| Peftjauawybast | |
|---|---|
| Peftjaubast | |
 Golden statuette of Heryshaf with the name of Peftjauawybast, from Herakleopolis. | |
King ofHerakleopolis Magna | |
| Reign | c. 754 - c. 720 BCE[1]: Tab.16B |
| Predecessor | Takelot III (as ruler of Herakleopolis)[1]: Tab.16B |
| Successor | Pediese (not directly) |
| Consort | Irbastudjanefu, Tasheritenese |
| Children | daughters Sopdetemhaawt and Iruatj |
Peftjauawybast[2][1]: 318–9 orPeftjaubast was anancient Egyptian ruler ("king") ofHerakleopolis Magna during the25th Dynasty.
He was likely installed as governor of the town during thecoregency ofpharaohOsorkon III and his sonTakelot III, in 754 BCE. Some time after the death of Osorkon III, Peftjauawybast proclaimed himself king, adopting aroyal titulary and starting to date monuments since his "coronation", which should have occurred in around 749 BCE. It is possible that Takelot III permitted this behavior in exchange of his nominal loyalty. Peftjauawybast also married the princess Irbastudjanefu, a daughter ofRudamun, himself brother and successor of Takelot III, thus binding himself to the23rd Dynasty.[1]: 318–9 By Irbastudjanefu he had a daughter Sopdetemhaawt.[3]
For this ruler two donationsteles are known,[4] both dated to his Year 10 (the highest ruling year known for him, although his presence on theVictory stele ofPiye allows researchers to further expand his reign length), around 740 BCE. The steles mention another wife, queen Tasheritenese, and a daughter, Iruatj, who was aSinger in the Interior of (the Domain of)Amun. Peftjauawybast is also attested on a golden statuette of the godHeryshaf, found in Herakleopolis,[1]: 318–9 and also depicted on a bronze kneeling statuette now in theBoston Museum of Fine Arts (inv.no. 1977.16).[2]
At the time ofPiye's campaign of conquest (729 BCE),Middle andLower Egypt were contended by two factions: Piye and his allies/vassals, and the coalition led by princeTefnakht, the future founder of the24th Dynasty. Since Peftjauawybast was faithful to theKushite king,[1]: 198 Tefnakht's troops besieged Herakleopolis. Piye, however, was already marching to Lower Egypt and after capturingHermopolis he came to help his vassal, who joyfully welcomed him.[1]: 325
Peftjauawybast appears on Piye's 'Victory stele' unearthed atJebel Barkal, where he is depicted as one of the four "kings" submitted by the Kushite conqueror; the other wereOsorkon IV ofTanis,Iuput II ofLeontopolis andNimlot of Hermopolis.[5]
His succession is obscure, since we have no records until the installation ofPediese as governor of Herakleopolis in the early26th Dynasty, several decades later.[1]: 108
