Pharaonic Kings

King Djoser



Djoser, Khet nethr and it means the body of the god, took the title of the sense of the sacred bridge. (2686 BC. M. - 2600 BC. M). And the second is the pharaoh in ancient Egyptian and the third family at the beginning of the old state, his name appeared in the Papyrus Torben red, distinguished him from the rest of the kings of the ancient state.The tomb (pyramid) the first large stone building in history.


Said of Pharaonic Mantho Manetho, that Djoser ruled for 29 years (2640 BC. M --2,611 BC. M), while little Papyrus Torben that the period of his rule extended only 19 years (2630 BC. M --2,611 BC). However, many historians either case, remember wisdom that the period was extended for 29 year because of the magnitude of its construction, which he has made. And therefore the difference between the two figures the years may mean that the Pharaoh Djoser is the same as the first in the third family.




My heart was in distress because of painful, because the Nile did not lead to seven years. Grains were not abundant, dried seeds, everything was owned by the individual to eat the quantities of pathetic, anyone who is deprived harvest. A person can not walk more; the hearts of older people was sad and bent legs when they sat down on the ground, their hands hidden away. Until they were served temples go, the temples were closed and shelters were covered with dust. In short, everything in the presence of injured
And comes the reply from the Khanom by inscription:

I will make the Nile rise to you. There will be no more years when it fails to immersion in the coverage of any area of ​​land. Stork flowers, and stems bend under the weight of pollen


History

Covenant, the family, the years of the
Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom 2680 BC. M --2,660 BC. M (± 100 years)

Accomplishments

Pyramid of Saqqara
Djoser taken from Memphis, Ain Shams, the capital of
The extraction of copper and turquoise from the Sinai, which secured for him a fortune enabled him to carry out large construction.
Expanded state in the south after the extension of his influence on the Nubians.

Grave
Saqqara pyramid, the Djoser built his tomb on the distance of a mile from the cliff Saqqara to distance himself from the rest of the graves. And supervised the construction and vizier Imhotep. Pyramid consists of six terraces and uneven height of 62 meters and coated stone Jerry White. The inside consists of a network of corridors and corridors, and the king's burial chamber built of granite.



And has a pattern in the islands of Aswan, lists the events of the famine that occurred during his reign due to lack of flooding of the Nile, where Djoser made offerings to the god Khnum, the god waterfall. And he stated the following:


King Tutankhamun


Tutankhamun was a little known King of the 18th dynasty before his tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings (KV 62) in November 1922. His exact place in the in the sequence of the "Amarna kings" was uncertain however it is known now that he was the son of Akhenaten by one of his secondary wives probably Kiya, and that he was brought up in Amarna probably in the North Palace. His name was omitted from the kings lists of Abydos and Karnak, the list jumps from Amenhotep III to Horemheb.
There were several items found in his tomb from his life at the Aten court, notably the Aten's disc shown protecting him and his young wife Ankhesenpaaten, seen on the pictorial back panel of his gold-inlaid throne.
Towards the end of Akhenaten's reign senior members of the court, specially Ay and Horemheb, probably realized that things could not continue as they were. Akhenaten had changed the religion to one God Ra from the previous Amun religion that worshipped numerous Gods and there was much dissension among the Priests. Smenkhkare, Akhenaten's brother or son, and co-regent, probably came to the same conclusions as he left and moved back to the old capital, Memphis.
Soon after Akhenaten's death, aged around 9 years old, Tutankhamun was crowned at Memphis. His close female relatives, his mother, his stepmother Nefertiti and older stepsister were all dead. He was likely under the care and direction of Ay, the senior civil servant, and Horemheb, the military man. Tutankhamun's wife, Ankhesenpaaten, was apparently older than him since she was already of child-bearing age, supposedly having had a daughter by her father, Akhenaten.
As soon as Tutanhhamun was installed as king a move was made back to the old religion. This was particularly noticeable in Year 2 when both king and queen changed the -aten previously at the end of their names to -amun.
Tutankhamun probably had little to do with this or other decisions as his advisors would have been the ones holding the reins and manipulating the decisions of the boy-king. Records show the reinstallation of the old religion of Amun and the reopening and rebuilding of the temples. A large number of reliefs and statues have been identified as originally belonging to Tutankhamun, for although the inscriptions were changed by Horemheb, the king's boyish features are clearly recognizable.
Extensive building works were done at Karnak and Luxor in Tutankhamun's name, but were all taken over by Horemheb. Few events other that the return to Thebes and the change back to the religion of Amun were documented of Tutankhamun's reign.
Tutankhamun's tomb reflect scenes suggesting campaigns were mounted against the Nubians and Syrians, however is doubtful that he actually participated in these campaigns probably led by Horemheb his military commander in chief.
Tutankhamun died young, probably during his ninth year of reign. This is evidenced by a forensic analysis of his mummy which put his age at death at about 17. Secondly, seals on wine jars found in his tomb record the type of wine, the vineyard, the name of the chief winemaker and the king's year of reign when they were made. The highest recorded date is Year 9, suggesting that Tutankhamun died that year.
There is no positive evidence on Tutankhamun's mummy as to how he died, he did not die of consumption as was once thought. Autopsies and X-rays have found a small piece of bone in the upper skull, maybe as the result of a blow, but whether it is was an accident or murder cannot be determined.
The tomb where Tutankhamun was found was far too small for a royal burial, and most likely a tomb for Ay granted by a royal grant in recognition of his services over the years. As Tutankhamun died suddenly and as this tomb was virtually ready, it was appropriated and the burial chamber immediately decorated. Tutankhamun's intended tomb appears to be the one found by Giovanni Belzoni in 1816 at the far end of the Valley of the Kings (KV 23) and later used by Ay.
The magnificent treasures from the Tomb are shown in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. One can only imagine the wonderful treasures that would be found if ever the tomb of a long reigning king was discovered when so much was found in the tomb of this boy-king





Ramses II





Birth: 1303 BC

Died: around 1213 BC (90 years)
Father: Seti I
Mother: Tuya
Spouse: Nefertari
Successor Merenptah (son 13)
Period: New Kingdom / 19th Dynasty
Reign: 1279 BC to 1213 BC (66 years 2 months)
Ramses II, aka Ramses II, Ramses II, or Sese Ozymandias (Greek) was one of the most powerful pharaohs of Egypt and influential.
King Ramses II ascended the throne of Egypt in the early twenties (about 1279 BC) and ruled for 66 years until his death (1213 BC). It was the third ruler of the 19th Dynasty and ruled for the creation of 67 amazing years, the second longest reign of the ancient Egypt of the pharaohs.
He is known as Ramses the Great for his contribution to Egypt, including his war campaigns in the Mediterranean and in Nubia, and its construction projects, such as cities, temples and tombs.
A variety of health problems (such as arthritis and blood pressure problems) may have contributed to the end of the life of Ramses II, but he had accomplished much in his time.
Ramses II Biography: architectural achievements

Perhaps the best-known achievements of Ramses the Great are his architectural projects, the most remarkable Ramesseum and temples of Abu Simbel. Ramses II interest in architecture led to the construction of more monuments than any other ancient Egyptian pharaohs. A significant number of architectural tributes attributed to Ramses 2 still dominate the landscape of Egypt today.

Aerial view of Ramesseum
The Ramesseum is a memorial temple complex near Luxor (even closer Qurna).Although now in ruins, it is still recognizable to the great pylon of Ramses inside which is useful as a historical document.

Ramses II pylon
Pylon is the Greek word for entry of an Egyptian temple. The tower is inscribed with pictures showing Ramses victories over the Hittites in time of war and the peace treaty that followed later. This tower, along with other inscriptions and temples created during the reign of Ramses II, shows that Pharaoh wanted to be remembered for his influence on the military, political and religious.
Also at the Ramesseum are the remains of a gigantic statue of Ramses II. He used to 56ft (17m) high, but now only part of the torso and base remain. Other remains found are those of two large statues of Ramses a seat 2 (the bust is displayed in the British Museum).

Abu Simbel
The temples of Abu Simbel, two massive rock temples twins, were also built by Ramses II. They are located in Nubia (southern Egypt), near Lake Nasser, and were intended to commemorate his reign and that of his queen, Nefertari.
Learn more about Abu Simbel ...
Pi-Ramses, an ancient city in the Nile Delta, was created by Ramses 2 and used for his campaigns in Syria. This city is mentioned in the Bible as a place where Jews were forced to work for the pharaoh.
Another ancient city, Abydos (known for its mythological inscriptions) has been used by Ramses II to record the history of his reign and that of his ancestors, providing a wealth of knowledge to future generations about the achievements of the pharaohs.

Ramses II pylon
The famous statue of Ramses II unearthed in Memphis was thought to have been commissioned by Ramses II himself. He showed today how the people of the great Ramses the Great had an impact on the work of its time. Other similar sites have yielded large statues of Ramses II.
Ramses II: Military Impact

The reign of Ramses 2 was marked by numerous military battles and he became one of the famous Egyptian pharaoh renowned for its military. Much of his reign was occupied territories in return that have been lost in Egypt during the reign of Egyptian pharaohs other former (and more particularly Akhenaten) was concerned with the establishment of a monotheistic religion. Ramses II's army was 100,000 strong men, enormous for that period in time.

Ramses II at the Battle of Kadesh
The most famous battle Ramses 2 is the Battle of Kadesh, which took place in the city of Kadesh (located in Syria today). Fought in 1274 in British Columbia against the Hittites, it was the largest tank battle ever. Ramses made a tactical error in this fight by dividing his forces, causing one of its divisions to be won. Finally, neither side won and Ramses had to retreat due to logistical difficulties.
The military genius of Ramses II was instrumental in securing Egypt's borders against foreign invaders and pirates along the Mediterranean and Libya. He managed to repel the invasions of Hittites and Nubians.
In addition, campaigns restored land to Egypt, which had already been lost to these empires. In forming treaties of peace with these empires after the war with them, Ramses II has contributed to strengthen the borders of Egypt to all sides, allowing an increased internal stability. Many of these campaigns were conducted during the first twenty years of the reign of Ramses II.
Religious impact of Ramses II

The impact religious Ramses 2 took over Egypt should not be overlooked either. After a reign of 30 years, Ramesses II celebrated the Sed festival in which the king has been transformed into a god.
Ramses II monuments erased the previous dynasties which had fallen into disgrace, and sought to return to Egyptian religion the way it was before the reign of Akhenaten.
Since the people of Egypt of Ramses II worshiped as a god, he also helped ensure that his son, who at that time commanded the army, would rise to power after his death, without nobody tried to seize the throne.
Mummy of Ramses II


Mummy of Ramses II
Ramses II was buried in the Valley of the Kings, but had to be replaced because of looting. After a detour, his mummy was moved to DB320 tomb near Deir el-Bahri, where it would be safe from grave robbers. In 1881, his body was discovered there and moved to Cairo's Egyptian Museum.
The mummy of Ramses II tells us was rather short for Ancient Egypt: 5ft7 (170cm). He also shows his crooked nose and injuries and fractures incurred in battle.
In 1974, the mummy was taken to Paris because he needed treatment for a fungal infection.
Facts Ramses II

Ramses II was identified at least two figures in the Bible, including the Pharaoh Shishak and the Exodus. Some suggest that Ramses II was the pharaoh who ruled during the biblical Exodus story. This is the story of Israel who are forced to work for the Pharaoh.The Hebrew god Yahweh helps them by imposing the Ten Plagues of Ancient Egypt, after the Israelites managed to escape the Egyptian army at the Crossing of the Red Sea. However, these claims are controversial at best.
Ramses II had such a great legacy that at least nine Pharaohs were later named after him.
Although Ramses II has helped consolidate the power of Egypt, later, the pharaohs did not govern well, and the Egyptian empire fell from a century and a half after his death.
The analysis of remains of Ramses the Great has revealed that he probably had red hair. redheads in ancient Egypt were seen as followers of God Seth.
At the end of his life Ramses II had serious health problems. He had dental problems arising from an abscessed tooth and walked with a hunched back due to arthritis.
Ramesses II outlived most of his family, his eventual successor was his thirteenth son, Merenptah (aka Merneptah). The 19th Dynasty ended with his rule.
So it was quite common for former Egyptian pharaohs to have several wives, Ramesses II seems to have exceeded the standard in number of wives and children. At the end of his long life, the pharaoh had generated more than 100 children.

SNEFRU

Snefru was the first king of the 4th dynasty (2613 - 2589 BC). He ruled for an estimated 24 years. Unlike most kings, he was not declared kingship though birthright but through marriage. He was a superior military manager and advanced Egypt’s economy. Establishing trading routes along the Mediterranean, Snefru planned in moving ahead his empire to great lengths. His most famous contribution was the Bent Pyramid of Dahshur.

FAMILY

Hetepheres I was the wife of Snefru, and probably was his half sister. It’s believed he was born from one of the wives in his father’s harem which made him lack royal blood. Marrying his half sister might have been the key to legitimizing his rule as Pharaoh. Together, both Snefru and Hetepheres gave birth to Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid. Snefru’s parents were Meresankh and Huni was his stepfather.

SNEFRU

Like most Pharaohs, Snefru was active in foreign affairs with countries from the Mediterranean and received materials such as cedar for construction of many ships. This most probably came from Lebanon. Although trading and exporting was very important to his success, so were his military skills. Campaigning against the Libyans and Nubians, Snefru found himself leading massive campaigns that often lead to victory. Campaigning against Nubia offered great rewards such as raw materials for construction and the safety of Egypt’s southern borders.

Snefru was intelligent and very logical. In order to accomplish his tasks as Pharaoh he needed no barriers. To complete many of his wishes, Snefru kept the power of the royal family fixed. Most of his appointed officials were members of his ruling family and as a result the administrative powers remained within that structure. This logical and brilliant strategy might be why he was able to construct his three pyramids. Although this logic may have helped build the three pyramids, his brilliant strategy might not have been so helpful in holding firm the “Old Kingdom” as this appeared to fall after his death.

PYRAMIDS

Like most Pharaohs, death was a very important aspect of Snefru’s life. He constructed the pyramid at Maidum, which was originally a seven-stepped pyramid. Once erected, the steps of the pyramid were filled in. This formed a true pyramid; however, eventually the pyramid failed and the outer casing soon collapsed. Although this pyramid failed, Snefru still did not give up. His next major plan was the construction of the Bent Pyramid located in Dahshur. Unlike his last project, the bent pyramid was planned as a pyramid. The sides soon became too steep and a quick fix was needed. They changed the degree of the pyramid which made the structure more stable.

Snefru will most likely always be known as being one of Egypt’s most prominent pyramid builders of his time. In addition, he will also be known as contributing to the continuous evolution of religious beliefs during his reign.


AKHENATEN



Amenhotep IV – better known as Akhenaten was Egypt’s most profound pharaoh to rule Egypt. He led Egypt in a direction that would tag him “The Heretic Pharaoh.” He brought forth new ideas mainly in religion and art that would leave a lasting impression on the world. Unlike most pharaohs, Akhenaten presented himself in a way that would lead to controversy and would shock the world and his culture. We invite you to take an in-depth look at Akhenaten and discover for yourself the man that would lead Ancient Egypt with much mayhem during his reign and thereafter.

To really understand Akhenaten, you must go back to Tuthmosis IV when the city of Thebes became the main habitat for Egypt. Its foremost god was Aten and was created during this time. Aten was the solitary god set up by Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) to be the main deity. Amenhotep IV eventually changed his name to Akhenaten. The new name took on the meaning “He who is of service to Aten.”



FAMILY

Akhenaten’s parents were Amenhotep III and Queen Tiy. His wife was Nefertiti who was probably a distant relative. The Couple had six daughters named Ankhesenpaaten, Neferneferuaten-tasharit, Neferneferure, Meketaten, Merytaten, and Sotepenre. Also present in the family are two unknown members in Akhenaten’s family. They are Smenkhkare (successor of Akhenaten) and Tutankhaten who was later renamed Tutankhamen.

AKHENATEN


As a young child Akhenaten was raised in a traditional Ancient Egyptian manner and observed religious rituals to the god Amon. In Thebes, Amon was the god that was elevated to the highest position. In time, Akhenaten turned his focus and beliefs to another deity called Aten. (Aten is the sun god and was taken into battle with Tuthmosis IV and later taken by Akhenaten).

Soon after becoming pharaoh of Egypt, Akhenaten discarded his royal name and loyalty to Amon. He turned away from old priests and began the cult of the sun disk -- the Aten. Akhenaten acknowledged that Aten was the single god except Re, the sun god. He claimed he was the only person able to converse with his god. This only caused an absence of priests and he soon came to ban those that remained. He banned the worship of Amon and closed down sacred temples.

Akhenaten’s wife’s name Nefertiti was also changed to “Nefer Nefru Aten” meaning “Beautiful is the Beauty of Aten.” The couple then moved out of Thebes to a new capitol called Akhetaton. Everyone from the old capitol moved to the new constructed capitol including the court and artisans.

THE NEW CAPITOL

Amarna was erected in 1353-1335 B.C. in honor of the god Aten. (Amarna is the modern name for the city called Akhetaton) It had more naturalistic styles and the art portrayed natural scenes and life-like figures. The couple raised many extraordinary buildings and conducted sophisticated ceremonies in the temples and palaces. His new capitol attacked the cults of other deities in Egypt, especially Amon. Sites of Amon were desecrated and any evidence of worship to this god destroyed. Akhenaten even had his father's cartouches destroyed because it had Amon’s name encrypted upon it. This continued to outrage the people of Egypt and left the population uneasy and angry. Most of the cities in Egypt were deprived of their estates and plantations. Corruption fell upon the temples and soon they were dependant on the city of Akhetaton.

ART

The art during the Amarna period had made a colossal change. People were portrayed as they were. Unlike most pharaohs, Akhenaten portrayed himself less god like and more human. This new style of art was portraying people in everyday lifestyles and sometimes with minute details. Bek was Akhenaten’s main artist during this period. The disfigured pharaoh showed an almost strange elongation of the head, large breasts, swollen stomach, and the diminutive splayed legs. He looked more feminine then masculine.

Not only did Akhenaten show his naturalness but also the surroundings around him. His paintings were detailed and unique in that they showed naturalism along the Nile River. The scenes of the time period showed the river engulfed with vegetation and wild animals.

Pharaohs in earlier periods showed themselves as being well proportioned and taller then their subjects. Akhenaten, on the other hand, was depicted as being at equal level with his surroundings that showed him in inappropriate scenes. Such scenes included him kissing his daughters and sitting with his wife in a family oriented manner.



KHUFU


The Pharaoh Khufu, or commonly known as Cheops, ruled in the 4th Dynasty (2551-2528 B.C.) He was the second Pharaoh of the period and he ruled for approximately 23 years. It was assumed that this was a highly structured society and he must have attained great wealth. Not much is known about the Pharaoh’s personal life or his accomplishments. His most known and famous undertaking was the Great Pyramid of Egypt.

There are two theories surrounding the construction of his pyramid. The first theory, suggested by experts, suggests that slaves were forced under daily hard labor to work until the task was completed. The more logical and more supported theory, however, suggests that the Great Pyramid of Egypt was built by hundreds of skilled workers who camped near the pyramids and worked for a salary until the construction of the pyramid was completed. Although he organized the construction of the pyramid, not much is known about his life due to the fact that his tomb was robbed. No remains of the mummy have ever been found and there is only an empty sarcophagus that lies in the center of the King’s Chamber located inside the pyramid.

However, a statue was found in the temple of Abydos and it is thought that maybe this might give a slight insight into the Pharaoh’s world and who he really was.