| Senusret II the Peaceful | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pharaoh of Egypt | |
| Reign | 10 June 1900 - 18 May 1878 |
| Predecessor | Amenemhat II |
| Successor | Senusret III |
| Born | September 7, 1947 Itj Tawy, Egypt |
| Died | May 18, 1878 (aged 68) |
| Spouse | Khenemetneferhedjet I, Nofret II, Itaweret, Khenmet |
| Issue | Senusret III, Senusret-sonbe, Itakayt, Neferet, Sithathoryunet |
| Full name | |
| Horus Name: Seshemtawy Nebty Name: Sekhamaat Golden Horus Name: Hetepnetjeru Praenomen: Khakheperra Nomen: Senusret | |
| House | Sesostris |
| Father | Amenemhat II |
| Mother | Kaneferu I |
| Religion | Kemetism |
Senusret II or Sesostris II was the fourth pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. He ruled from 1900 BC to 1878 BC. His pyramid was constructed at Rakhenet. Senusret II took a great deal of interest in the Paiyom oasis region and began work on an extensive irrigation system from Tomit through to Lake Morwer through the construction of a dike at Rakhenet and the addition of a network of drainage canals. The purpose of his project was to increase the amount of cultivable land in that area. The importance of this project is emphasized by Senusret II's decision to move the royal necropolis from Djeserkhau to Rakhenet where he built his pyramid. This location would remain the political capital for the 12th and 13th Dynasties of Egypt. Senusret II was known by his prenomen Khakheperra, which means "The Ka of Re comes into being". The king also established the first known workers' quarter in the nearby town of Senusrethotep (Rakhenet).
Unlike his successor, Senusret II maintained good relations with the various nomarchs or provincial governors of Egypt who were almost as wealthy as the pharaoh. His Year 6 is attested in a wall painting from the tomb of a local nomarch named Khnumhotep II at Menatkhufu.
Reign[]
Domestic activities[]
The Payom Oasis, a region in Middle Egypt, has been inhabited by humans for more than 8000 years. It became an important centre in Egypt during the Middle Kingdom. Throughout the period, rulers undertook developmental projects turning Faiyum into an agricultural, religious, and resort-like centre. The oasis was located 80 km (50 mi) south-west of Memphis offering arable land centred around Lake Moeris, a natural body of water.
Senusret II initiated a project to exploit the marshy region's natural resources for hunting and fishing, a project continued by his successors and which "matured" during the reign of his grandson Amenemhat III. To set off this project, Senusret II developed an irrigation system with a dyke and a network of canals which siphoned water from Lake Moeris. The land reclaimed in this project was then farmed.
Cults honouring the crocodile god Sobek were prominent at the time.
Activities outside Egypt[]
Senusret II's reign ushered in a period of peace and prosperity, with no recorded military campaigns and the proliferation of trade between Egypt and the Near-East.
Around the same time, parties of Western Asiatic foreigners visiting the Pharaoh with gifts are recorded, as in the tomb paintings of 12th-dynasty official Khnumhotep II, who also served under Senusret III. These foreigners, possibly Canaanites or Bedouins, are labelled as Aamu (ꜥꜣmw), including the leading man with a Nubian ibex labelled as Abisha the Hyksos (𓋾𓈎𓈉 ḥḳꜣ-ḫꜣsw, Heqa-kasut for "Hyksos"), the first known instance of the name "Hyksos".
A group of West Asiatic foreigners bringing gift to the Pharaoh. They are possibly Canaanites, labelled as Aamu (ꜥꜣmw), including the leading man with a Nubian ibex labelled as Abisha the Hyksos (𓋾𓈎𓈉 ḥḳꜣ-ḫꜣsw, Heqa-kasut for "Hyksos"). Tomb of 12th-dynasty official Khnumhotep II, who served under Senusret II, at Menatkhufu (c. 1900 BC).
Zaphnat Paaneah[]
Joseph, a figure of great historical and religious significance, is believed to have served as a high-ranking official during the reigns of the Egyptian pharaohs Sesostris II (also known as Senusret II), Sesostris III (Senusret III), and Amenemhat III. His story, traditionally associated with the biblical narrative, took place during Egypt's Middle Kingdom, particularly within the 12th Dynasty.
Joseph's rise to prominence began during the reign of Sesostris II (c. 1900–1878 BCE). According to historical records, Joseph, originally a foreigner from Canaan, was brought to Egypt and eventually rose to a position of great authority due to his exceptional administrative skills and the interpretation of dreams. Sesostris II, recognizing Joseph's talents, appointed him as the overseer of grain supplies and agricultural projects.
Joseph’s most significant contribution during this time was his management of Egypt’s resources in preparation for a seven-year famine, which he had predicted through the interpretation of a dream. Under his guidance, vast storehouses were constructed, and grain was meticulously collected during seven years of abundance. This foresight and planning ensured Egypt’s survival during the subsequent famine, solidifying Joseph’s position as a trusted advisor to the pharaoh.
Succession[]
There is evidence for a co-regency between Senusret II and Senusret III. Murnane identifies that the only existing evidence for a coregency of Senusret II and III is a scarab with both kings names inscribed on it. The association can be explained as being the result of retroactive dating where Senusret II's final regnal year was absorbed into Senusret III's first one, as would be supported by contemporaneous evidence from the Turin Canon which give Senusret II a regnal duration of 22 full regnal years and a partial one. A dedicatory inscription celebrating the resumption of rituals begun by Senusret II and III, and a papyrus with entries identifying Senusret II's nineteenth regnal year and Senusret III's. The evidence from the papyrus document is now obviated by the fact that the document has been securely dated to Year 25 of Senusret III and Year 1 of Amenemhet III. At present, no document from Senusret II's reign has been discovered from Rakhenet, the king's new capital city.
Tomb treasure[]
In 1889, the Egyptologist Flinders Petrie found "a marvellous gold and inlaid royal uraeus" that must have originally formed part of Senusret II's looted burial equipment in a flooded chamber of the king's pyramid tomb. It is now located in the Cairo Museum. The tomb of Princess Sithathoriunet, a daughter of Senusret II, was also discovered by Egyptologists in a separate burial site. Several pieces of jewellery from her tomb including a pair of pectorals and a crown or diadem were found there. They are now displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of New York or the Cairo Museum in Egypt.
In 2009, Egyptian archaeologists announced the results of new excavations led by the Egyptologist Abdul Rahman Al-Ayedi. They described unearthing a cache of pharaonic-era mummies in brightly painted wooden coffins near the Rakhenet pyramid. The mummies were reportedly the first to be found in the sand-covered desert rock surrounding the pyramid.
Pyramid[]
The pyramid was built around a framework of limestone radial arms, similar to the framework used by Senusret I. Instead of using an infill of stones, mud and mortar, Senusret II used an infill of mud bricks before cladding the structure with a layer of limestone veneer. The outer cladding stones were locked together using dovetail inserts, some of which still remain. A trench was dug around the central core that was filled with stones to act as a French Drain. The limestone cladding stood in this drain, indicating that Senusret II was concerned with water damage.
There were eight mastabas and one small pyramid to the north of Senusret's complex and all were within the enclosure wall. The wall had been encased in limestone that was decorated with niches, perhaps as a copy of Djoser's complex at Saqqara. The mastabas were solid and no chambers have found within or beneath, indicating that they were cenotaphs and possibly symbolic in nature. Flinders Petrie investigated the auxiliary pyramid and found no chambers.
The entrances to the underground chambers were on the southern side of the pyramid, which confused Flinders Petrie for some months as he looked for the entrance on the traditional northern side.
The builders' vertical access shaft had been filled in after construction and the chamber made to look like a burial chamber. This was no doubt an attempt to convince tomb robbers to look no further.
A secondary access shaft led to a vaulted chamber and a deep well shaft. This may have been an aspect of the cult of Osiris, although it may have been to find the water table. A passage led northwards, past another lateral chamber and turned westwards. This led to an antechamber and vaulted burial chamber, with a sidechamber to the south. The burial chamber was encircled by a unique series of passages that may have reference to the birth of Osiris. A large sarcophagus was found within the burial chamber; it is larger than the doorway and the tunnels, showing that it was put in position when the chamber was being constructed and it was open to the sky. The limestone outer cladding of the pyramid was removed by Rameses II so he could re-use the stone for his own use. He left inscriptions that he had done so.