Messuy

Last updated
Messuy
Viceroy of Kush
Predecessor Khaemtir
Successor Seti
Dynasty 19th Dynasty
Pharaoh Merneptah and perhaps Seti II and Amenmesse
BurialTomb at Aniba [1]

Messuy (Messuwy) was Viceroy of Kush, Governor of the South Lands, Scribe of the Tables of the Two Lands during the reign of Merneptah (reigned 1213-1203 BCE) and perhaps Seti II and Amenmesse. [1]

Contents

Viceroy of Kush

Messuy was appointed Viceroy of Kush in year 5 of Merneptah and followed Khaemtir in office. Messuy added many inscription to temples and sites in Nubia, including Amada, Aksha, Amara, Temple of Beit el-Wali, Wadi es-Sebua, and Bigeh Island. [1]

Messuy may have also been the commander of the army that defeated the Nubian rebellion during Merenptah’s reign as mentioned in the Nubian stelae of the king. This could explain why he held the military title “Overseer of the Army of the Viceroy”. [2]

Identification of Messuy with Pharaoh Amenmesse

Rolf Krauss was the first to suggest that Messuy was to be identified with Amenmesse. Kraus conjectured that Messuy had taken power in Southern Egypt after a short reign of Seti-Merneptah, the son and heir of Merneptah. [3] One argument in favor of Viceroy Messuy taking on a royal role is an addition of a Uraeus to the brow of Messuy's depictions in the Temple of Amada. [4] Dodson for instance is a proponent of this theory, but it has not been generally accepted. [1] [5] Others such as Yurco suggest there is no uraeus, but merely weathering of the stone that gives a false impression of one. [1]

Death and Burial

Messuy may have been buried at Aniba_(Nubia). This tomb was excavated and published by Georg Steindorff. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thutmose I</span> Egyptian pharaoh

Thutmose I was the third pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. He received the throne after the death of the previous king, Amenhotep I. During his reign, he campaigned deep into the Levant and Nubia, pushing the borders of Egypt farther than ever before in each region. He also built many temples in Egypt, and a tomb for himself in the Valley of the Kings; he is the first king confirmed to have done this.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Kingdom of Egypt</span> Period in ancient Egyptian history (c. 1570–1069 BC)

The New Kingdom, also called the Egyptian New kingdom Empire, refers to ancient Egypt between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC. This period of ancient Egyptian history covers the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth dynasties. Through radiocarbon dating, the establishment of the New Kingdom has been placed between 1570 BC and 1544 BC. The New Kingdom followed the Second Intermediate Period and was succeeded by the Third Intermediate Period. It was the most prosperous time for the Egyptian people and marked the peak of Egypt's power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seti II</span> Pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty

Seti II was the fifth pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt and reigned from c. 1203 BC to 1197 BC. His throne name, Userkheperure Setepenre, means "Powerful are the manifestations of Re, the chosen one of Re." He was the son of Merneptah and Isetnofret II and occupied the throne during a period known for dynastic intrigue and short reigns, and his rule was no different. Seti II had to deal with many serious plots, most significantly the accession of a rival king named Amenmesse, possibly a half brother, who seized control over Thebes and Nubia in Upper Egypt during his second to fourth regnal years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramesses XI</span> Egyptian pharaoh of the 20th dynasty

Menmaatre Ramesses XI reigned from 1107 BC to 1078 BC or 1077 BC and was the tenth and final pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt and as such, was the last king of the New Kingdom period. He ruled Egypt for at least 29 years although some Egyptologists think he could have ruled for as long as 30. The latter figure would be up to 2 years beyond this king's highest known date of Year 10 of the Whm Mswt era or Year 28 of his reign. One scholar, Ad Thijs, has suggested that Ramesses XI could even have reigned as long as 33 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merneptah</span> Fourth pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt

Merneptah or Merenptah was the fourth pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. According to contemporary historical records, he ruled Egypt for almost ten years, from late July or early August 1213 until his death on 2 May 1203. He was the first royal-born pharaoh since Tutankhamun of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amenmesse</span> Egyptian pharaoh

Amenmesse was the fifth pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty in Ancient Egypt, possibly the son of Merneptah and Queen Takhat. Others consider him to be one of the innumerable sons of Ramesses II. Very little is known about this pharaoh, who ruled Egypt for only three to four years. Various Egyptologists date his reign between 1202 BC–1199 BC or 1203 BC–1200 BC with others giving an accession date of 1200 BC. Amenmesse means "born of or fashioned by Amun" in Egyptian. Additionally, his nomen can be found with the epithet Heqa-waset, which means "Ruler of Thebes". His royal name was Menmire Setepenre.

The former Kingdom of Kerma in Nubia, was a province of ancient Egypt from the 16th century BCE to 11th century BCE. During this period, the polity was ruled by a viceroy who reported directly to the Egyptian Pharaoh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bintanath</span> Ancient Egyptian princess and queen

Bintanath was the firstborn daughter and later Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tausret</span> Pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty

Tausret, also spelled Tawosret or Twosret was the last known ruler and the final pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay (chancellor)</span>

Bay, also called Ramesse Khamenteru, was an important Asiatic official in ancient Egypt, who rose to prominence and high office under Seti II Userkheperure Setepenre and later became an influential powerbroker in the closing stages of the 19th Dynasty. He used to be possibly identified with Irsu mentioned in the Great Harris Papyrus, although no contemporary source connects Bay with Irsu and the connection has since been disproven due to the differences in the years that they died.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siptah</span> Pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty

Akhenre Setepenre Siptah or Merneptah Siptah was the penultimate ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. His father's identity is currently unknown. Both Seti II and Amenmesse have been suggested although the fact that Siptah later changed his royal name or nomen to Merneptah Siptah after his Year 2 suggests rather that his father was Merneptah. If correct, this would make Siptah and Seti II half-brothers since both of them were sons of Merneptah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takhat</span> Kings Wife

Takhat was an ancient Egyptian princess and queen of the 19th Dynasty, the mother of the usurper pharaoh Amenmesse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple of Amada</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in New Amada, Egypt

The Temple of Amada, is one of the oldest Egyptian Temples in Nubia. It was constructed during the 18th Dynasty by Pharaoh Thutmose III. It is one of the oldest Egyptian buildings still present along Lake Nasser. In total, three generations contributed to building the temple. Minor modifications continued into the 19th Dynsaty. The temple was dedicated to Amun-Ra and Horakhty-Ra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nubia</span> Region in northern Sudan and southern Egypt

Nubia is a region along the Nile river encompassing the confluence of the Blue and White Niles, and the area between the first cataract of the Nile or more strictly, Al Dabbah. It was the seat of one of the earliest civilizations of ancient Africa, the Kerma culture, which lasted from around 2500 BC until its conquest by the New Kingdom of Egypt under Pharaoh Thutmose I around 1500 BC, whose heirs ruled most of Nubia for the next 400 years. Nubia was home to several empires, most prominently the Kingdom of Kush, which conquered Egypt in the eighth century BC during the reign of Piye and ruled the country as its 25th Dynasty.

Paser I was the Viceroy of Kush during the reigns of Ay and likely Horemheb. Reisner mentions that the only datable inscriptions for Paser belong to the reign of Ay. The next known Viceroy however is Amenemopet, who is dated to the reign of Seti I. Hence it's possible that Paser I served during the reigns of Ay, Horemheb.

Khaemtir was a Viceroy of Kush and Vizier of Ancient Egypt. He served during the reign of Amenmesse and Seti II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aniba (Nubia)</span> Village in Nubia, ancient Egyptian archaeological site

Aniba was a village in Nubia, about 230 km south of Aswan. The place is today flooded by Lake Nasser. In ancient times it was an important town called Miam. The region around the town was one of the most fertile in Lower Nubia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heqanefer</span> Ancient Egyptian official in Nubia

Heqanefer was an ancient Egyptian official in the New Kingdom under king Tutankhamun, who was a local governor with the title Chief of Miam. In the New Kingdom, Egyptian kings had conquered Lower Nubia. To secure control over the new region they appointed people of the local elite as governors. Miam was a town in Lower Nubia, a regional center and capital of the Nubian provinces. Here also resided the Chief of Miam. Heqanefer is known from his badly preserved rock cut tomb found at Toshka. Here he is depicted as Egyptian.

New Amada is a promontory located near Aswan in Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">End of the 19th Dynasty</span>

The end of the 19th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt is a period of short-reigning rulers c. 1203–1187 BC. After the death of Merneptah, there was a conflict for the throne between Seti II and Amenmesse, which eventually resulted in the victory of Seti II. Seti II's reign was short, as he died within a year of regaining power. His widow, Tausret, took control with the support of Bay and the puppet Pharaoh Siptah. However, Tausret later eliminated Bay, and Siptah died under mysterious circumstances. This soon triggered a new power struggle between Tausret and Setnakhte. The struggle culminated in the triumph of Setnakhte, who is now remembered as the founder of the 20th Dynasty.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Yurco, Frank J.; Was Amenmesse the Viceroy of Kush, Messuwy?, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 34 (1997), pp. 49-56. JSTOR   40000798.
  2. Abbas, Mohamed, Historical Observations on the Military Role of Three Ramesside Viceroys of Kush, pp. 37–38
  3. Krauss, Rolf; "Untersuchungen zu Konig Amenmesse," 1. teil, Studien zur Altdgyptischen Kultur 4 (1976), 161-99; idem, "Untersuchungen zu Konig Amenmesse," 2. teil, SAKb (1977), 131-74. (reference from Yurco's 1977 article).
  4. Dodson, Aidan, Messuy, Amada, and Amenmesse.Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 34 (1997), pp. 41-48. JSTOR   40000797.
  5. Dodson, Poisoned Legacy: The Fall of the Nineteenth Egyptian Dynasty, American University in Cairo Press, 2010.
  6. Steindorff, Georg; Aniba, 3 vols. Mission Archeologique de Nubie 1929-1934 (Gluckstadt: J. J. Augustin, 1935-37), 1, p. 79, tomb S90, p. 198, tomb S90, 2, p. 58, SA36, plate 34, no. 6 door post with text of Messuwy. (reference via Yurco's article).