Twenty-third Dynasty of Egypt | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 837 BC–728 BC | |||||||||
 Flask of Rudamun | |||||||||
| Capital | Thebes,Herakleopolis | ||||||||
| Common languages | Egyptian language | ||||||||
| Religion | Ancient Egyptian Religion | ||||||||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| Historical era | Third Intermediate Period of Egypt | ||||||||
• Established | 837 BC | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 728 BC | ||||||||
| |||||||||
TheTwenty-third Dynasty was anAncient Egyptian dynasty ofancient Libyan origin which is usually classified as the third dynasty of theancient EgyptianThird Intermediate Period in modern periodization. This dynasty consisted of a number ofMeshwesh-descended kings ruling over parts of Egypt in the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Scholars are divided on the definition and composition of what they label the 23rd Dynasty.[1]
The familiar division of the sequence of Ancient Egyptian kings into dynasties was established by the work ofManetho in the 3rd century BC, as preserved in epitomes or extracts, most notably bySextus Julius Africanus andEusebius. According to the fuller epitome of Manetho by Africanus,
The Twenty-third Dynasty consisted of four kings of Tanis.
1. Petoubatēs, for 40 years: in his reign the Olympic festival was first celebrated.
2. Osorkhō, for 8 years: the Egyptians call him Hēraklēs.
3. Psammous, for 10 years.
4. Zēt, for 31 (var. 34) years.
Total, 89 years.[2]
Eusebius' epitome of Manetho, has Petoubastis for 25 years, Osorthōn for 9, Psammous for 10, omits Zēt, and totals 44 years.[3]
There is much debate surrounding this dynasty, which may have been situated atHerakleopolis Magna,Hermopolis Magna, andThebes. In the main, the following section follows the model created by EgyptologistKenneth Kitchen, who arranged a number of kings into a single sequence that he tentatively attached toLeontopolis and which ruled parallel to the surviving 22nd Dynasty that reigned fromTanis.[4] The treatment below departs from Kitchen's model in attaching KingHarsiese and KingTakelot II (now known to be the father of KingOsorkon III) to the series.[5]
While the Twenty-third Dynasty is considered a Tanite dynasty, as it originated from the cityTanis, it never reigned from there. The Twenty-second Dynasty, fromBubastis, took over Tanis andMemphis and managed to retain these cities almost until the end of their Dynasty. As a result, the Twenty-third Dynasty, being more or less an offshoot of the Twenty-second Dynasty, originated from Tanis. Instead, as mentioned above, most historians argue that they used Leontopolis as their capital.[6] This is confirmed by Piankhy's stela, which locatesIuput II inLeontopolis.[7] However, some historians argue that Iuput II should not be considered a Twenty-third Dynasty king at all, as it has not been undoubtedly proven that the Twenty-third Dynasty ruled from Leontopolis, merely that Iuput II ruled from somewhere in theDelta.[8] If Iuput II is the only connection between the Twenty-third Dynasty and Leontopolis, this viewpoint would eliminatePiankhy's stela as proof for Leontopolis being the capital of the Twenty-third Dynasty.
Another reason there is much debate is besides the conflicts between Lower andUpper Egypt that existed, there were now also conflicts in the Delta itself. Part of these conflicts were succession struggles, but another part involved theHigh Priests of Amun atThebes, who for a period during theTwenty-first Dynasty effectively ruled Upper Egypt, despite not being regarded as a separate dynasty (however, some did become pharaoh as part of a dynasty, likePsusennes I). Although their power declined after the Twenty-first Dynasty, the High Priests of Amun remained powerful and influential, and marriages into the royal family were not unusual.[9] As a result, multiple reigns within the Twenty-third Dynasty as well as between theTwenty-second and Twenty-third Dynasties overlap. This is because some members of the Twenty-third Dynasty reigned as independent kings (likeHarsiese A), and as a separate dynasty afterOsorkon II’s (of the Twenty-second Dynasty) death. Some historians argue that the Twenty-third Dynasty started withTakelot II, and considerPedubastis I as a separate independent (and short lived) part of that Dynasty. Others consider Takelot II's line as a separate independent part of the Twenty-second Dynasty, and consider Pedubastis I's short lived line as the Twenty-third Dynasty.[6]
When Osorkon II died, crown prince Shoshenq had already died, so his younger brother Takelot II took the throne at Tanis. High priest of Amun at that moment in time wasNimlot, Takelot II's half-brother. Nimlot was appointed by Osorkon II, and Nimlot married his own daughter, Karomama Merytmut II, to Takelot II. As a result, Nimlot would be the grandfather of any children, and thus heirs to the throne, Takelot II would get. When Nimlot died in the eleventh year of Takelot II,[10] a fight for the succession broke out. Takelot II chose princeOsorkon, but Harsiese, grandson of the chief priest, did not agree. Thebes revolted at his hand, but prince Osorkon managed to crush the revolt.
This relative peace lasted four years, as in Takelot II's fifteenth year a civil war broke out. This conflict lasted for almost ten years, and after another two years of relative peace, the Thebans once again revolted. Takelot II died before this new conflict was resolved, and with prince Osorkon far from Tanis, his younger brotherShoshenq III seized power. While this helped in resolving the conflict with Thebes, because they accepted Shoshenq III as king, a new conflict started. Instead of a conflict between royal families, this was from within the royal family. Prince Pedubastis proclaimed himself king, and reigned fromLeontopolis, simultaneously with Shoshenq III.[10]
While prince Osorkon was usurped by his brother Shoshenq III, Shoshenq did reappoint him as chief priest of Amun. Because Harsiese, of the Theban revolt above, disappeared in the twenty-ninth year of Shoshenq III's reign, prince Osorkon effectively controlled Upper Egypt for about a decade as chief priest of Amun. Meanwhile, Shoshenq III was and remained more powerful than the kings in Leontopolis. By this time, Pedubastis and his sonIuput, whom he had appointed as co-regent, had already died, seemingly in the same year (804 BC).Shoshenq VI had succeeded Pedubastis,[6] but not for long, as prince Osorkon succeeded him six years later asOsorkon III,[11] reigning simultaneously with Shoshenq III for the last years of his reign.
AtHerakleopolis a Twenty-second Dynasty king namedShoshenq V was still in power around 766 BC. However, Osorkon III installed his eldest sonTakelot there, also allowing him to be chief priest of Amun at the same time. As a result, the Twenty-second Dynasty's role in the Theban area was greatly reduced. When Osorkon III died, Takelot had been his father's[6] co-regent and was thus now sole ruler.[10]
Takelot III had given up his role as chief priest when he became pharaoh, and his sister,Shepenwepet I, seems to have taken over that role as well as being appointed asDivine Adoratrice of Amun. As a result, she effectively ruled over the Theban region with her brother. Takelot III also gave up his rule of Herakleopolis to Peftjauawhybastet, who was married to a daughter ofRudamon, Takelot's brother. Rudamon succeeded Takelot III, but shortly after was succeeded by Iuput II (also known as Ini/Iny). Under his reign the region became more divided again, asPeftjauawybastet andNimlot, governor of Hermopolis, adopted royal titles. Rudamon and Iuput II only reigned over Thebes in the final phase of the Twenty-third Dynasty, as Piankhy, king ofNapata, put an end to the so-called ‘Libyan anarchy’.[10]
| Pharaoh | Image | Prenomen (Throne name) | Horus-name | Reign | Consort(s) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harsiese A |  | Hedjkheperre Setpenamun | (unknown) | 880 – 860 BC | Isetweret I | Independent King ofThebes; Ruled during Takelot I's and Osorkon II's reigns |
| Takelot II |  | Hedjkheperre Setpenre | Kanakhtkhaemwaset | 840 – 815 BC | Karomama D Tashep Tabeketenasket A | Contemporary with the Twenty-Second Dynasty king Shoshenq III, who controlled Lower Egypt. |
| Pedubast I |  | Usermaatre Setpenamun | (unknown) | 829 – 804 BC | Involved in a prolonged civil war with king Takelot II/Crown Prince Osorkon B. | |
| Iuput I | (unknown) | (unknown) | 829 – 804 BC | co-regent | ||
| Shoshenq VI | Usermaatre Meryamun | (unknown) | 804 – 798 BC | Succeeded Pedubast I at Thebes and ruled Upper Egypt for 6 years. | ||
| Osorkon III |  | Usermaatre Setpenamun | Kanakhtkhaemwaset | 798 – 769 BC | Tentsai A Karoatjet | Involved in a civil war againstPedubast I andShoshenq VI. He triumphed over his opponents and went on to rule Upper Egypt including Thebes for 28 years. |
| Takelot III |  | Usermaatre Setepenamun | Wadjtawy | 774 – 759 BC | Kakat Irtiubast | Osorkon III's eldest son, junior coregent and successor. |
| Rudamun | | Usermaatre Setepenamun | Nebmaakheru | 759 – 755 BC | Tadi[...] | The younger brother and successor of Takelot III. A poorly attested king. |
| Shoshenq VII | Hedjkheperre Setepenre | (unknown) | 755 – 732 BC | A poorly attested king. | ||
| Ini | Menkheperre | (unknown) | 720 – 715 BC | Only controlled Thebes during his reign. Possibly a usurper against the 25th dynasty. |
Kitchen's treatment of the 23rd Dynasty as a unitary line of kings containing most rulers who did not belong in the main line of Tanite monarchs has been repeatedly criticized and seems to be largely abandoned in favor of a definition closer to Manetho's.[12] While there is disagreement over what to call the several parallel lines of kings that reigned alongside the Tanite monarchs, mostly in parts of Upper Egypt, there is increasing consensus in designating as the 23rd Dynasty a line of kings at Tanis who reigned after the death ofShoshenq V, until and beyond the takeovers byBakenranef of theSaite24th Dynasty and then byShabataka of theKushite25th Dynasty in 712 BC. The listings vary slightly in details, the following being the comprehensive recent model by Frédéric Payraudeau.[13]
Kings of the Tanite 23rd Dynasty according to Payraudeau
Royal lines in other parts of the country reigning alongside the 22nd and 23rd Dynasties at Tanis are labeled alternately in reference to either the 22nd or 23rd Dynasty by different scholars.
Kings of the Theban Line of the 22nd/23rd Dynasty according to Payraudeau[17]
Kings of the Rival Theban Line of the 22nd/23rd Dynasty according to Payraudeau[20]
Kings of the Herakleopolitan Line of the 22nd/23rd Dynasty according to Payraudeau[23]
Kings of the Hermopolitan Line of the 22nd/23rd Dynasty according to Payraudeau[24]
Kings of the Leontopolitan Line of the 22nd/23rd Dynasty according to Payraudeau[26]
