COMPENDIUM OF WORLD HISTORY
VOLUME 1
A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the Ambassador College Graduate
School of Theology In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Theology
by Herman L. Hoeh
1962(1963-1965, 1967 Edition)
CHAPTER EIGHT
Egypt to the Persian Conquest
The next big surprise in Egyptian history is the dating of Ramesses the Great
and Dynasty XIX. Few scholars were willing to consider the evidence, presented
in 1945, for dating Ramesses about seven centuries later than the conventional
dating (see 'Theses for the Reconstruction of Ancient History,' 'Scripta Academica-Hierosolymitana',
Scientific Report III, by Immanuel Velikovsky).
Ramesses the Great was a contemporary of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon!
The king of Hatti whom Ramesses fought at Kadesh was the Chaldean king Nebuchadnezzar.
At the rise of Babylon to a world power, Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Hatti
-- the ancient name of Syria, Palestine and a portion of Asia Minor.
The site of the battle of Kadesh, which Ramesses made so famous in his monuments,
was not a city on the Orontes River in Syria, but the famous city of Carchemish.
Kadesh is a Semitic word for 'holy.' Kadesh was a holy city. A number of cities
in the ancient world bore the name Kadesh because they were holy places. Carchemish
was famous -- as was Jerusalem -- as a holy city. The Greek name of Carchemish
was Hieropolis, meaning Holy City.
Before proceeding with the detailed relationship between Ramesses and Nebuchadnezzar,
we should first establish the chronology of the period from Manetho's transcribers.
The exact dating of Dynasty XVIII (and preceding dynasties) has been established
and confirmed by the Biblical record. Dynasty XIX follows Dynasty XVIII -- and
therefore ruled in the eighth, seventh and sixth centuries B.C.
The following table establishes the proper chronology of the period.
| Names of Kings of Dynasty XVIII after 773 B.C. and of
Dynasty XIX from Eusebius |
Lengths of Reign |
Date |
|
Ramesses
|
68
|
771-705
|
|
Ammenophis
|
40
|
705-665
|
|
Sethos (Seti I)
|
55
|
665-610
|
|
Rampses (Ramesses the Great)
|
66
|
610-544
|
|
Ammenephthis (Merenptah)
|
8
|
544-536
|
|
Ammenemes
|
5 (See Africanus' epitome)
|
536-531
|
|
Thuoris, whose husband was Sethos II
|
7
|
531-524
|
The Egyptian year at this period began January 1 531 B.C. and January 1,
524 B.C. This makes the calendar year 525 the last full year of Thuoris. With
Queen Thuoris, a contemporary of Psamtik III, this royal line of Egypt and Nubia
died out as Ezekiel foretold.
Dynasty XIX has been greatly confused in history books because historians
carelessly discarded Manetho. They confounded several Ramesses in Manetho's
list into one. It will be proofd later that the Ramesses who ruled from 773
to 705 was the Ethiopian Piankhi. Modern historians have long assumed Manetho
overlooked him. He didn't. Ramesses (773-705) is not a mere duplicate of Rampses
(610-544). They are two different individuals.
The last documented year of Ramesses the Great recorded on any monument in
Egypt is year 44 -- 567-566. The dynasty withdrew to Nubia following Nebuchadnezzar's
attack on Egypt.
The 'Israel' Inscription
This restoration of history for the first time makes sense out of the Egyptian
account of 'Israel' under Ramesses' son, Merenptah.
The name 'Israel' has been clearly found only once in all Egyptian annals.
This illustrates how inadequate is archaeology when used as the whole source
of knowledge. The single inscription appears from the reign of Merenptah, son
of Ramesses the Great. It is often referred to as the 'Israel Stela.' The reference
to Israel is as follows:
'... Plundered is the Canaan with every evil;
'Carried off is Ashkelon; seized upon is Gezer; ...
'Israel is laid waste, his seed is not ....'
(See Pritchard, 'Ancient Near Eastern Texts', page 378.)
It is to be specially noted that in the Egyptian text all names are preceded
with a determinative sign meaning land, except for the name of Israel. The hieroglyphic
determinative which precedes the name of Israel refers to people, not land.
The record of Merenptah is therefore a historical account of the disappearance
of the people of Israel from Palestine. This was never completely fulfilled
until the captivity of the House of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar!
For decades historians have attempted to read into this document an account
of the exodus, or of Joshua's invasion! Utter nonsense! It is a contemporary
record of the deportation of the last remnant of the people of Israel from Palestine.
The 'Thirteen Fatal Years'
In Josephus' 'Contra Apionem', I, 26-31, there is a remarkable account of
Egyptian calumnies against the Jews involving this period. The story involves
'thirteen fatal years,' and foreign invaders who polluted the Egyptian religious
temples. The Egyptian Manetho made it appear that the enemies of Egypt were
the Jews. The enemies were not the Jews but the Assyrians who sent their troops
into Egypt, conquered the land and polluted its religious worship.
The setting of the event is during the time of an Amenophis. Josephus doubted
such an individual lived. Josephus was correct in assuming the account was propaganda
against Jews, but he was incorrect in denying the historical reality of the
personages involved. Amenophis, king of Egypt, had, at the beginning of the
thirteen years of exile, a five-year-old son Sethos. Young Sethos was named
Ramesses after his grandfather. Amenophis was subject to the Ethiopian king,
Manetho reports.
The grandfather Ramesses is the Ramesses who rules from 773-705. The Amenophis
is his son who ruled during the years 705-665 (including the 13-year exile).
The 5-year old son is Sethos (665-610), father of Ramesses the Great. The period
is the Assyrian occupation during Dynasty XXV.
Nebuchadnezzar and Ramesses the Great
As final proof of the dating of Ramesses' reign to 610-544, notice the parallels
between Egypt and Chaldaea. The history of Chaldaea for this period is best
summarized in the 'Chronicles of the Chaldaean Kings' 626-556 (B.C.), edited
by D.J. Wiseman, 1956 edition. Egyptian source material may be found in J.H.
Breasted's 'Ancient Records of Egypt', vol. III.
From these Chaldaean and Egyptian records the following events are extracted.
|
Egyptian:
|
Chaldaean:
|
|
607-606 -- fourth year of Ramesses, Egyptians march through Palestine,
slay Josiah of Judah, and reach Kadesh (Carchemish) on Euphrates.
|
607-606 -- year nineteen of Nabopolassar, father of Nebuchadnezzar,
Chaldaeans march up Euphrates, seize Kimuhu on banks of the river near
Carchemish.
|
|
606-605 -- fifth year of Ramesses, Egyptians record spectacular victory
in vicinity of Kadesh (Carchemish) over ruler of Hatti (Syria).
|
606-605 -- Babylonian Chronicle reports for twentieth year of Nabopolassar:
'... the army of Egypt came to the city of Kumuhu and then captured
the city.' 'The Egyptian army which had crossed the Euphrates at Carchemish
came against the Babylonian army ... the Babylonian army withdrew quickly
and retreated.'
|
|
605-604 -- Ramesses silent about events in Syria and Palestine.
|
605-604 -- Egyptian army smashed at Carchemish. Chaldaeans seize
'the whole area of the Hatti country.'
|
|
604-603 -- Ramesses again silent about events in Palestines
|
604-603 -- Chaldaeans capture Judah and city of Ashkelon in land
of Philistines.
|
|
603-602 -- eighth year -- Ramesses reconquers Ash-kelon, overruns
Galilee and proceeds to Carchemish. Breasted comments in a footnote:
'At some time between the fifth and eighth years all Palestine ... revolted
against Ramses II, and he was obliged to take up the reconquest of his
Asiatic possessions, at his very door, Ashkelon' (pp. 157-158). Ramesses
records nothing of the outcome of his march to Carchemish (Kadesh)except
that he received tribute upon reaching the Euphrates.
|
603-602 -- in spring of year 603 Chaldaeans marched to land of Hatti
with a powerful army. employ siege towers against a city whose name
is broken away on the clay tablet. A notable victory is achieved. Jeremiah
46:2 comes to our aid. This victory was achieved at Carchemish -- it
is the second battle for Carchemish (historians have only taken note
of the first The Egyptians are totally overthrown. (Who Pharaoh Necho
was in the Biblical account will be explained later.)
|
|
601-600 -- a damaged monument seems to refer to year 10 of Ramesses
and a struggle for Palestine (see p. 125 of Breasted's work, vol. III).
|
601-600 -- Chaldaean chronicle records: the king 'took the lead of
his army and marched to Egypt. The king of Egypt heard (it) and mustered
his army. In open battle they smote the breast (of) each other and inflicted
great havoc on each other. The king ... turned back and returned to
Babylon.'
|
Here is historical confirmation of astounding significance. We have proceeded
with the restoration of Egyptian history from its earliest period. That restoration
required that Ramesses the Great be placed in the seventh and sixth centuries
B.C. -- contemporary with Nebuchadnezzar. And when the pages of history are
opened for those centuries. the parallels are there!
In conclusion. note the deeds of Ramesses 'the Great' found on the monuments
under the name of Tirhakah, in classical tradition a contemporary of Nebuchadnezzar.
Inscriptions found upon certain reliefs at Medinet-Habu -- the Pylon of the
Ethiopians -- record the statement that a king Tirhakah claimed sovereignty
over Western Mesopotamia, the land of Hatti, part of Assyria, as well as Libya
and other regions of Africa (G. Daressy, 'Medinet Habou', page 9). Scholars
immediately recognized this vast realm was unhistorical for the Tirhakah of
Dynasty XXV. The list was pronounced 'worthless.' Then Mariette discerned that
the same record appeared elsewhere on the base of a colossal statue of Ramesses
II. (See Mariette's 'Karnak', page 67, plate 18.) Mariette refused to believe
his eyes. But there was the evidence: This Tirhakah was indeed Ramesses 'the
Great.'
'Curiously enough,' admits E.A. Wallis Budge in 'A History of Egypt', vol.
VI, page 157, 'Tirhakah obtained the reputation of being a great traveller and
conqueror, and Strabo, under the name of 'Tearko the Ethiopian,' mentions him
... as one whose expeditions were not generally known.' (See 'Strabo', book
I, chapter 3, part 21.) 'In another place he quotes Megasthenes, who says that
... Tearko the Ethiopian advanced as far as Europe ....' (See 'Strabo', book
XV, chapter 1, part 6.)
Catching Up Loose Ends
Now to complete the restoration of Dynasty XIX from archaeology and Manetho's
transcribers. According to Eusebius, Manetho assigns 8 years (544-536) to Ammenephthis
(known as Merenptah from archaeology). In Syncellus' copy of Eusebius' epitome
of Manetho the figure given is 40 years -- that is 576-536. Now see this confirmed
from archaeological sources:
| Names of Ramesses and Successors from Monuments |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Ramesses
|
67
|
610-543
|
|
Merenptah
|
10
|
576-566
|
|
Sethos II
|
6
|
543-537
|
|
Siptah
|
6
|
537-531
|
|
Twosre, a queen and widow of Sethos II (Thuoris in book of Sothis)
|
7
|
531-524
|
Compare this chart, based on archaeological evidence, with the record of
Manetho. The reign of Merenptah (Ammenephthis) is given as 8 years in the Armenian
version of Eusebius. This eight year period followed the reign of Ramesses.
But Syncellus' copy of Eusebius' Manetho reads 40 years. Merenptah therefore
reigned jointly with his father Ramesses for 32 years. Since the 10-year reign
of Merenptah is recorded in Egypt, and not solely in Nubia, these ten years
are Merenptah's first ten years -- 576-566. Merenptah continued his reign in
Nubia after Egypt was depopulated between 570 and 566 by the Chaldaeans.
The reign of Ramesses in Nubia was followed by those of Sethos II, Siptah
and Twosre. All the historical inscriptions of Siptah are Nubian graffiti, primarily
from Wadi Halfa. Here again is confirmation of Ezekiel's prophecy of Egypt's
40-year desolation (Eze. 29:8-16).
The tombs of these rulers are all found in Egypt. The explanation is simple.
Manetho's longer figures indicate that each began to reign in Egypt jointly
with Ramesses before the land became desolate. Notice these additional figures
from Manetho confirming the joint reigns!
| Names of Rulers of Dynasty XIX according to Africanus |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Sethos
|
51
|
656-605
|
|
Rapsaces (Ramesses the Great)
|
61
|
605-544
|
|
Ammenephthis (Merenptah)
|
20
|
557-537
|
|
Ramesses (Siptah -- in contemporary records his name is spelled Ramesse-siptah)
|
60
|
591-531
|
|
Ammenemnes
|
26 (according to Eusebius)
|
557-531
|
|
Thuoris (Twosre)
|
50 (from book of Sothis)
|
574-524
|
For the date 656 marking the beginning of the reign of Sethos, see Gardiner's
'Egypt of the Pharaohs', p. 450, especially the comment on the reign of Tanuatamun.
With this, the restoration of Dynasty XIX has been completed. But what are
we to do with all the other dynastic houses which, historians say, ruled Egypt
during these centuries? And who is that other long-lived Ramesses dated 773-705?
Dynasty XXV, the Ethiopians
Drop back in time to the end of the eighth century B.C. This is the period
of Ethiopian rule of Egypt. The evidence from Assyrian sources for the proper
dating of this period is so overwhelming historians have been unable to upset
it.
From archaeological discoveries the reigns of the recognized kings of Dynasty
XXV appear as follows:
| Names from the Monuments and Stelae |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Shabako
|
15
|
707-692
|
|
Shebitku
|
3
|
692-689
|
|
Taharka
|
26
|
689-663
|
In 663 Thebes was sacked by the Assyrian king Assurbanipal. In 663 Taharka
was succeeded by another Ethiopian Bakare Tanuatamun, whom the Assyrians named
Urdamane. Archaeology has recovered indications of only 8 regnal years, but
the history of Dynasty XXVI of Sais preserves evidence that his reign following
the destruction of Thebes was 9 years -- 663-654.
The account of Dynasty XXV from Eusebius provides additional information
of joint rulership not discovered by archaeologists.
| Names of Dynasty XXV in Eusebius |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Sabacon
|
12
|
707-695
|
|
Sebichos
|
12
|
695-683
|
|
Taracus
|
20
|
683-663
|
The name of Tanuatamun does not appear in the dynasty. In the book of Sothis
the names are as follows: 75 Sabacon; 76 Sebechon; 77 Taraces. The lengths of
reign are those of Eusebius.
A comparison of Eusebius' Manetho with archaeological finds indicates Shabako
and Shebitku reigned as equals for 3 years -- 695-692, as did Shebitku and Taharka
for 6 years -- 689-683.
The account of Africanus differs somewhat from that of Eusebius.
| Names of Dynasty XXV in Africanus |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Sabacon
|
8
|
705-697
|
|
Sebichos
|
14
|
697-683
|
|
Tarcus
|
18
|
683-665
|
The shorter reign of Sabacon will be explained later by the 46-year reign
of Bochchoris, preserved by Eusebius. Thus:
|
Bochchoris
|
46
|
751-705
|
|
Sabacon
|
8
|
705-697
|
In Africanus it may be observed that Sebichos (Shebitku) is found associated
on the throne in 697, two years earlier than the coregency indicated by Eusebius.
A Biblical parallel may be observed in the relationship of Jehoshaphat and Jehoram.
Jehoshaphat associated his son Jehoram on the throne with him in year 17, but
it was not till year 22 that he was made full co-regent (compare I Kings 22
with II Kings 1 and 8).
Again these figures illustrate that if all the information is available,
the records fit perfectly.
Scribal errors are not the cause of the variations. More important is the
individual author's evaluation of events which leads him to emphasize different
dates.
The short 18-year reign of Taharka (to 665 instead of 663) is easily accounted
for by Egyptian and Assyrian information. Two years after Assurbanipal attacked
Memphis (667) the Assyrian records indicate Tanuatamun came to the throne. He
was king of Egypt during the final Assyrian attack on Thebes in 663. Though
archaeology has provided no documents mentioning a joint reign, the classical
writers plainly confirm the Assyrian record. Taharka and Tanuatamun were ruling
jointly for two years: 665-663. With the end of the reign of Tanuatamun the
last vestiges of Ethiopian control of Egypt cease.
Dynasty XXVI of Sais
The Ethiopian rule over Lower Egypt ended in 663 with the end of the reign
of Taharka. Thereafter It passed to Dynasty XIX. In Lower Egypt in that year
Dynasty XXVI of Sais rose to power. It was established by Assyrian authority,
but its rulers were, to some extent, related to the Ethiopian Theban line by
marriage. From the monument the following list of kings, parallel with Dynast;
XIX Thebes in Upper Egypt, has been firmly established.
| Names of Kings of Dynasty XXVI of Sais in Lower Egypt |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
(Taharka)
|
(26)
|
(689-663)
|
|
Psamtik I
|
54
|
663-609
|
|
Necho
|
16
|
609-593
|
|
Psamtik II
|
5
|
593-588
|
|
Apries (Hophra)
|
19
|
588-569
|
|
Ahmose II (Amasis)
|
44
|
569-525
|
|
Psamtik III
|
6 months
|
525
|
The Persian invasion occurred in the year 525 and the line of Egyptian royalty
passed from the scene. The princes that had ruled Egypt for centuries ceased.
At this point the proof of the restoration of Egyptian history is established.
It agrees to the very year -- from the Tower of Babel in 2254 to the Persian
conquest in 525.
Though the archaeological record for the last Saite dynasty is amply demonstrated,
some scholars have been puzzled by the dating of the last king Psamtik. A record
early in his year 2 has been found. The answer is, of course, that he counted
the 44th year of Amasis, during which he came to the throne, as his first year.
This method of pre-dating hereafter became the usual mode of reckoning the Persian
rulers in native annals. Psamtik's six months of reign overlapped the end of
one calendar year and the beginning of the next, hence the date 'year 2' during
which he was overthrown.
The classical writers preserve some important additional information concerning
Dynasty XXVI that is not known from archaeology.
Manetho's Account of Dynasty XXVI
The evidence from Herodotus is especially valuable, as it gives a fuller
view of joint reigns of the various kings. His information for the reign of
Apries, the Hophra of the Bible, is as follows:
| Name of King |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Psammetichos I (Psamtik)
|
54
|
663-609
|
|
Nechao II
|
16
|
610-594
|
|
Psammetichos II
|
6
|
594-588
|
|
Apries
|
25
|
594-569
|
|
Amasls
|
44
|
569-525
|
|
Psammetichos III
|
6 months
|
525
|
The overlap of Necho II is insignificant. But it is worthy of note that Herodotus
pictures Apries and Psammetichos exercising power from the same year. Both Africanus
and Eusebius preserve a short reign of 6 years for Necho II, and Eusebius assigns
17 to Psammetichos. Thus:
|
Nechao II
|
6
|
610-604
|
|
Psammetichos
|
17
|
604-587
|
Psammetichos died in the early part of 588, near the beginning of his 17th
calendar year. From this it appears that Psammetichos and his father Necho shared
the throne jointly for 10 years -- 604-594.
In Eusebius' 'Chronicon' another set of regnal years (though improperly dated)
is preserved for Apries and Psammetichos:
|
Psammetichos II
|
12
|
599-587
|
|
Apries
|
30
|
599-569
|
Here again one sees that Apries exercised equal authority with Psammetichos
II even prior to his sole reign, whatever the significance of the year 599 may
be.
Eusebius has two other variants of historical significance. He assigns Amasis
42 years only 567-525 -- dated from his expulsion by the Chaldaeans to Cyprus.
Also, Eusebius assigns for the Theban reign of Psammetichos I 45 years (according
to Syncellus) and 44 in the Armenian Version. These may be easily understood
if 9 years (to be proofd from book of Sothis) are assigned to Tanutamun, nephew
of Taharka, and if 610 and 609 are considered the beginnings of the reign of
Necho II. It should be remembered that Psamtik I ruled in Lower Egypt nine years
before his first year at Thebes commenced.
|
Tanuatamun
|
9
|
663-654
|
or
|
9
|
663-654
|
|
Psammetichos I
|
45
|
654-609
|
44
|
654-610
|
|
Nechao II
|
15
|
609-594
|
16
|
610-594
|
These are not scribal blunders, but consistent evaluations based upon different
points of view. Some dates are predated, others postdated. The year 610 is predated.
It marks the year in which Ramesses the Great, Necho's contemporary, rose to
power. Dynasty XIX of Thebes and Dynasty XXVI of Sais were undoubtedly related.
Their kings participated on joint ventures -- as, for example, the wars of Ramesses
and Necho with Nebuchadnezzar.
Before the reign of Psamtik I, Manetho preserves a number of kings not included
in archaeological lists. From Africanus the following list may be drawn up.
| Names of Rulers of Dynasty XXVI |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Stephinates
|
7
|
684-677
|
|
Nechepsos
|
6
|
677-671
|
|
Nechao I (whom the Assyrians appointed in 671)
|
8
|
671-663
|
Eusebius adds the following extra information from Manetho not preserved
by Africanus:
|
Names of Rulers of Dynasty XXVI
|
Lengths of Reign
|
Dates
|
|
Ammeris the Ethiopian
|
12
|
696-684
|
|
('Ameres' in Armenian Verion)
|
18 (in Armenian Version)
|
702-684
|
The remainder of the list is the same as Africanus'.
Book of Sothis and Dynasty XXVI
Before restoring other dynasties of this period, look at the book of Sothis.
It ends with additional figures for the Saite dynasty. It appears so divergent
from all other records that it has been totally rejected. Yet its details agree
with this restoration of history. In the following chart the dates have been
inserted, after which they will be analyzed.
Names in Book of Sothis
|
Lengths of Reign
|
Dates
|
|
77 Taraces (Takarka II)
|
20
|
683-663
|
|
78 Amaes (Tanautamun)
|
38
|
692-654
|
|
79 Stephinathes
|
27
|
684-657
|
|
80 Nechepsus
|
13
|
684-671
|
|
81 Nechao
|
8
|
671-663
|
|
82 Psammetichus
|
14
|
648-634
|
|
83 Nechao II
|
9
|
609-600
|
|
84 Psamuthes II
|
17
|
604-587
|
|
85 Uaphris (Hophra)
|
34
|
600-566
|
|
86 Amosis (Amasis)
|
50
|
575-525
|
Several of these dates are in chronological order, others are not. In numerous
instances the reigns apparently indicate the total length of public service.
They take on meaning only after a consecutive chronology for the period has
been established.
What is the significance of Nechepsos' 13-year reign? According to Manetho,
his 7-years' reign ended in 671 at the Assyrian invasion of Esarhaddon. The
13 years of his reign must therefore precede that date. His reign parallels
that of Stephinathes, beginning 684.
In the Sothic list Amaes is given as the successor of Taharka. (The break
in continuity occurs after Amaes' name, not before.) Tanuatamun was his Egyptian
name. Urdamane is the name in Assyrian. He was the son of Shebitku and nephew
of Taharka. He reigned as late as calendar year 655-654 according to Manetho.
His 38-year reign would therefore extend from 692-654. It is significant that
in 692 Shebitku assumed control of the government according to the archaeological
record of Dynasty XXV. Shebitku then associated his son on the throne with him
when he came to power.
Necho II's 9 years of reign in the book of Sothis immediately precedes an
unusual 34 years of Hophra. This evidence indicates that Hophra, or Apries,
assumed powers of government in 600. It explains the emphasis placed by one
account of Eusebius on the next (postdated) year -- 599 -- as the commencement
of the reign of both Psamtik II and Apries.
But did Hophra live into the calendar year 567-566? Indeed he did. His death
is recorded on the Elephantine Stela as occurring in Year 3 of Amasis. Amasis'
year 3 was from 567-566. The 50-year reign of Amasis is obviously his sole rule
and co-regency.
And what is the origin of the unusual dating of Psammetichus? For an explanation
we must turn to an earlier portion of the Book of Sothis.
Another Look at Book of Sothis
The account commences with the end of Dynasty XVIII.
| Names in Book of Sothis |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
47 Ramesses Aegyptus
|
68
|
770-702
|
|
48 Amenophis
|
8
|
702-694
|
|
49 Thuoris
|
17
|
694-677
|
|
50 Nechepsos
|
19
|
677-648
|
|
51 Psammuthis
|
13
|
648-635
|
|
52 --- (no name)
|
4
|
635-631
|
|
53 Certos
|
20
|
631-611
|
|
54 Rampsis (Ramesses 'the Great')
|
45
|
611-566
|
This unusual list seems clearly to be based on political events and royal
family relationships otherwise unrecorded. Notice the reign of Psammuthis (Psammetichus),
beginning in 648. Observe also the date 702. Compare this with the 18-year reign
of Ameres from Eusebius' version of Manetho's Dynasty XXVI presented earlier.
Ameris the Ethiopian succeeded Ramesses-Piankhi the Ethiopian in 702.
Now turn back Egyptian history to the beginning of the Ethiopian period in
Egypt.
Appearance of Dynasty XXIV of Sais
Immediately before the reign of Shabako of Dynasty XXV the city of Sais,
in the Delta, became prominent in politics. Its dynasty is famous for one man,
Bochchoris. His father Tefnakhte was of much less importance. The classical
writers mention only Bochchoris. Archaeologists recovered the name of Tefnachte.
The total duration of Dynasty XXIV was 44 years.
Africanus assigns only 6 years to Bochchoris, but Eusebius and the book of
Sothis each attribute 44 years to him. The variation allows for a simple explanation.
Tefnakhte, Bochchoris' father, was a local prince before he became king. At
the time he rose to kingship he associated his son with him on the throne. Tefnachte
must have survived 38 years. The dates of the dynasty are as follows:
| Name of King |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Bochchoris, or Bocchoris (the Bekenrinef of archaeology)
|
44
|
751-707
|
or
|
Tefnakhte
|
38
|
751-713
|
|
Bocchoris
|
6
|
713-707
|
The end of the official reign of Bochchoris is 707.
In one document Eusebius indicates Bochchoris survived two more years, for
he assigns 46 years to his entire reign -- 751-705.
Africanus informs us that Bochchoris was captured by his successor Sabacon
(Shabako).
Who Was Usimare Piankhi?
The pages of history must be turned back a few years again to establish the
identity of the Ethiopian Usimare Piankhi, of Dynasty XXV, the immediate predecessor
of Shabako, who ruled over all Egypt in the eighth century before the present
era. By archaeologists Piankhi is determined to be the father of Taharka (689-663),
and of Shebitku (692-689), and the brother of Shabako (perhaps the English 'half-brother'
would be more correct).
All archaeologists have expressed surprise that Manetho would have neglected
so famous a ruler! But Manetho did not neglect him! The annals of Usimare Pianki
reveal who he was.
No archaeologist professes to know when Piankhi obtained control of Egypt.
They do know, however, that in the year 21 of his reign a rebellion broke out
in Egypt against his rule. (Breasted, 'Ancient Records', vol. IV, page 418).
The leader of the revolt was Tefnakhte, the father of Bochchoris. In the Piankhi
stela Tefnakhte is commencing his rise to power; he is not yet a king. His official
title is only great prince. Upon hearing of the attempt to seize the Delta,
Usimare Piankhi ordered his troops in Egypt to quell the rebels, while he remained
in Napata, Nubia. The revolt was not quelled. Then, in the succeeding year (see
Breasted's footnote on the dating in the Piankhi Stela), Piankhi himself led
an expedition and drove Tefnakhte into the marshes of the Delta. An agreement
was finally signed before the two, and local autonomy seems to have been granted
Tefnakhte, the founder of Dynasty XXIV.
Now turn to the tables of the rulers of Dynasty XXIV of Sais. The 21st and
22nd calendar years of Piankhi's reign must have preceded the first year of
Tefnakhte rulership (751-750) for in Piankhi's inscriptions Tefnakhte was not
yet king. Here are the limits. The 21st and 22nd years of Usimare Piankhi must
not be later than 751. What famous king was in Egypt already in control of Egypt
in these years, whose 21st year was 753-752 and whose 22nd year was 752-751
at the latest?
Only one! Ramesses Aegyptus at the end of Dynasty XVIII of Manetho. Ramesses
Aegyptus (773-707) was of the Cushite line of Sheba that had been ruling Egypt
from Solomon's day. They had intermarried for generations with Egyptians. Piankhi
was also a Cushite or Ethiopian ruling Egypt. Archaeologists have discovered
his Ethiopian name. They have completely overlooked the fact that Manetho mentioned
him under his Egyptian name.
Archaeological evidence indicates that Ramesses-Piankhi made Napata in Nubia
his royal city, ruling Egypt from Thebes. The other kings of Dynasty XVIII who
succeeded Ay also must have made Nubia their center of operations, since archaeologists
have not been able to find evidence for them in Egypt. They have ruled through
General Haremhab.
Now consider what occurred in Lower Egypt prior to the Dynasty of Tefnakhte
and Bochchoris of Sais.
Dynasty XXIII of Tanis
Dynasty XXIV of Sais was preceded in Lower Egypt by Dynasty XXIII of Tanis.
Here are the facts surrounding the new royal family ruling in Lower Egypt while
the Thebans of Dynasties XVIII and XIX ruled from Upper Egypt. In the following
table 'A' and 'E' stand for Africanus and Eusebius.
| Kings of Dynasty XXIII |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Petubastis (E) or
|
25 (E)
|
794-769
|
|
Petubates (A)
|
40 (A)
|
794-754
|
|
|
Osorthon (E) or
|
9 (E)
|
770-761
|
|
Osorcho (A)
|
8 (A)
|
769-761
|
|
|
Psammus
|
10
|
761-751
|
|
Zet (only in A)
|
31 (A), or
|
751-720
|
|
34 (A)
|
754-720
|
For the dynasty the book of Sothis provides the following:
|
Names in Book of Sothis
|
Lengths of Reign
|
Dates
|
|
68 Petubastes
|
44
|
794-750
|
|
69 Osorthon
|
9
|
770-761
|
|
70 Psammus
|
10
|
761-751
|
These figures may, at first, seem confusing. They can be immediately simplified
by the following arrangements.
|
Petubastis
|
25
|
794-769
|
or
|
Petubastis
|
40
|
794-754
|
|
Osorthon
|
8
|
769-761
|
|
|
Psammus
|
10
|
761-751
|
Zet
|
34
|
754-720
|
|
Zet
|
31
|
751-720
|
The year of overlap of Osorthon with Petubastis is probably the result of
the co-regency having commenced during the 25th year.
This dynasty is very important in Greek history. Africanus wrote of Petubates:
'in his reign of the Olympic festival was first celebrated' ('Manetho', by Waddell,
page 161). The Olympic festival commenced in 776, about the middle of Pedubastes'
reign.
Further, Osorthon, or Osorcho, was by the 'Egyptians called Heracles.' In
Greek history, Heracles lived three generations before the famous Trojan War.
He was also the originator of the Olympic games. No historian has ever been
able to reconcile these two facts. The reason? None recognize that there were
two major Trojan Wars -- one ending 1181, the other over 500 years later in
677. The full story of this dynasty and of the Trojan War must wait the restoration
of Greek history.
Documents have been found dated to year 6 of Pedubast and year 12 of an unnamed
king, and to year 16 of Pedubast and year 2 of Yewepet. Yewepet was king of
Mendes, but none of the Mendesian dynasties have been recorded by Manetho. These
parallel datings with Mendesian kings are of value in dating Piankhi contemporary
with Dynasty XXIII of Tanis. (See references in Gardiner's 'Egypt of the Pharaoh's',
page 449; 'L'Egypte', by Drioton and Vandier, vol. II, page 542, Elgood, 'Later
Dynasties of Egypt', page 52.)
Eusebius, unlike Africanus, ended Dynasty XXIII of Tanis with the reign of
Psammus in 751, at which point he took up the Dynasty of Sais.
The date of 794 for the beginning of Dynasty XXIII is undoubtedly associated
with events in the reigns of Acherres (802-794) and Cherres (794-779). But neither
history nor archaeology has preserved any worthwhile events for this period.
In Manetho, Dynasty XXIII of Tanis was preceded by a royal family of foreign
origin. It was Libyan, numbered Dynasty XXII and ruled from Bubastis.
Dynasty XXII of Bubastis
Few points in Egyptian history are more misunderstood than this dynasty.
Archaeologists have turned up a wealth of information pertaining to Libyans
from Bubastis. But they have failed to notice that their kingly line is utterly
different in number and sequence from Manetho's. First, one must compare Manetho
with history. Then the archaeological evidence must be examined.
Diodorus of Sicily tells us that during the reign of Horus the Libyans from
North Africa west of Egypt came into Egypt during the expansion of their realm
and dominated the land. That Horus is the Orus of the Greeks the Akhenaton of
Dynasty XVIII!
In the previous investigation of this dynasty it should be noted that Orus
or Akhenaton actually lived longer than the mere 17-years assigned to his reign
by archaeological investigation. Manetho assigns him a reign that even outlasts
Ay. This explains several enigmas that historians have puzzled over.
The most plausible moment for the Libyans to have established their dynasty
would be just after the death of Ay, in 837, while Akhenaton (Orus) still lived.
At this moment in history a curtain of silence descends on the family of Akhenaton.
How long Libyan control in lower Egypt lasted may be determined by examining
Assyrian records of Egypt. When Essarhaddon and Assurbanipal invaded the land
of Egypt in 671-663 they found no Libyan dynasty ruling at Bubastis. But 90
years earlier Piankhi the Ethiopian specifically names a Libyan as king in Bubastis.
(See Pritchard's 'Ancient Near Eastern Texts', pp. 289-295 for the Assyrian
account.) The only recorded king of the Libyans mentioned in the Bible is 'So,
king of Egypt' (II Kings 17:4). The king's full name would be the Libyan 'Soshenk'
or 'Soshenq'.
For years the name Soshenk has been mistaken for the Biblical Shishak. The
assumption is that the Libyans under Soshenk attacked Jerusalem after the death
of Solomon. Impossible. No philologist can demonstrate why the 'n' should have
disappeared from Soshenk to become Shishak.
Several historians have questioned the authenticity of the Biblical So. But
they need not have done so. The account of So is preserved by the Assyrians
in the records of Sargon. In Assyrian the name is spelled Sib'e. The Greek Septuasint
translation of the Hebrew Old Testament renders the name 'Soba'. According to
the Biblical record So was a Delta king second in rank to the Ethiopian rulers
of Upper Egypt. For that reason the Assyrians refer to him as 'Turtan', or second
in command, to the great 'Pir'u' or Pharaoh.
King So or Sib'e conspired with Hoshea, king of Israel. The time was the
calendar year 722-721. The Assyrians quickly heard of it. Sargon dispatched
his army to Israel. 'At the beginning of my royal rule' (in 721 -- the accession
year of Sargon) the Assyrian king besieged and captured Samaria, carried away
27,290 captives and imprisoned King Hoshea. 'I installed over them an officer
of mine and imposed upon them the tribute of the former king,' reports Sargon.
In the second year of Sargon's rule (720) 'Hanno, king of Gaza and also Sib'e,
the 'turtan' of Egypt set out from Rapihu against me to deliver a decisive battle.
I defeated them; Sib'e ran away ... and has not been seen again' (Pritchard's
Texts, pp. 284-285). So disappeared from the scene in 720.
Using the date of 720 as a guide for the reconstruction of the Bubastite
Libyan Dynasty, the following table may be constructed.
| Dynasty XXII according to Africanus |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Sesonchis (Sosenq)
|
21
|
836-815
|
|
Osorthon
|
15
|
815-800
|
|
Three other kings
|
25
|
800-775
|
|
Takelothis
|
13
|
775-762
|
|
Three other kings
|
42
|
762-720
|
It is significant that 720 also marks the full end of Dynasty XXIII of Tanis,
with the demise of Zet. Assyrian power overwhelmed the petty dynasts and the
Pir'u (Pharaoh) himself offered the Assyrians tribute to keep the peace.
Manetho's transcribers have not recorded the names of each of the three other
kings. From contemporary sources discovered through excavations in the past
century the following names may be supplied. For the period extending from 762
to 720 the Ethiopian Piankhi names 'King Namlot and King Yewepet. Chief ...
Sheshonk, of Per-Osiris (Busiris) ... King Osorkon, who was in Per-Bast (Bubastis).'
(Breasted's 'Ancient Records', vol. IV, pp. 423-424, 439) All these were Libyan
kings in the Delta of Egypt at the time of Piankhi's war in the years 753-751.
Manetho's second group of 'three other kings' are here named, together with
So or Sib'e. The implication is that during this period the Bubastite family
ruled the Delta from three cities -- Osorkon in Bubastis, Yewepet in Tentremu
and Tayan, and Namlot in Hermopolis. At a later time anyone of these three kings
would have been replaced in his local realm by a son or other near relative.
That is probably how So, thirty years later, came to be one of three kings.
For the same threefold division for the earlier period -- 800-775 -- we have
the mention of a Libyan king Yewepet (who came to power in 780) as a contemporary
with the Tanite king Pedibast. It is doubtful that any other names have yet
been recovered.
So-called Dynasty XXII
Archaeologists and historians have totally discarded Manetho's account of
Dynasty XXII. They have substituted for it a totally different group of Libyan
kings and mislabeled it 'Dynasty XXII.' They never asked themselves whether
they may have found another dynasty of Libyans not mentioned by Manetho. They
took for granted without proof, that Manetho couldn't be correct.
It is admitted by all historians that the so-called Libyan Dynasty XXII followed
Dynasty XX of Thebes. When did Dynasty XX of Thebes rule? After Dynasty XIX.
But that would put Dynasty XX of Thebes after the Persian conquest of Egypt
in 525 -- the date for the end of Dynasty XIX.
That shocking fact will be proofd in the next chapter! There it will be established
that Dynasty XX of Thebes governed Egypt during the fourth and third centuries
B.C.! The Libyan Dynasty archaeologists have discovered therefore existed sometime
during the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian history!
These kings of so-called Libyan Dynasty XXII were not Pharaohs in the ancient
sense. They were only local dynasts -- similar to the princes and kings of colonial
areas in the nineteenth and early twentieth century of the present era.
The kings of this mislabeled dynasty boasted of being related through intermarriage
to the 'royal sons of Ramesses' (page 327 of Gardiner's 'Egypt of the Pharaohs'
and other volumes for this period). Historians are hard pressed to explain away
the 'royal sons of Ramesses' who survived their father upwards of two centuries!
They were indeed what the monuments and stelae claim, the sons of the Ramessides
of Dynasty XX.
The monuments and historical inscriptions of the true Dynasty XXII are scarce.
Nevertheless archaeology has contributed greatly to our knowledge of the later
Bubastite royal family. No small portion of it has been derived from the foreboding
Memphite Serapeum, a vast subterranean structure where Apis bulls were buried.
It was reopened by the Greek king of Egypt, Ptolemy I, after the Persians had
forbidden its use.
Discovered by Mariette in 1851, the Serapeum contained huge sarcophagi with
mummies of no less than sixty-four bulls. During its lifetime an Apis bull was
worshipped as the embodiment of Apis -- a name connected with Orisis. On its
death and replacement by another living animal it was mummified and buried with
pomp. Stelae were erected in the Serapeum designating, among numerous details,
its time of birth, time of death and length of life. The chronological value
of the find is obvious. Its historical value negligible.
From the monuments, Nilometer inscriptions and these stelae the following
restoration of the so-called Dynasty XXII of Bubastis is now possible.
Here briefly is the proper restoration of the later Libyans during the Hellenistic
period.
| Names of Kings of Bubastis during the Ptolemaic Era
(mislabeled Dynasty XXII) |
Lengths of Reign |
Dates |
|
Soshenk 'I'
|
21
|
308-287
|
|
Osorkon 'I' (Soshenk 'II' co-regent)
|
36
|
287-251
|
|
Takelot 'I'
|
7
|
251-244
|
|
Osorkon 'II'
|
23
|
244-221
|
|
Takelot 'II'
|
25
|
221-196
|
|
Soshenk 'III'
|
52
|
196-144
|
|
Pemay 'the Cat'
|
6
|
144-138
|
|
Soshenk 'IV'
|
37
|
138-101
|
The Roman numerals given after the preceding rulers are those assigned by
archaeologists. They are not correct and overlook completely earlier rulers
of the real Dynasty XXII mentioned by Manetho. The priest Manetho lived and
wrote during the early third century B.C. and died 150 years before the last
of these Libyans from Bubastis reigned! No wonder they are not mentioned by
Manetho!
These dates are established by the following facts. Soshenk 'I' built the
Bubastite Portal adjoining a small temple of Ramesses III of Dynasty XX. This
Portal was built sometime AFTER Ramesses III completed his temple. Ramesses
III lived near the close of the Persian Period as shall be proofd in the next
chapter. The Bubastites were therefore contemporary with and subject to the
Ptolemaic Greeks of the Hellenistic Period. The last heir of Alexander the Great
died about 308. (See Mahaffey's 'The Empire of the Ptolemies'.)
Alexander had been proclaimed a god-king by the oracle at Ammon in the Libyan
desert. Apparently at the death of his last heir, about 308 B.C., the Libyans
assumed the right to succeed his line. The first king of this new dynasty, Soshenk
'I,' is commonly -- though erroneously -- assumed to be the Shishak of the Bible.
The inscriptions arraying his captured towns in the Palestine-Syria area are
found on the Bubastid Portal at Thebes. In them no reference is made to Jerusalem,
or to any important town in Judah. Writes Sir Alan Gardiner of the vanishing
list: 'The innumeration is disappointing, of the 150 and more places named only
a few are well enough preserved to suggest definite routes and these skirt around
the hill-country of Samaria without reaching the centre of the Israelite kingdom;
nor is there any hint that they ever touched Judah at all. There are, however,
some indications of a raid into Edomite territory' ('Egypt of the Pharaohs',
page 330).
Soshenk did not live in the fabulously rich Solomonic period. His was the
period of Ptolemaic control of Egypt. His claimed capture of Palestinian and
Syrian towns -- perhaps villages is the better word -- occurred as a general
of Egyptian troops under Ptolemy I.
In the fourth year of Osorkon 'I' -- 284-283 -- a vast compilation of wealth
was donated to the temple service. Here again is a parallel with Ptolemaic history.
In the year 284 prodigiously rich coronation ceremonies were celebrated for
Ptolemy II Philadelphus. No small portion of the riches were later donated to
the pagan temple service.
Also, a flood in the third year of Osorkon 'II' corresponds to the period
of upset weather conditions mentioned in the Canopus Inscription in the 240's.
In Egypt famines are cause by either too much water or an insufficient amount
of water flowing in the Nile at the period of inundation.
Osorkon 'II,' in most Biblical studies, is falsely equated with the Ethiopian
Zerah of Scripture. Osorkon 'II' was not an Ethiopian. Much less did he ever
command a million troops in an attack on Palestine. It was Twentieth Dynasty
Ramesside culture that influenced Palestine just prior to and during the years
of Osorkon ('Archaeology of Palestine', by W.F. Albright, page 137). Osorkon
'II' reigned after the fall of Persia, not in the days of Israel's kings.
In the 15th year of Osorkon's successor Takelot II, Egypt was devastated
by revolt and Nubian invasion. 'Now, afterward, in the year 15 ... great wrath
arose in this land .... They set warfare in the South and North ----- not ceasing
to fight against those who were therein ... while years passed in hostility
each one seizing upon his neighbor ...' (Breasted, 'Ancient Records', vol. IV,
sec. 764).
It was during the last two years of the life of Ptolemy IV that Upper Egypt
revolted, beginning in the year 207-206.
E.A. Wallis Budge writes: '... a revolt broke out in Upper Egypt, and the
Nubians endeavoured to include the Thebaid in the kingdom as in the days of
Piankhi I and his successors; this rising was not quelled when Ptolemy IV died,
and the Nubians carried on their revolt into the reign of his son.' (Page 251
of 'Egypt Under the Saites, Persians and Ptolemies', vol. vii of the series
'History of Egypt'.)
The end of this Libyan dynasty is not necessarily indicated by the year 101.
That is merely the last record in the Serapeum.
Dynasty XXI of Tanis
Yet another dynasty of Manetho must be restored -- number XXI of Tanis. Historians
recognize that it preceded a Libyan dynasty. The question is, which one? Should
it precede Manetho's Dynasty XXII of Bubastis because it is mentioned previous
to it? Or should it be associated in some way with Dynasty XX of Thebes because
it is mentioned after it? It means a difference of centuries!'
The answer may be found in the Serapeum. Writes Sir Alan Gardiner in 'Egypt
of the Pharaohs': 'Strangely enough not a single inscription of Dyn. XXI was
found in the Serapeum, but the material bearing upon Dyn. XXII ... is all the
richer' (p. 326). On the same page Gardiner adds: 'Huge sarcophagi had contained
the mummies of no less than sixty-four bulls, the earliest dating from the reign
of Amenophis III and the latest extending down to the very threshold of the
Christian era.'
Yet none from Dynasty XXI of Tanis? Absurd -- unless there was a period when
use of the Serapeum was forbidden. Just such a period occurred -- under the
Persians and early days of the Greeks before Ptolemy I.
When Cambyses conquered Egypt he ended the religious worship of Apis bulls
by ordering the Egyptian priests to devour their god as food! Not until Ptolemy
I was the old worship restored to favor ('A Dictionary of Egyptian Civilization',
art. 'Serapeum').
Dynasty XXI of Tanis is the Persian and early Greek period and immediately
precedes the mislabeled Libyan Dynasty XXII of Bubastis.
When Herodotus visited Egypt around 450 B.C., he did not find this dynasty
ruling in Tanis. It therefore commenced sometime later. It could not have continued
further than into the reign of the first Ptolemies.
Archaeology has provided evidence that the last king of Manetho's Dynasty
XXI -- Psusennes II -- gave his daughter in marriage to the Bubastite Osorkon.
He was the son of the Soshenq who founded the Libyan Dynasty. Therefore Psusennes
was a contemporary of Soshenq and the daughter was of the same generation as
Osorkon.
Archaeology has recovered the latest known year of Soshenq from his monuments
as year 21. Whether this was his latest year or not may be answered by Manetho.
Psusennes, the contemporary of Soshenq is assigned two lengths of reign by
Manetho -- 14 years and 35 years. The difference is 21! The answer is clear.
Soshenq did reign only 21 years at Bubastis before Osorkon, his son, came to
the throne. And those 21 years overlapped with the last 21 years of Psusennes
II. With the date 308 (see preceding chart of Bubastite Libyans) for the end
of the 14-year reign of Psusennes II, the entire twenty-first dynasty may now
be reconstructed from Manetho. In the following chart the letters 'A' and 'E'
stand for Africanus and Eusebius.
Kings of Dynasty XXI of Tanis
|
Lengths of Reign
|
Dates
|
|
Smendes
|
26
|
417-391
|
|
Psusennes (I)
|
41 (E)
|
391-350
|
|
(46) (A)
|
(391-345)
|
|
Nephercheres
|
4 (A & E)
|
350-346
|
|
Amenophthis
|
9
|
346-337
|
|
Osochor
|
6
|
337-331
|
|
Psinaches
|
9
|
331-322
|
|
Psusennes (II)
|
14 (A)
|
322-308
|
|
(35) (E)
|
(322-287)
|
The Book of Sothis preserves the following variations:
|
63 Psuenus
|
25
|
384-359
|
|
64 Ammenophis
|
9
|
359-350
|
|
65 Nephecheres
|
6
|
350-344
|
|
66 Saites
|
15
|
346-331
|
|
67 Psinaches
|
9
|
331-327
|
These charts are in perfect harmony. The Book of Sothis preserves the length
of reign of Psusennes, not from the beginning of his reign, but from an event
in 384 -- a little-known war between Persians and Egyptians to be explained
in the next chapter. It also provides additional information regarding the longer
joint reign of Amenopthis.
The beginning date of 417 for the dynasty occurs during a period, which,
for historians, is 'a complete blank so far as Egypt is concerned' (Gardiner,
'Egypt of the Pharaohs', p. 371). All that is known of the period in that the
Persian king who then governed Egypt never visited the country. The Tanites
were probably established to maintain Persian authority in the absence of the
Persian King. The dynasty survived severe struggles between Egyptians, Greeks
and Persians as the only symbol of authority in the Delta, or Lower Egypt. Its
last king had only a daughter as heir, and the line was superseded by Libyans
who intermarried with the Tanite line.
What Eratosthenes Revealed
Up to this point little has been presented from Eratosthenes, the Alexandrian
astronomer, geometer, geographer, grammarian and philosopher who became chief
librarian, under Ptolemy III, of the Library at Alexandria. Eratosthenes is
noted as the founder of 'scientific chronology.' He had access to the Theban
records, preserved by the priests, of all the kings of Egypt. A fragmentary
account of his complete book has come down to us through the work of George
the Monk -- Syncellus.
Syncellus preserved only those points of Egyptian history of most interest
to the Greek mind of his day. Included were the adventures of Cush, Nimrod,
Horus, Heber, Shem. Next he preserved the kings who reigned from the momentous
year 1958 -- when Babylonia was recovered from the Medes -- to the time of Job
(Cheops) and his successors. Then the period of the Exodus.
Syncellus records nothing more of the original Eratosthenes. There is added
beginning, with the king of Dynasty XXVIII, a series of rulers under the Persians
and Greeks This additional list of kings is from later sources, not Eratosthenes.
(See 'Apollodors Chronick' by Jacoby, for proof the last section of the list
is not Eratosthenes'.)
The proof of the dating of this list of petty dynasts is found in the names
of the so-called 'kings of Thebes.' None are typical of the days of Egypt's
greatness. Number 32 is called the second Ammenemes. The previous king of that
name was Ammenemes of Dynasty XIX who ruled from 557-531. This earlier Ammenemes
does not appear in the list ascribed to Eratosthenes though, some transcribers
have incorrectly inserted his name. This second must then have been later! Number
30 is titled Ochytyrannus -- meaning a tyrant like king Ochus -- the Persian
who reconquered Egypt in 343. This king of Thebes must have been after the reign
of Ochus to have borne such a title! This list is really of petty princes, priests
or commanders of the army of upper Egypt who pretended to greatness by the names
they took.
Kings Who Ruled in Thebes According to Eratosthenes
|
Lengths of Reign
|
Dates
|
|
1 Menes, a Theban of This
|
62
|
2254-2192
|
|
2 Athothes (Nimrod)
|
59
|
2192-2133
|
|
3 Athothes II (Horus)
|
32
|
2126-2094
|
|
4 Miabaes -- 'His name by interpretation signifies 'humane', or 'friendly''.
He is the second Osiris who was deposed and finally slain by Typhon.
|
19
|
2049-2030 (same dates as the Palermo Stone has)
|
|
5 Pemphos -- is Shem
|
18
|
2037-2019
|
Eratosthenes' record continues with events after 1958
|
6 Toegar Amachus -- Momcheiri of Memphis, 'leader of men' -- 'he
was irresistible'
|
79
|
1958-1879
|
|
7 Stoichos, 'his son' -- 'the unfeeling Ares' Ares is the Greek name
of the god of War -- Mars
|
6
|
1879-1873
|
|
8 Gosormies -- 'All demanding'
|
30
|
1873-1843
|
|
9 Mares, 'his son' -- 'gift of the sun'
|
26
|
1843-1817
|
|
10 Anoyphis
|
20
|
1817-1797
|
|
11 Sirius
|
18
|
1797-1779
|
|
12 Chnubos or Gneuros -- 'gold' (Observe that Chnubos is contemporary
with the seventh king of Dynasty II of This -- the last half of whose
reign extended from 1775 1765. In Nephercheres' reign Manetho records
that the Nile flowed with honey -- not literally, but figuratively,
as the land of Palestine was to flow with milk and honey -- great prosperity.
Hence the word 'gold' as the name of the king, signifying prosperity.)
|
22
|
1779-1757
|
|
13 Rayosis
|
13
|
1757-1744
|
|
14 Baiyres
|
10
|
1744-1734
|
|
15 Saophis Comates -- 'trafficker, money-getter' -- that is Joseph
(according to Manetho, Dynasty IV, Joseph began his reign in 1734!)
|
29
|
1734-1705
|
|
16 Saophis II (Cheops or Job) (see Dynasty IV of Manetho for the
same beginning date of Cheops: in 1699 a branch of Dynasty III came
to power in the person of Zoser-teti or Tosertasis)
|
27
|
1726-1699
|
|
17 Moscheres (the year 1668 is also a major date in the internal
history of Dynasties III and IV)
|
31
|
1699-1668
|
|
18 Mosthes
|
33
|
1668-1635
|
|
19 Pammes
|
35
|
1635-1600
|
(From here Eratosthenes proceeds to rulers of Dynasty VI who are recognized
as rulers at Thebes as well as at Memphis, where the royal line originated.)
|
20 Appapos (Pepi 'the very great'); Eratosthenes impllee that Pepi
was chosen to sit upon the throne from the very date of his blrth.
|
100
|
1587-1487
|
|
21 Acheskos Okaras, the Pharaoh of the Exodus
|
1
|
1487-1486
|
|
22 Nitocris, a queen, widow of the Pharaoh who perished in the Red
Sea.
|
6
|
1486-1480
|
Eratosthenes' original list ends here. The succeeding kings are no part of
the original Eratosthenes who wrote in the third century B.C. These rulers extended
two centuries beyond his time.
|
23 Myrtaios Ammonodotos, the Amyrteos or Amonortais of Manetho's
Dynasty XXVIII of Sais
|
22
|
421-399
|
|
24 Thyosimares, 'Mighty is the Sun'
|
12
|
399-387
|
|
25 Thinillo, 'having increased his ancestral power'
|
8
|
387-379
|
|
26 Semphrucrates, 'Heracles Harpocrates'
|
18
|
379-361
|
|
27 Chuther Taurus, a tyrant
|
7
|
361-354
|
|
28 Meures Philoscoros
|
12
|
354-342
|
|
29 Chomaephtha
|
11
|
342-331
|
|
30 Ancunios Ochytyrannus -- a tyrant like Ochus' -- Ochus was the
Persian king who reconquered Egypt
|
60
|
331-271
|
|
31 Penteathyris
|
16
|
271-255
|
|
32 Stamenemes (Ammenemes) II
|
23
|
255-232
|
|
33 Sistosichermes, 'valiant Hercules'
|
55
|
232-177
|
|
34 Mares
|
43
|
177-134
|
|
35 Siphoas 'also called Hermes'
|
5
|
134-129
|
|
36 Fourteen years for which name of king is lost
|
14
|
129-115
|
|
37 Phruron, 'the Nile'
|
5
|
115-110
|
|
38 Amuthantaeus
|
63
|
110- 47
|
The calendar year 47 marks the year of Caesar's invasion of Egypt, and the
perishing of native Egyptian dynasts under Greek Ptolemaic rule.
The dating of the first king of this period -- Myrtaios (421-399) -- is based
on the known date 399, when, as the sole king of Dynasty XXVIII, he ceased to
reign. The year 421 consequently marks his rise to power. It was undoubtedly
to counteract this aspiring ruler that the Persians established Dynasty XXI
of Tanis as a counterweight in 417.
The events that led up to the catastrophe of 47 is told by Budge. Ptolemy
XIII died in 51 and 'left his kingdom by will to his daughter Cleopatra VII.,
and to his elder son Ptolemy XIV., surnamed Dionysius, who was to marry his
sister; three years later (B.C. 48) a violent dispute broke out between brother
and sister, who had reigned jointly until that time, and Cleopatra was obliged
to leave Egypt. In 47 Caesar sent troops to support her claims, and as a result
her brother's forces were defeated with great slaughter. Ptolemy XIV, was accidentally
drowned in crossing a river whilst trying to escape' ('A History of Egypt',
vol. viii, p. 87).
As commander of the Egyptian contingent under Ptolemy, the last native dynast
perished in 47.
This chapter of the Compendium closes the history of Egypt to the Babylonian
and Persian conquests with a quick, and needed, view into two later dynasties.
In all there were twenty-four recorded dynasties ruling from the time of Babel
to 525 B.C. Now we come to Dynasty XX of Thebes! These are the many Ramessides
III to XI. Where do they belong in Egyptian history? Is the story of Thebes
not yet complete?
The answer will be found in the next and final chapter on Egyptian history.
