| Sobekhotep V the Great | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pharaoh of Egypt | |
| Reign | 7 January 1730 - 18 January 1719 |
| Predecessor | Sihathor I |
| Successor | Sobekhotep VI |
| Born | January 3, 1780 Waset, Egypt |
| Died | January 18, 1719 (aged 61) |
| Spouse | Senebhenas II, Neni II |
| Issue | Sobekhotep-Miw ♂, Sobekhotep-Dja-Dja ♂, Haankhef-Iykherneferet ♂, Amenhotep ♂, Nebetiunet ♀ |
| Full name | |
| Horus Name: Ankhibtawy Nebty Name: Wadjkhaw Golden Horus Name: Weserbaw Praenomen: Khaneferra Nomen: Sobekhotep | |
| House | Haankhefian |
| Dynasty | Sobekhotep - Amenemhatid |
| Father | Haankhef |
| Mother | Kemi |
| Religion | Kemetism |
Khaneferra Sobekhotep V was one of the more powerful Egyptian kings of the 13th Dynasty (c. 1800 BC to c. 1650 BC), who reigned eleven years. His brothers, Neferhotep I and Sihathor I, were his predecessors on the throne, the latter having only ruled as coregent for a few months.
Sobekhotep states on a stela found in the Amun temple at Ipetisut that he was born in Thebes. The king is believed to have reigned for around 10 years. He is known by a relatively high number of monuments, including stelae, statues, many seals and other minor objects. There are attestations for building works at Abydos and Ipetisut.
Family[]
Parantage[]
Sobekhotep was the son of the 'god's father' Haankhef and of the 'king's mother' Kemi. His paternal grandparents were soldier of the town's regiment Nehy and his wife Senebtysy. We know nothing about his maternal grandparents.
Marriage and children[]
Sobekhotep might have had several wives, only one of which is known for certain.
He married "king's wife" Tjan. Children born to Tjan included Amenhotep, Nebetiunet, Sobekhotep Miu who became Sobekhotep VI, Sobekhotep Djadja who became Sobekhotep VII and Haankhef Iykhernofret.
Royal court[]
The royal court is also well known from sources contemporaneous with Neferhotep I, providing evidence that Sobekhotep V continued the politics of his brother in the administration. The Vizier was Neferkare Iymeru. The treasurer was Senebi and the high steward a certain Nebankh.
Royal activities[]
A stela of the king found at Ipetisut reports donations to the Amun-Ra temple. A pair of door jambs with the name of the king was found at Ipetisut, attesting some building work. There is also a restoration inscription on a statue of king Mentuhotep II, also coming from Ipetisut. From Abydos are known several inscribed blocks attesting some building activities at the local temple The vizier Neferkare Iymeru reports on one of his statues found at Ipetisut (Paris, Louvre A 125) that he built a canal and a house of millions of years for the king. The statue of the vizier was found at Ipetisut and might indicate that these buildings were erected there.
For year 6 is attested an expedition to the amethyst mines at Wadi el-Hudi in southernmost Egypt. The expedition is attested via four stelae set up at Wadi el-Hudi. From the Setmaat comes a stela dated to the ninth regnal year of the king.
He was perhaps buried at Abydos, where a huge tomb (compare: S10) naming a pharaoh Sobekhotep was found by Josef W. Wegner of the University of Pennsylvania just next to the funerary complex of Senusret III of the 12th Dynasty. Although initially attributed to pharaoh Sobekhotep I, the style of the burial suggests a date of the tomb under Sobekhotep V.
Sobekhotep V's rule over a divided Egypt[]
Sobekhotep V, one of the most powerful rulers of the 13th Dynasty, is well-documented as having control over Memphis, Middle Egypt, and Thebes. However, it is believed that his rule did not extend over the entire territory of Egypt. By the time of Sobekhotep V's reign, the eastern Nile Delta was already under the control of a different power.
According to Egyptologist Kim Ryholt, the 14th Dynasty, under the rule of King Sheshi, had established control over the eastern Nile Delta by this period, meaning that while Sobekhotep V ruled the rest of Egypt, the Delta was beyond his reach. Archaeological evidence and historical records suggest that Sheshi and the 14th Dynasty held sway over the Delta region during the time of Sobekhotep V, indicating a division of power within Egypt.