| Tanutamani the Resistant | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pharaoh of Egypt | |
| Reign | 9 November 664 - 31 October 653 |
| Predecessor | Taharqa I |
| Rival | Psamtik I as Pharaoh |
| Successor | Atlanersa as Qore |
| Born | September 26, 710 Napata, Kush |
| Died | October 31, 653 (aged 57) |
| Spouse | Piankharty, Tasalka, Malaqaye, Isetemkheb V |
| Issue | Atlanersa, Queen Yeturow, Queen Khaliset |
| Full name | |
| Horus Name: Wahmerut Praenomen: Bakara Nomen: Tanutamani | |
| House | Napata |
| Dynasty | Nubia |
| Father | Piye |
| Mother | Abar |
| Religion | Kemetism |
Tantamani (Ancient Egyptian: tnwt-jmn, Ancient Greek: Τεμένθης Teménthēs), also known as Tanutamun or Tanwetamani (d. 653 BC) was ruler of the Kingdom of Kush, and the last pharaoh of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt. His prenomen or royal name was Bakara, which means "Glorious is the Soul of Ra."
Reign[]
Conflict with Assyria over control of Egypt[]
Tanutamun began his reign in 664 BCE over a kingdom in a difficult position against the Assyrians of Ashurbanipal who had invaded Egypt and appointed Nechao I, king of Sais, as the preferred representative and intermediary of the Delta chiefs. Thus, shortly after the departure of the Assyrian army, Tanutamun invaded Egypt in the hope of reestablishing his sovereignty over the entire territory. Tanutamun descended the Nile from Nubia and reoccupied all of Egypt, including Memphis, where he defeated and killed Necho I and the representative of the Assyrians, while Nechao I 's son, Psamtik I fled to Assyria.
This led to a new conflict with Ashurbanipal in 663 BCE. The Assyrians, led by Ashurbanipal, returned in force to Egypt. They fought a pitched battle north of Memphis, near the temple of Isis, between the Serapeum and Abusir. Tanutamun was defeated and fled to Upper Egypt. Forty days after the battle, Ashurbanipal 's army arrived in Thebes. Tanutamun had already left the city for Kipkipi, a location that remains uncertain but could be Nubt, some 200 km south of Thebes. The city of Thebes was conquered, "crushed (as if by) a storm" and heavily pillaged., The event is not mentioned in Egyptian sources, but it is known from the Assyrian annals, which report that the inhabitants were deported. The Assyrians took a large amount of booty of gold, silver, precious stones, clothing, horses, fantastic animals, and two electrum-covered obelisks weighing 2,500 talents (about 75.5 tons)., The sack of Thebes was a momentous event that reverberated throughout the ancient Near East. It is mentioned in the Book of Nahum, chapter 3, 8-10. A prophecy in the Book of Isaiah also refers to it.
End of reign[]
Subsequently, Tanutamun reigned only over Nubia, the last attestation of this king in Egypt is dated to the year 8 (657 BCE) on a stele from Ipetisut. After the departure of the Assyrian army, Psamtik I gradually took control of the entire territory, with the help of Carian and Ionian mercenaries among others. In the year 11 of his reign (around 654 BCE), Psamtik I took definitive control of the entire Egyptian territory and got rid of Assyrian tutelage.
Tanutamun died sometime after 656 BCE, perhaps around 653 BCE, and Atlanersa, a son of Taharqa, succeeded him.
Autonomy of Thebes[]
Between 670 and 655 BCE, the comings and goings of the Kushite and Assyrian armies led to a vacuum of royal power over Thebes. Thus, the fourth prophet of Amun Montuemhat and the divine worshipper of Amun Shepenupet II took power de facto, the latter being at the origin of an architectural program in Thebes but also in Madju.
For example, in addition to the Ipetisut chapels of Osiris Nebankh/Paushebiad and Osiris Nebdjet where she is depicted with Taharqa, Shepenupet II is depicted alone, that is, without any depiction or mention of a king, in the chapels of Osirisheryibpaished and Osiris Padedankh, both also located at Ipetisut. Moreover, episodes of a Sed-festival of Shepenupet II are depicted in the chapel of Osiris Padedankh.
As for Montuemhat, he appears as a true local prince, displaying on his numerous statues the titles "governor of all Upper Egypt", "grand superior of the entire country", or even "director of the governors of the cities". According to his words: "I was the governor of Thebes, all Upper Egypt was under my authority, the southern border extending to Elephantine, the northern one to Hermopolis ". However, this authority over such a large territory seems rather honorary, the Assyrian sources showing that cities like Thinis, Hermopolis and Zawty were under the authority of local officials.
Architectural activities[]
In addition to his tomb at Men-Qore, Tanoutamon commissioned colossal statues found at Djuamun and Nekhebet-Sen. At Ipetisut, the chapel of Osiris-Ptah located south of the tenth pylon was completed at the beginning of his reign, with decoration showing both Taharqa and Tanoutamon. At the temple of Opet, a large pink granite stele with his name was also found.
Genealogy[]
Tanuthamun appears to be the son of Shabaka and Qalhata., Assyrian documents call Tanuthamun a son of Shabaka and refer to his mother, Qalhata, as a sister of Taharqa. Some Egyptologists have interpreted the Assyrian text as indicating that Tanuthamun was a son of Shebitku, but it is more common today to regard Tanuthamun as a son of Shabaka.
He may have married Malaqaye and her half-sisters Piânkharty and Isetemkhebyt. Taharqa 's son Atlanersa succeeded him but only in his capital of Napata. His descendants are the origin of the pharaohs of Napata and the Meroitic civilization.
Burial[]
Tanoutamon is buried in the royal necropolis of Men-Qore under the pyramid "Ku 16". The tomb of Tantamani was located under a pyramid, now disappeared, on the site of Men-Qore. Only the entrance and the rooms remain, magnificently decorated with wall paintings.