Thought to be a princess of the Mitanni, Yet Aldred Mutemwiya was Egyptian and came from Military background. She advised Amenhotep and a group of Administrators from her husbands reign.
Amenhotep III close association with his mother can be seen in reliefs depicting her wearing queens headdress as she stands behind him in a affectionate guiding power behind the throne position.
Tiy
Tiy was from non royal background and married Amenhotep early in his reign. Scarabs commemorating their marriage, Tiy's non royal background and clearly proclaimed by the naming of her parents, Yuya and Thuya.
Tiy was a beautiful young woman. She held the status of "Great royal wife" "Mistress of upper and lower Egypt" "lady of the two lands". Her name often appears in a cartouche and in reliefs and sanctuary she is often shown beside Amenhotep as the same size. Tiy had six children, and although Amenhotep III had many other wives and consorts Tiy retained her status.
Amenhotep III undertook a massive building of a lake for Tiy which shows he took pride in her. He also built a palace for Tiy at Malkata. Some monuments indicate Tiy played an important part in Amenhotep's life.
Evidence from the Amarna letters also indicate Tiy played an active role in foreign affairs. Foreign rulers wrote directly to her. Even when Amenhotep died the Mitanni king still wrote to her to maintain good relations. Early in Akhenaten's reign, he's consult was his mother Tiy regarding matters relating to the Mitanni. It is not known what role Tiy played in Akhenaten's religious reform, but she was still held in high esteem after the Aten collapse.
Nefertiti
Akhenaten married Nefertiti before he came to throne.
Aldred argues that Nefertiti was the daughter of Ay. An Egyptian women Mutnodjme, who later married Horemheb may have been her sister Akhenaten refers to Nefertiti as "the mistress of his happiness" and he describes her on his boundary stela at Amarna.
When They moved to worshipping the god Aten, her name was changed to Neferuaten
Two British historians argue that Nefertiti assumed the role of co-regent with Akhenaten, then later assumed the role of becoming pharaoh.
This is argued as;
There is no evidence to prove Smenkhare was male
Nefertiti played a major role in religious ceremonies to the Aten and appears in most family scenes, more so than other queens.
Redford is working on new evidence for the Karnak Temple which shows Nefertiti played an important political role.
Nefertiti is portrayed as an active ruler, driving her own chariot and worshipping the Aten.
She wears a distinctive crown sometimes the crown of a typical pharaoh.
The Aten always gave both Akhenaten and Nefertiti the sign of life.
Restoration of Amun
TUTANKHAMUN
Background
Tutankhamun is believed to be the son of Amenhotep and Tiye. This is because of his resemblance to Tiye, reference to Amenhotep as Tutankhamun's father and miniature statues of Amenhotep found in his mortuary temple.
He could also be the son of Akhenaten and Kiya.
Tutankhamun was exposed to both religion; Aten and Amun.
He married Ankhesenpaaten before he was crowned
Crowned at Thebes, therefore Amun gave him the right to rule.
Coronation was held in Thebes, indicates his return to orthodoxy. He said Amun gave him the right to rule. He returned to Akhetaten for another 3 years than moved the capital to Thebes then Memphis.
Reign
This young king's reign was time of reconstruction following the devastation of Akhenaten's latter years, and the period following the return to Thebes was marked by a significant increase in artistic and architectural activity.
Tutankhamun was guided by Ay, his regent and Vizier and Horemheb. These people directed his return to orthodoxy. The first step was Tutankhaten and Ankhesenpaaten to change their names and this was EVIDENCE of Amun's return. yet the worship of the Aten continued.
EVIDENCE - hymn to Amun, makes reference to the Aten "sun rays". Amun reopened temples and got more loyalty to the King.
EVIDENCE - Restoration Stela.
provides evidence of how Egypt would return to political and religious orthodoxy. This was found at the temple of Amun at Karnak
Details the state of the land due to Akhenaten's changes, and details Tutankhamun's plans to restore the temples, create statues, particular of Amun and restore the priesthood. Temple of Amun were decorated with scenes of Opet festival closely linked to Amun.
Most important piece of evidence it is said to be written by Tutankhamun when really Horemheb did it. According to the stela, everything had fallen into ruins. The armies had no successes and the god didn't answer the Egyptians prays. There was less control over foreign affairs. It discusses;
Building states to Amun
Restoring neglected temples
establishing new priesthood
possessions and wealth doubled
economy was strengthened and the gods happy
Later Ay and Horemheb took credit for these buildings.
The restoration stela shows;
Tutankhamun connected to the gods and return to polytheism. Amun was "father", he rebuilt temples and reinstated the priesthood. By doing this the gods were pleased. It depicts a clear link to Amun. Also Tutankhamun's adviser probably realized that action had to be taken to restore confidence of the people in their pharaoh, and they way to do this was by restoring the traditional religion.
Foreign Policy
Horemheb was in charge of the army, this strengthened Egypt's control in Palestine and they collected taxes.
Foreign policy saw the strengthening of Egypt's hold over Palestinian vassals under Horemheb's generalship. There may have been an attack on the Hittites that Egypt possibly lost/ Nubia seems to have been kept under control by Huy.
Growing power of the Hittites threatening Egyptian vassals
Redford and Aldred believe Egypt and Assyria joined forces against the Hittites. Egyptians retreated but they didn't record this loss because they had to keep the image of smiting Asiatic.
Death of Tutankhamun
He died suddenly at 18 or 19, it could have been for many reason; hunting military skirmish, murdered by Ay or due to illness.
Death caused a serious problem, no successor Ay convinced Tutankhamun to let him have the throne.
He was a pawn of others
EVIDENCE - Elderly Ay shown "King's eldest son"
Ankhesenamun sent for a son from the Hittites to marry, yet he was murdered on the border because the Egyptians didn't want a foreign king in power.
AY
It has been suggested that he was responsible for Tutankhamun's death. He was certainly the successor though.
Ay took the throne in his 60s and shared it with Ankhesenamun who was 21
EVIDENCE- for this is scarab rings for both of them
Ay was an official during Akhenaten's reign.
Ay's reign was short, 4-5 years.
He continued the restoration of Amunism and Abandoned the most extreme aspects of Atenism. Ay replaces Tutankhamun's name with his own.
He took Horemheb as his co-regent to overcome instability.
Ay's brief reign appears to gave continued the polices of Tutankhamun.
HOREMHEB
Horemheb's career in the army, he was promoted to Royal lieutenant. he was chief overseer of the army during Ay's reign. Succeeded Ay and there may have been a power struggle between him and Ay.
His accession to the throne can after he claimed he had been vice regency for many years and Amun sanctioned his right to the throne.
He married Mutrodjmet (Nefertiti's sister) it strengthened his claims
After Ay's death he was crowned at Karnak during Opet Festival showing a clear link to Amun.
Gardiner -the Amarna age was defiantly over
Reign
Restored law and order and got rid of corruption
Disassociated himself with Atenism, and promoted the view that he was the successor of Amenhotep II (rewriting history)
Edit of reform
EVIDENCE- inscribed on a stela at Karnak
This details bureaucratic corruption and outlines Horemheb's means of overcoming this, including harsh penalties and tours of inspection.
Horemheb toured the country and recorded; corruption in the bureaucracy, exploitation of taxes and abuse of peasantry by soldiers. He promised to fix this;
New men had to uphold the laws
No taxes
Forced soldiers to return stolen property
Introduced penalties
Made regular tours to make sure everything was followed
Because of this Egypt's government ran smoothly again, maat was restored
Destruction of Atenism
Horemheb destroyed everything associated with the Aten cult. He blamed his predecessor for Egypt's bad condition. He started this destruction after his wife's dead. His actions were;
attribute recent buildings to himself
dismantle Amarna builds and Akhenaten's tomb
Dismantle the sun temples
He attacked Ay's tomb and the tombs of officials
Tutankhamun's tomb was left untouched because Tutankhamun brought back the traditional religion, and perhaps Horemheb thought it would be an insult to Amun to destroy Tutankhamun's tomb.
Horemheb ruled for 30 years, his successor was Pramesse, who became heir. He was a top military person. He became Ramesses I and started the 19th Dynasty.
He was so successful in his destruction that the Ramesside King list records Horemheb as the successor of Amenhotep III, attributing him 59 years or reign.
Conclusion
The post Amarna pharaohs recognized the need to return to orthodoxy if Egypt's position of power was to be restored. This restoration was gradual under Tutankhamun and became more extreme under Horemheb.
RAMESES I
Horemheb chose Pramese as his successor because he was able , loyal and had a long line of heirs. By the time Prameses came to the throne as Ramese I he was already elderly with grandchildren.
From the beginning of his reign he shared the throne with Seti I
Rameses I only ruled for 16 months and therefore his reign contained no great events.
He initialed a building program at Karnak, beginning to convert the area between the pylons of Amenhotep II and Horemheb into a huge columned hall
He adopted a policy of worshipping many gods, so prevent any one cult gaining precedence, Amun was worshiped as an official god.
He sent Seti I to the north in a show of force, but he didn't at this stage regain lost territory.
SETI I
Kitchin argues - Seti's aim was to combine examples set by Thutmose II as a conqueror and Amenhotep III as a builder. Also that Seti's name is a combination of the throne names of Thutmose III and Amenhotep III.
Seti embarked on a ambitious building program and military campaigns to demonstrate his legitimacy through his deeds. Seti tried to emulate Thutmose III in the battle field.
Seti needed to legitimize his family to the throne and he did this by a spectacular building program
He also restored names, titles and figures of gods that had been hacked out by Akhenaten
EVIDENCE- reliefs restored by Seti show underlying traces of the earlier figures hacked out by Akhenaten.
Military campaigns
Seti's objective was to conquer Kadesh and Amurru by;
gaining a firm hold of Palestine
gaining control of the seaports on the Phoenician coast
attacking central and northern Syria from the coast.
He undertook this in the first six years of his reign
He put down a Bedouion rebellion and erected a victory stela at Beth-Shan
He also established control over the Phoenician coast. The next three years he extended control, and was ready to attach Amurru, Kadesh and face the Hittites.
At home in Egypt, they were being threatened by the Libyans. Seti dealt with this and was able to return to the north.
Year 5 of 6 he attacked Amurru and Kadesh, gaining control.
Hittite king was not prepared and he signed a treaty, giving Egypt control over Palestine and the coast, to stop Egypt from attacking Hittites.
At Nubia rock inscription show Seti ordered an attack on the nomadic Irem people who were planning raids in Year 8.
Overall the results of Seti's military action were
He showed his military ability
He revived the warrior pharaoh image
He secured Egypt's borders and regained much lost territory
He made Egypt a powerful country once more]
Building Program
Buildings were extensive and high quality, dedicated to different gods.
He attempted to legitimize the rule of the new Ramesside dynasty
He attempted to get his name "recognized" through use of "renewal text" and buildings early in his reign
Shows piety/dedication to the gods. particular shown by the unusual bowing position of the pharaoh in relation to the gods
He usurped buildings of previous pharaohs by replacing their names with his.
Built at Karnak in an attempt to legitimize reign by building in the place where past pharaohs built on an even grander scale
Building program was beneficial to all the gods in an attempt to preserve maat.
Seti's building program included;
a white limestone temple at Abydos
columned hypostyle hall at karnak
summer palace at Avaris
a mortuary temple and tomb at Western Thebes
Embarking on such a large building program required large supplies of gold and stone. Seti sent expeditions to locate these materials.
It appears Seti took personal interest in the conditions of his workers
EVIDENCE - quarry inscription records how Seti increased the rations of quarrymen to allow the work to be easier. He also ordered a new well, as they were working in hot conditions.
Seti may have taken an interest as he came from non royal background.
Seti was assisted in his building by Vizier Nebamun, Paser (vizier of the south) and Amen-em-ope ( viceroy of Nubia)
Temple of Osiris at Abydos
Abydos was a holy site associated with Osiris, it was L shaped, rather than rectangular, it was made of white limestone, it has 7 chapels behind columned hall, had beautiful reliefs of Seti offering to the gods and reliefs of the legend of Osiris.
Seti also wrote an edict to ensure the temple and its estates continued undisturbed. This Temple was finished by Rameses II
Mortuary Temple and Tomb at Western Thebes
This temple was built of white sandstone with cedar doors. His tomb was extremely long and beautifully decorated with quality raised reliefs
Building in lower Egypt
a summer palace at Thebes
added to Temple of Ptah
Added to temple of Re
Seti's Death
Died at age 50
Egypt was prosperous
Well administered
Had reestablished its empire
Had buildings to rival even Amenhotep 's best
The new dynasty had therefore started positively and the pharaoh had reestablished his superhuman image.
Seti's reign was highly successful and through his vast building program he secured his legitimacy and that of a dynasty, Ramesses II was the beneficiary of his fathers legacy.
Rameses II
Background
As crown prince, Ramese early years are well documented
At 10 he was given the title "commander in chief" of the army
14-15 he went on campaigns with Seti, present at capture of Kadesh
In teens he was made prince-regent to ensure succession
Seti set him up with a harem
Chief wife Nefertari, marriage may have been political
She may have been from Theban noble family
she's referred to as "beloved of Mut" which strengthens the connection to Thebes
Her name is reminiscent of Ahmose Nefertari, founding family of 18th Dynasty
Ramese assisted Seti in building program
Ramese II sons appear to have accompanied him on military campaigns, or held priestly offices. Many of these children died before Ramese II and therefore he had 5 different heirs.
e.g Khaemwaset learned history, scribal arts, administered Ptahs estates, restored monuments, helped father's jubilee, died yr 55.
As King
Many Egyptologist called him "the great" because;
cartouches inscribed everywhere
size and number of his buildings
number of offspring
account of kadesh, number of recordings
length of reign, successors he modeled himself on
Later these views change Wilson - "Blatant advertising was used to cover up the failure to attain past glories"
Now views are more balanced; he was a good pharaoh, successful relationship with gods, defends Egypt, maintained order/maat
He came to throne at 25
Had two chief wives (Nefertari and Istnofret) had around 17-27 children
His throne name was Usi-ma-re (strong in right is re)
Rameses and the gods
To ensure prosperity and please the gods Rameses had to;
out do other Pharaohs in the size of his building program
promote all the gods
conduct religious rites and major festivals
These show Rameses service and dedication to the gods
Rameses as defender/warrior
Rameses attempted to defend Egypt from the Hittites, Palestine tribesmen and Nubians
Tightened security in the delta by building fortresses against the Libyans
Made peace with the Hittites and became their ally
The may not have been what other great pharaohs did. But he still was successful. He presented himself as a typical warrior pharaoh, giving a superhuman, personally courageous image
BUT
While he provided the expected image, he was not a great military leader like Thutmose III
EVIDENCE- of Ramese's lack of military ability include;
Lack of respect for Seti's treaty
Failed intelligence gathering at Kadesh, which endangered his army
Never captured Kadesh
Foolish in not wearing armor
Wasted effort and resource for 20years in trying to take Syria without success.
In order to recapture former Egyptian territories in western Asia, Rameses II like Thutmose II planned to take one step at a time. Firstly he would retake Amurru, capture Kadesh, then move north beyond Aleppo
Campaign against Kadesh -year 5
"There is no episode in Egyptian history which occupies so much carved space in Egyptian temples"
Kadesh was a strategic location on trade routes.
The Hittites had Iron weapons, which were advanced technologically.
EVIDENCE- Bulletin (official report with reliefs)
EVIDENCE - Poem (heroic role of king)
These could be fanciful, yet the main features of the campaign seem true from the Hittite records
In year 4 Rameses embarked on a Syria campaign against Amurru, after several months the vassals were loyal top Egypt.
The news of this defeat reached the Hittites who started preparing for Egyptian attack.
Year 5 Rameses and four military divisions left for Kadesh.
They encountered Shosu tribesmen which told them the Hittite forces were in Aleppo, without cross examination Rameses forces marched into a trap.
When they learned the true whereabouts fort the Hittites from spies, confusion broke out and emergency measures were taken.
Despite the propaganda in records of Rameses superhuman courage and prowess in averting disaster, the king appears to have shown considerable personal bravery. He seized his coat of mail and jumped onto his chariot and charged at the enemy.
The king was saved by the arrival for the west of a force he had sent to the coast of Amurru.
The Hittite commander pulled back to regroup and Rameses forces took the offensive. Hittite king Muwatallis realized Rameses had the upper hand, he had not anticipated the support of force from west.
Following the Hittites serve looses, Muwatallis sent a peace proposal.
Rameses actually suffered a political defeat, The Hittite king was now in control of Kadesh, and took Amurru in following weeks. Some groups in Palestine saw Egypt's weakness and failed to pay tribute.
Massive advertising campaign
Rameses proceeded to magnify a military setback into stunning personal victory, the fiction details repeated many times on Egyptian and Nubian walls.
It was unthinkable for the Pharaoh to be defeated, and official records focus on the kings superhuman personal bravery, enemy depicted as cowardly scared of Pharaoh.
Rameses self glorification went far beyond anything recorded by previous Pharaohs.
Military improvements
Ramese rebuilt a better army, improved intelligence service, strengthened existing settlements.
Between year 7-8 Ramese and his son retook Upi. and they surpassed Amurru and Kadesh and moved deep into Hittite territory and Ramese cut of Kadesh and Amurru from the Hittite king.
Unfortunately these victories were short lived, they later returned to Hittite alliance, as did conquered Syria
Diplomatic relations
Year 18, there was a conflict for next Hittite king between Hattusil and Mursil. Mursil was sent into exile and he ended up in Egypt. Rameses refused to hand him over.
Hattusil was facing threat from Assyrians forces.
A treaty was signed with Egypt.
EVIDENCE - stelae in Temple of Karnak
EVIDENCE - clay tablet found in Hittite capital
Terms of treaty
Non aggression pact
Extradition of fugitives seeking asylum
assistance if a third party attack.
because of the treaty Ramese could no longer capture Kadesh, increasing his warrior pharaoh image, therefore he focused the second half of his reign on diplomatic relations, building programs and honoring the gods.
Marriage links to Hittite
Hattusil proposed a marriage between his daughter and Rameses, she was accompanied by a magnificent dowry "splendid gifts", which Rameses was more interested in. The Princess became "kings great wife" Matnefrure
EVIDENCE - marriage inscription on temples at Karnak
This marriage was juts another of Rameses victories.
There were also visits by the Hittite price, to Egyptian court.
Building Program
Rameses building program has sheer colossal size and number of monuments.
His name is found on more buildings throughout Egypt and Nubia than any other pharaoh in Egyptian history. However he also claimed to buildings of other kings.
Some of his building achievements include;
The Ramesseum - mortuary temple
Rameses temple at Abydos
Twin temples at Abu Simbel in Nubia
Completion of Seti's mortuary temple
Rameses II built on a colossal scale. he had gigantic statues of himself at Abu Simbel 21metres high.
His monuments unlike those of Amenhotep III "attempted to impress by overpowering size, without concern for artistic quality".
Compared to the delicate reliefs by his father at the Abydos temple, Rameses were crude. He used sunken, instead of raised reliefs
His desire for speedy results forced him to ransack many monuments for previous pharaohs to obtain large building blocks. The last traces of Akhenaten's reign were removed.
Many of Rameses temples were traditional in their layout but introduced some changes. Example if the complex at Luxor built by Amenhotep II, he changed the axis of the temple.
In his Mortuary Temple he replaced the traditional broad open court with huge pylon entrance.
To emphasize the divine status of the king, Rameses erected colossal statues of himself outside each temple pylon. The staues of Nefertari at Abu Simbel are as large as her husbands and indicate the religious status of the queen.
Rameses also dedicated his temples to a large number of gods, re Amun, Seth, Hathor.
Because of the length of Rameses reign (67 years), a number of men worked on his monuments
Paser - southern Vizier
Panhesy and Suty - chiefs of the treasury
Bakenkons - High priest of Amun
New Capital Pi-Ramese
For a number of personal, diplomatic and religious reasons Rameses decided to extend the summer palace of Seti in Avaris into a new capital city
This was because Ramese family came from around Avaris
The king wants a centre to deal with Egypt's Asiatic territory
The dampness of the delta region has meant many of the buildings at Pi-Rameses have disappears. However remains suggest a beautiful city with mudbrick walls, glazed titles.
The city comprised of Military barracks, temples to gods, jubilee hall for Rameses 14 sed festivals and administration buildings.
Maintained order
Incredible building program indicated prosperity and evidence points to a huge amount of activity during the reign
Administration was strong "His laws are firm in the administration of the regulations of the ancestors" Did like previous Pharaohs
Looked after his workers
Since Egypt was prosperous, the people would have seen Ramese II as successful in his role.
At Thebes
Celebrated Opet festival
Appointed high Priest of Amun
Started mortuary temple "Ramesseum"
Continued building
Started work on new capital "Pi Ramese"
Year 4 he was ready to embark on military campaigns
Nefertari
At this time Nefertari was with him. She played a role in the high priest of Amun's appointment and is shown appealing to the gods (usually done by the kings) depicting her importance
Chief consort until yr 24, when she is no longer mentioned.
She appears beside him on state and religious occasions
Yr 1 she accompanied him to Abydos, Seti's burial
Yr 3 she is shown on a monumental scale
She is known to have sent official letters and gifts to Hittite queens in yr 21
She shared a small temple with Tuya (Ramese's mum) in the valley of the queens, is finest yet discovered.
Quotes
Hayes - says that Rameses wasn't the great on the battlefield, or otherwise. Egypt still prospered, therfore maybe he wasn't the great but still good
Kitchin - Rameses probably was great, not the greatest but as good example of a Pharaoh. Egypt was dominant for a long time.
The Queens of the 18th Dynasty played very powerful and influential roles. These included; assisting the Pharaoh with his reign, acting in military campaigns and associating themselves with the gods. Women relatives of the Pharaoh also had a range of duties and enjoyed considerable status.
Mutemwiya
Amenhotep III mother. Thought to be a princess of the Mitanni, Yet Aldred Mutemwiya was Egyptian and came from Military background. She advised Amenhotep and a group of Administrators from her husbands reign.
Amenhotep III close association with his mother can be seen in reliefs depicting her wearing queens headdress as she stands behind him in a affectionate guiding power behind the throne position.
Tiy
Tiy was from non royal background and married Amenhotep early in his reign. Scarabs commemorating their marriage, Tiy's non royal background and clearly proclaimed by the naming of her parents, Yuya and Thuya.
Tiy was a beautiful young woman. She held the status of "Great royal wife" "Mistress of upper and lower Egypt" "lady of the two lands". Her name often appears in a cartouche and in reliefs and sanctuary she is often shown beside Amenhotep as the same size. Tiy had six children, and although Amenhotep III had many other wives and consorts Tiy retained her status.
Amenhotep III undertook a massive building of a lake for Tiy which shows he took pride in her. He also built a palace for Tiy at Malkata. Some monuments indicate Tiy played an important part in Amenhotep's life.
Evidence from the Amarna letters also indicate Tiy played an active role in foreign affairs. Foreign rulers wrote directly to her. Even when Amenhotep died the Mitanni king still wrote to her to maintain good relations. Early in Akhenaten's reign, he's consult was his mother Tiy regarding matters relating to the Mitanni. It is not known what role Tiy played in Akhenaten's religious reform, but she was still held in high esteem after the Aten collapse.
Nefertiti
Akhenaten married Nefertiti before he came to throne.
Aldred argues that Nefertiti was the daughter of Ay. An Egyptian women Mutnodjme, who later married Horemheb may have been her sister Akhenaten refers to Nefertiti as "the mistress of his happiness" and he describes her on his boundary stela at Amarna.
When They moved to worshipping the god Aten, her name was changed to Neferuaten
Two British historians argue that Nefertiti assumed the role of co-regent with Akhenaten, then later assumed the role of becoming pharaoh.
This is argued as;
There is no evidence to prove Smenkhare was male
Nefertiti played a major role in religious ceremonies to the Aten and appears in most family scenes, more so than other queens.
Redford is working on new evidence for the Karnak Temple which shows Nefertiti played an important political role.
Nefertiti is portrayed as an active ruler, driving her own chariot and worshipping the Aten.
She wears a distinctive crown sometimes the crown of a typical pharaoh.
The Aten always gave both Akhenaten and Nefertiti the sign of life.
Restoration of Amun
TUTANKHAMUN
Background
Tutankhamun is believed to be the son of Amenhotep and Tiye. This is because of his resemblance to Tiye, reference to Amenhotep as Tutankhamun's father and miniature statues of Amenhotep found in his mortuary temple.
He could also be the son of Akhenaten and Kiya.
Tutankhamun was exposed to both religion; Aten and Amun.
He married Ankhesenpaaten before he was crowned
Crowned at Thebes, therefore Amun gave him the right to rule.
Coronation was held in Thebes, indicates his return to orthodoxy. He said Amun gave him the right to rule. He returned to Akhetaten for another 3 years than moved the capital to Thebes then Memphis.
Reign
This young king's reign was time of reconstruction following the devastation of Akhenaten's latter years, and the period following the return to Thebes was marked by a significant increase in artistic and architectural activity.
Tutankhamun was guided by Ay, his regent and Vizier and Horemheb. These people directed his return to orthodoxy. The first step was Tutankhaten and Ankhesenpaaten to change their names and this was EVIDENCE of Amun's return. yet the worship of the Aten continued.
EVIDENCE - hymn to Amun, makes reference to the Aten "sun rays". Amun reopened temples and got more loyalty to the King.
EVIDENCE - Restoration Stela.
provides evidence of how Egypt would return to political and religious orthodoxy. This was found at the temple of Amun at Karnak
Details the state of the land due to Akhenaten's changes, and details Tutankhamun's plans to restore the temples, create statues, particular of Amun and restore the priesthood. Temple of Amun were decorated with scenes of Opet festival closely linked to Amun.
Most important piece of evidence it is said to be written by Tutankhamun when really Horemheb did it. According to the stela, everything had fallen into ruins. The armies had no successes and the god didn't answer the Egyptians prays. There was less control over foreign affairs. It discusses;
Building states to Amun
Restoring neglected temples
establishing new priesthood
possessions and wealth doubled
economy was strengthened and the gods happy
Later Ay and Horemheb took credit for these buildings.
The restoration stela shows;
Tutankhamun connected to the gods and return to polytheism. Amun was "father", he rebuilt temples and reinstated the priesthood. By doing this the gods were pleased. It depicts a clear link to Amun. Also Tutankhamun's adviser probably realized that action had to be taken to restore confidence of the people in their pharaoh, and they way to do this was by restoring the traditional religion.
Foreign Policy
Horemheb was in charge of the army, this strengthened Egypt's control in Palestine and they collected taxes.
Foreign policy saw the strengthening of Egypt's hold over Palestinian vassals under Horemheb's generalship. There may have been an attack on the Hittites that Egypt possibly lost/ Nubia seems to have been kept under control by Huy.
Growing power of the Hittites threatening Egyptian vassals
Redford and Aldred believe Egypt and Assyria joined forces against the Hittites. Egyptians retreated but they didn't record this loss because they had to keep the image of smiting Asiatic.
Death of Tutankhamun
He died suddenly at 18 or 19, it could have been for many reason; hunting military skirmish, murdered by Ay or due to illness.
Death caused a serious problem, no successor Ay convinced Tutankhamun to let him have the throne.
He was a pawn of others
EVIDENCE - Elderly Ay shown "King's eldest son"
Ankhesenamun sent for a son from the Hittites to marry, yet he was murdered on the border because the Egyptians didn't want a foreign king in power.
AY
It has been suggested that he was responsible for Tutankhamun's death. He was certainly the successor though.
Ay took the throne in his 60s and shared it with Ankhesenamun who was 21
EVIDENCE- for this is scarab rings for both of them
Ay was an official during Akhenaten's reign.
Ay's reign was short, 4-5 years.
He continued the restoration of Amunism and Abandoned the most extreme aspects of Atenism. Ay replaces Tutankhamun's name with his own.
He took Horemheb as his co-regent to overcome instability.
Ay's brief reign appears to gave continued the polices of Tutankhamun.
HOREMHEB
Horemheb's career in the army, he was promoted to Royal lieutenant. he was chief overseer of the army during Ay's reign. Succeeded Ay and there may have been a power struggle between him and Ay.
His accession to the throne can after he claimed he had been vice regency for many years and Amun sanctioned his right to the throne.
He married Mutrodjmet (Nefertiti's sister) it strengthened his claims
After Ay's death he was crowned at Karnak during Opet Festival showing a clear link to Amun.
Gardiner -the Amarna age was defiantly over
Reign
Restored law and order and got rid of corruption
Disassociated himself with Atenism, and promoted the view that he was the successor of Amenhotep II (rewriting history)
Edit of reform
EVIDENCE- inscribed on a stela at Karnak
This details bureaucratic corruption and outlines Horemheb's means of overcoming this, including harsh penalties and tours of inspection.
Horemheb toured the country and recorded; corruption in the bureaucracy, exploitation of taxes and abuse of peasantry by soldiers. He promised to fix this;
New men had to uphold the laws
No taxes
Forced soldiers to return stolen property
Introduced penalties
Made regular tours to make sure everything was followed
Because of this Egypt's government ran smoothly again, maat was restored
Destruction of Atenism
Horemheb destroyed everything associated with the Aten cult. He blamed his predecessor for Egypt's bad condition. He started this destruction after his wife's dead. His actions were;
attribute recent buildings to himself
dismantle Amarna builds and Akhenaten's tomb
Dismantle the sun temples
He attacked Ay's tomb and the tombs of officials
Tutankhamun's tomb was left untouched because Tutankhamun brought back the traditional religion, and perhaps Horemheb thought it would be an insult to Amun to destroy Tutankhamun's tomb.
Horemheb ruled for 30 years, his successor was Pramesse, who became heir. He was a top military person. He became Ramesses I and started the 19th Dynasty.
He was so successful in his destruction that the Ramesside King list records Horemheb as the successor of Amenhotep III, attributing him 59 years or reign.
Conclusion
The post Amarna pharaohs recognized the need to return to orthodoxy if Egypt's position of power was to be restored. This restoration was gradual under Tutankhamun and became more extreme under Horemheb.
RAMESES I
Horemheb chose Pramese as his successor because he was able , loyal and had a long line of heirs. By the time Prameses came to the throne as Ramese I he was already elderly with grandchildren.
From the beginning of his reign he shared the throne with Seti I
Rameses I only ruled for 16 months and therefore his reign contained no great events.
He initialed a building program at Karnak, beginning to convert the area between the pylons of Amenhotep II and Horemheb into a huge columned hall
He adopted a policy of worshipping many gods, so prevent any one cult gaining precedence, Amun was worshiped as an official god.
He sent Seti I to the north in a show of force, but he didn't at this stage regain lost territory.
SETI I
Kitchin argues - Seti's aim was to combine examples set by Thutmose II as a conqueror and Amenhotep III as a builder. Also that Seti's name is a combination of the throne names of Thutmose III and Amenhotep III.
Seti embarked on a ambitious building program and military campaigns to demonstrate his legitimacy through his deeds. Seti tried to emulate Thutmose III in the battle field.
Seti needed to legitimize his family to the throne and he did this by a spectacular building program
He also restored names, titles and figures of gods that had been hacked out by Akhenaten
EVIDENCE- reliefs restored by Seti show underlying traces of the earlier figures hacked out by Akhenaten.
Military campaigns
Seti's objective was to conquer Kadesh and Amurru by;
gaining a firm hold of Palestine
gaining control of the seaports on the Phoenician coast
attacking central and northern Syria from the coast.
He undertook this in the first six years of his reign
He put down a Bedouion rebellion and erected a victory stela at Beth-Shan
He also established control over the Phoenician coast. The next three years he extended control, and was ready to attach Amurru, Kadesh and face the Hittites.
At home in Egypt, they were being threatened by the Libyans. Seti dealt with this and was able to return to the north.
Year 5 of 6 he attacked Amurru and Kadesh, gaining control.
Hittite king was not prepared and he signed a treaty, giving Egypt control over Palestine and the coast, to stop Egypt from attacking Hittites.
At Nubia rock inscription show Seti ordered an attack on the nomadic Irem people who were planning raids in Year 8.
Overall the results of Seti's military action were
He showed his military ability
He revived the warrior pharaoh image
He secured Egypt's borders and regained much lost territory
He made Egypt a powerful country once more]
Building Program
Buildings were extensive and high quality, dedicated to different gods.
He attempted to legitimize the rule of the new Ramesside dynasty
He attempted to get his name "recognized" through use of "renewal text" and buildings early in his reign
Shows piety/dedication to the gods. particular shown by the unusual bowing position of the pharaoh in relation to the gods
He usurped buildings of previous pharaohs by replacing their names with his.
Built at Karnak in an attempt to legitimize reign by building in the place where past pharaohs built on an even grander scale
Building program was beneficial to all the gods in an attempt to preserve maat.
Seti's building program included;
a white limestone temple at Abydos
columned hypostyle hall at karnak
summer palace at Avaris
a mortuary temple and tomb at Western Thebes
Embarking on such a large building program required large supplies of gold and stone. Seti sent expeditions to locate these materials.
It appears Seti took personal interest in the conditions of his workers
EVIDENCE - quarry inscription records how Seti increased the rations of quarrymen to allow the work to be easier. He also ordered a new well, as they were working in hot conditions.
Seti may have taken an interest as he came from non royal background.
Seti was assisted in his building by Vizier Nebamun, Paser (vizier of the south) and Amen-em-ope ( viceroy of Nubia)
Temple of Osiris at Abydos
Abydos was a holy site associated with Osiris, it was L shaped, rather than rectangular, it was made of white limestone, it has 7 chapels behind columned hall, had beautiful reliefs of Seti offering to the gods and reliefs of the legend of Osiris.
Seti also wrote an edict to ensure the temple and its estates continued undisturbed. This Temple was finished by Rameses II
Mortuary Temple and Tomb at Western Thebes
This temple was built of white sandstone with cedar doors. His tomb was extremely long and beautifully decorated with quality raised reliefs
Building in lower Egypt
a summer palace at Thebes
added to Temple of Ptah
Added to temple of Re
Seti's Death
Died at age 50
Egypt was prosperous
Well administered
Had reestablished its empire
Had buildings to rival even Amenhotep 's best
The new dynasty had therefore started positively and the pharaoh had reestablished his superhuman image.
Seti's reign was highly successful and through his vast building program he secured his legitimacy and that of a dynasty, Ramesses II was the beneficiary of his fathers legacy.
Rameses II
Background
As crown prince, Ramese early years are well documented
At 10 he was given the title "commander in chief" of the army
14-15 he went on campaigns with Seti, present at capture of Kadesh
In teens he was made prince-regent to ensure succession
Seti set him up with a harem
Chief wife Nefertari, marriage may have been political
She may have been from Theban noble family
she's referred to as "beloved of Mut" which strengthens the connection to Thebes
Her name is reminiscent of Ahmose Nefertari, founding family of 18th Dynasty
Ramese assisted Seti in building program
Ramese II sons appear to have accompanied him on military campaigns, or held priestly offices. Many of these children died before Ramese II and therefore he had 5 different heirs.
e.g Khaemwaset learned history, scribal arts, administered Ptahs estates, restored monuments, helped father's jubilee, died yr 55.
As King
Many Egyptologist called him "the great" because;
cartouches inscribed everywhere
size and number of his buildings
number of offspring
account of kadesh, number of recordings
length of reign, successors he modeled himself on
Later these views change Wilson - "Blatant advertising was used to cover up the failure to attain past glories"
Now views are more balanced; he was a good pharaoh, successful relationship with gods, defends Egypt, maintained order/maat
He came to throne at 25
Had two chief wives (Nefertari and Istnofret) had around 17-27 children
His throne name was Usi-ma-re (strong in right is re)
Rameses and the gods
To ensure prosperity and please the gods Rameses had to;
out do other Pharaohs in the size of his building program
promote all the gods
conduct religious rites and major festivals
These show Rameses service and dedication to the gods
Rameses as defender/warrior
Rameses attempted to defend Egypt from the Hittites, Palestine tribesmen and Nubians
Tightened security in the delta by building fortresses against the Libyans
Made peace with the Hittites and became their ally
The may not have been what other great pharaohs did. But he still was successful. He presented himself as a typical warrior pharaoh, giving a superhuman, personally courageous image
BUT
While he provided the expected image, he was not a great military leader like Thutmose III
EVIDENCE- of Ramese's lack of military ability include;
Lack of respect for Seti's treaty
Failed intelligence gathering at Kadesh, which endangered his army
Never captured Kadesh
Foolish in not wearing armor
Wasted effort and resource for 20years in trying to take Syria without success.
In order to recapture former Egyptian territories in western Asia, Rameses II like Thutmose II planned to take one step at a time. Firstly he would retake Amurru, capture Kadesh, then move north beyond Aleppo
Campaign against Kadesh -year 5
"There is no episode in Egyptian history which occupies so much carved space in Egyptian temples"
Kadesh was a strategic location on trade routes.
The Hittites had Iron weapons, which were advanced technologically.
EVIDENCE- Bulletin (official report with reliefs)
EVIDENCE - Poem (heroic role of king)
These could be fanciful, yet the main features of the campaign seem true from the Hittite records
In year 4 Rameses embarked on a Syria campaign against Amurru, after several months the vassals were loyal top Egypt.
The news of this defeat reached the Hittites who started preparing for Egyptian attack.
Year 5 Rameses and four military divisions left for Kadesh.
They encountered Shosu tribesmen which told them the Hittite forces were in Aleppo, without cross examination Rameses forces marched into a trap.
When they learned the true whereabouts fort the Hittites from spies, confusion broke out and emergency measures were taken.
Despite the propaganda in records of Rameses superhuman courage and prowess in averting disaster, the king appears to have shown considerable personal bravery. He seized his coat of mail and jumped onto his chariot and charged at the enemy.
The king was saved by the arrival for the west of a force he had sent to the coast of Amurru.
The Hittite commander pulled back to regroup and Rameses forces took the offensive. Hittite king Muwatallis realized Rameses had the upper hand, he had not anticipated the support of force from west.
Following the Hittites serve looses, Muwatallis sent a peace proposal.
Rameses actually suffered a political defeat, The Hittite king was now in control of Kadesh, and took Amurru in following weeks. Some groups in Palestine saw Egypt's weakness and failed to pay tribute.
Massive advertising campaign
Rameses proceeded to magnify a military setback into stunning personal victory, the fiction details repeated many times on Egyptian and Nubian walls.
It was unthinkable for the Pharaoh to be defeated, and official records focus on the kings superhuman personal bravery, enemy depicted as cowardly scared of Pharaoh.
Rameses self glorification went far beyond anything recorded by previous Pharaohs.
Military improvements
Ramese rebuilt a better army, improved intelligence service, strengthened existing settlements.
Between year 7-8 Ramese and his son retook Upi. and they surpassed Amurru and Kadesh and moved deep into Hittite territory and Ramese cut of Kadesh and Amurru from the Hittite king.
Unfortunately these victories were short lived, they later returned to Hittite alliance, as did conquered Syria
Diplomatic relations
Year 18, there was a conflict for next Hittite king between Hattusil and Mursil. Mursil was sent into exile and he ended up in Egypt. Rameses refused to hand him over.
Hattusil was facing threat from Assyrians forces.
A treaty was signed with Egypt.
EVIDENCE - stelae in Temple of Karnak
EVIDENCE - clay tablet found in Hittite capital
Terms of treaty
Non aggression pact
Extradition of fugitives seeking asylum
assistance if a third party attack.
because of the treaty Ramese could no longer capture Kadesh, increasing his warrior pharaoh image, therefore he focused the second half of his reign on diplomatic relations, building programs and honoring the gods.
Marriage links to Hittite
Hattusil proposed a marriage between his daughter and Rameses, she was accompanied by a magnificent dowry "splendid gifts", which Rameses was more interested in. The Princess became "kings great wife" Matnefrure
EVIDENCE - marriage inscription on temples at Karnak
This marriage was juts another of Rameses victories.
There were also visits by the Hittite price, to Egyptian court.
Building Program
Rameses building program has sheer colossal size and number of monuments.
His name is found on more buildings throughout Egypt and Nubia than any other pharaoh in Egyptian history. However he also claimed to buildings of other kings.
Some of his building achievements include;
The Ramesseum - mortuary temple
Rameses temple at Abydos
Twin temples at Abu Simbel in Nubia
Completion of Seti's mortuary temple
Rameses II built on a colossal scale. he had gigantic statues of himself at Abu Simbel 21metres high.
His monuments unlike those of Amenhotep III "attempted to impress by overpowering size, without concern for artistic quality".
Compared to the delicate reliefs by his father at the Abydos temple, Rameses were crude. He used sunken, instead of raised reliefs
His desire for speedy results forced him to ransack many monuments for previous pharaohs to obtain large building blocks. The last traces of Akhenaten's reign were removed.
Many of Rameses temples were traditional in their layout but introduced some changes. Example if the complex at Luxor built by Amenhotep II, he changed the axis of the temple.
In his Mortuary Temple he replaced the traditional broad open court with huge pylon entrance.
To emphasize the divine status of the king, Rameses erected colossal statues of himself outside each temple pylon. The staues of Nefertari at Abu Simbel are as large as her husbands and indicate the religious status of the queen.
Rameses also dedicated his temples to a large number of gods, re Amun, Seth, Hathor.
Because of the length of Rameses reign (67 years), a number of men worked on his monuments
Paser - southern Vizier
Panhesy and Suty - chiefs of the treasury
Bakenkons - High priest of Amun
New Capital Pi-Ramese
For a number of personal, diplomatic and religious reasons Rameses decided to extend the summer palace of Seti in Avaris into a new capital city
This was because Ramese family came from around Avaris
The king wants a centre to deal with Egypt's Asiatic territory
The dampness of the delta region has meant many of the buildings at Pi-Rameses have disappears. However remains suggest a beautiful city with mudbrick walls, glazed titles.
The city comprised of Military barracks, temples to gods, jubilee hall for Rameses 14 sed festivals and administration buildings.
Maintained order
Incredible building program indicated prosperity and evidence points to a huge amount of activity during the reign
Administration was strong "His laws are firm in the administration of the regulations of the ancestors" Did like previous Pharaohs
Looked after his workers
Since Egypt was prosperous, the people would have seen Ramese II as successful in his role.
At Thebes
Celebrated Opet festival
Appointed high Priest of Amun
Started mortuary temple "Ramesseum"
Continued building
Started work on new capital "Pi Ramese"
Year 4 he was ready to embark on military campaigns
Nefertari
At this time Nefertari was with him. She played a role in the high priest of Amun's appointment and is shown appealing to the gods (usually done by the kings) depicting her importance
Chief consort until yr 24, when she is no longer mentioned.
She appears beside him on state and religious occasions
Yr 1 she accompanied him to Abydos, Seti's burial
Yr 3 she is shown on a monumental scale
She is known to have sent official letters and gifts to Hittite queens in yr 21
She shared a small temple with Tuya (Ramese's mum) in the valley of the queens, is finest yet discovered.
Quotes
Hayes - says that Rameses wasn't the great on the battlefield, or otherwise. Egypt still prospered, therfore maybe he wasn't the great but still good
Kitchin - Rameses probably was great, not the greatest but as good example of a Pharaoh. Egypt was dominant for a long time.
