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Preceded by:
Senusret I
Pharaoh of Egypt
12th Dynasty
Succeeded by:
Senusret II
Amenemhat II
AmenemhatII

Statue attributed to Amenemhat II, later usurped by Ramesses II, at the Pergamon Museum, Berlin.

Reign 1929-1895 BC (33 years)
Praenomen Nubkaure
Golden are the Souls of Re
Nomen Amenemhat
Amun is in Front
Horus name Hekenemmaat
He who Delights in Ma'at
Nebty name Hekenemmaat
He who Delights in Ma'at
Golden Horus Maat Kheru
True of Voice
Father Senusret I
Mother Neferu III
Issue Senusret II, Amenemhatankh,
Nofret II, Khnemetneferhedjet I
Died 1895 BC
Burial White Pyramid
For other pages by this name, see Amenemhat.

Nubkaure Amenemhat II (transliteration: ỉmn-m-ḥt, meaning: "Amun is in Front") was the third pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty during the Middle Kingdom. He ruled Egypt for 35 Years from 1929 BC to 1895 BC. Senusret I was his father, Neferu his mother. His wife is not known for sure, recently a 'king's wife' Senet has been proposed.

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. His prenomen or throne name, Nubkaure, means "Golden are the Souls of Re."

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.

Sucession[]

Sphinx

Sphinx of Amenemhat II, from Tanis. Louvre, A23.

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 Senursret was crowned in his father's 33rd regnal year.[1] The name of the younger king is abnormaly placed ahead of the senior king, which may possibly indicate that Senusret was the dominant personality even before his father died, although such speculation rests on far too little evidence for a fair evaluation one way or the other.[1]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Murnane 1977, p. 7.

Bibliography[]

  • Grajetzki, W., 2006: The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt: History, Archaeology and Society. Duckworth, London.
  • Murnane, W.J., 1977: Ancient Egyptian Coregencies, Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization. No. 40. The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.

External links[]

Predecessor:
Senusret I
Pharaoh of Egypt
12th Dynasty
Successor:
Senusret II
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