Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The greatest of all the Middle Kingdom Nubian forts was at Semna, which is where many of the inscriptions commemorating the campaigns were discovered in the modern period. He was a great pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty and is considered to be perhaps the most powerful Egyptian ruler of the dynasty. However this association came to be made, it has no bearing on the historical Senusret III or actual Egyptian history. He died of old age and before he died he appointed his successor Amenemhat II. Every work, no matter the size, was made for a specific practical purpose: statues served the spirit of the person or god depicted, temples and monuments did the same, paintings and reliefs related important historical or religious narratives, combs, boxes, jars, brushes, amulets, swords, armor, all were designed with a purpose in mind; but they still had to be aesthetically pleasing. I captured their women, I carried off their subjects, went forth to their wells, smote their bulls; I reaped their grain, and set fire thereto. His biography is available in 44 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 41 in 2019). Khakheperre Senusret II was the fourth pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. Its ancient name was Senusret Petei Tawi (Senusret beholds the two lands). She was also the mother of the successor Amenemhat II. Please support World History Encyclopedia. In keeping with tradition, Senusret III commissioned a number of impressive building projects. Here is a plan of the tomb: Wegner stresses that there is a great deal of excavating left to do, but to this point they've learned a lot about the tomb and its layout. Inscriptions on the tombs of these nomarchs at Beni Hassan repeatedly give evidence that these people continued to be employed by the state and took pride in their positions and their king. He was a great pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty and is considered to be, perhaps, the most powerful Egyptian ruler of the dynasty. He is probably also the best known of the Middle Kingdom pharaohs to the public because of his many naturalistic statues showing a man with often heavy eye-lids and lined continence. His campaigns into Nubia expanded Egypts boundaries, and the fortifications he built along the border fostered lucrative trade. What structure was Senusret I best known for? Khakaure Senusret III (also written as Senwosret III or the hellenised form, Sesostris III) was a pharaoh of Egypt. The Middle Kingdom kings also decided to build their royal necropolis close to their new capital near the modern city of Lisht in the Fayum region of Middle Egypt. He expanded the southern border of Egypt into Nubian territory and the north-east into Canaan through direct military engagement while the western border toward Libya was extended through negotiation. Senusret III (c. 1878-1860 BCE, also known as Senwosret III, Sesostris III) was the 5th king of the 12th Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (2040-1782 BCE). During the era known as the First Intermediate Period of Egypt (2181-2040 BCE) these nomarchs were more powerful than the central government and commanded the same respect previously accorded the kings of the Old Kingdom. In Senusret III the people found the epitome of the ideal warrior-king who embodied the Egyptian cultural value of ma'at as expressed in a balanced and harmonious state and whose reign was characterized by military skill, decisive action, and efficient administration. Senusret III. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. [4] Although Senusret III was probably motivated by economic reasons to colonize Nubia, the king was clear that he was willing to destroy most of the Nubian population in order to rule their land. On them, the king is depicted at different ages and, in particular, on the aged ones he sports a strikingly somber expression: the eyes are protruding from hollow eye sockets with pouches and lines under them, the mouth and lips have a grimace of bitterness, and the ears are enormous and protruding forward. He was a great pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty and is considered to be perhaps the most powerful Egyptian ruler of the dynasty. Senusret III's redistricting also had the unforeseen effect of creating a segment of the population which had not existed previously: the middle class. Wegner interprets this as an implication that Senusret was still alive in the first two decades of his son's reign. What my heart plans is done with my arm" (Lewis, 87). He led campaigns in Libya, Nubia, and Syria. The Turin Canon confirms that he ruled Egypt for forty-five years. Length of this canal, 150 cubits; width, 20; depth, 15. [7]. Wosret was the goddess of Thebes whose name meant 'powerful', and she was honored by a number of Middle Kingdom monarchs who hailed from her city (such as Senusret I and Senusret II). (State Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich, Germany). We would much rather spend this money on producing more free history content for the world. The 800-foot long, underground structure was once though to be a cenotaph (symbolic tomb). Sobekemhat was treasurer too and buried at Dahshur. Hatshepsut was only the third woman to become pharaoh in 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, and the first to attain the full power of the position. Mark, Joshua J.. "Senusret III." In later Egyptian sources, Montuhoteop II is remembered as one of Egypts greatest kings on par with Menes/Narmer, who was the first king to unify Egypt, and Ahmose, who expelled the Hyksos and unified Egypt again, which began the New Kingdom. Senusret II took a great deal of interest in the Faiyum oasis region and began work on an extensive irrigation system from the Bahr Yusuf through to Lake Moeris by means the construction of a dike at El-Lahun and the addition of a network of drainage canals. [6] His Year 8 stela at Semna documents his victories against the Nubians, through which he is thought to have made safe the southern frontier, preventing further incursions into Egypt. Mark, Joshua J.. "Senusret III." The pyramid complex at Lahun was built for the cult and burial of king Senusret II, father of Senusret III. [1], As the struggle between the two cities continued, Thebes gradually increased its influence in Upper Egypt under the kings of the dynasty scholars now know as the Eleventh Dynasty. His majesty commanded to make the canal anew, the name of this canal being: Beautiful-Are-the-Ways-of-Khekure-[Living]-Forever, when his majesty proceeded up-river to overthrow Kush, the wretched. The best-known works from his reign are his own statues. Because they show that they do not have all to power. Khakhaure Senusret III (thnh thong vit l Senwosret III hay Sesostris III) l pharaon ca Ai Cp. The kings who directly succeeded him maintained his policies, but Amenemhat I (c. 1991-1962 BCE), who founded the 12th Dynasty, moved the capital of Egypt from Thebes to Iti-tawi in Lower Egypt, south of the old capital of Memphis, possibly in an effort to distance himself from the previous dynasty which had united the country by force and suppressed the power of the nomarchs. I have added to what was bequeathed to me. By the time of Senusret II's death, the power and wealth of the nomarchs was at the same strength it had been before Mentuhotep II and rivaled the crown's. It was released as part of the Civ V 10th Anniversary event. The Semna inscriptions paint a picture of a complex relationship between the Egyptians and Nubians for example, Nubians were explicitly forbidden from entering Egypt, but trade and social interaction was allowed and even encouraged to some extent at the forts. Karabel Pass, Rock relief of king Tarkasnawa of Mira. From the tenth episode of our Ancient Egypt Series (which can be found in the link below), we focus on Pharaoh Senusret III. C.It is directly related to the author's biography. Djehutyhotep , Nomarch of the Hare Nome. Senusret III is well known for his distinctive statues, which are almost immediately recognizable as his. Although he defeated them numerous times in battle, the Nubians so respected him that he was venerated in their land as a god. He also relentlessly pushed his kingdom's expansion into Nubia (from 1866 to 1863 BC) where he erected massive river forts including Buhen, Semna, Shalfak and Toshka at Uronarti. Sinuhe was an official of the harem maintained for Amenemhet I by his queen. He ruled from 1878 BC to 1839 BC during a time of great power and prosperity, and was the fifth king of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. Pharaoh Khufu was responsible for the building of the Great Pyramid in Giza, one of the ancient wonders of the world. An online database of ancient Egyptian personal names, titles, and persons from the Middle Kingdom. His military campaigns gave rise to an era of peace and economic prosperity that reduced the power of regional rulers and led to a revival in craftwork, trade, and urban development. As a statesman, the pharaoh made laws, waged war, collected taxes, and oversaw all the land in Egypt (which was owned by the pharaoh). Senusret III was the son of Senusret II and Khenemetneferhedjet I, also called Khenemetneferhedjet I Weret (the elder). Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. This image of "Sesostris" is manifestly an amalgam of several warrior-pharaohs in Egyptian history. . I have added to what was bequeathed me. Three wives of Senusret III are known for certain. Senusret III erected a temple and town in Abydos, and another temple in Medamud. Senusret III redistricted the country to decrease the number of nomes, and of course, this reduced the number of nomarchs. They were not made a consistent size implying that standardized moulds were not used. Idea of king as a war leader emphasized once again from Senusret III (go back to reread) Also a new kind of royal ideology: militaristic, becomes a visually distinct element of . [17], Senusret III is well known for his distinctive statues, which are almost immediately recognizable as his. The concept of 'art for art's sake' would have been unimaginable for an ancient Egyptian artist. Hatshepsut was the elder of two daughters born to Thutmose I and his queen, Ahmes. Wiki . I just love how powerful his face is. As a statesman, the pharaoh made laws, waged war, collected taxes, and oversaw all the land in Egypt (which was owned by the pharaoh). Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Here were found the treasures of Sithathor and queen Mereret. He was a great pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty and is considered to be, perhaps, the most powerful Egyptian . His final campaign, which was in his Year 19, was less successful because the king's forces were caught with the Nile being lower than normal and they had to retreat and abandon their campaign in order to avoid being trapped in hostile Nubian territory. It is made of gneiss. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Although in official Egyptian inscriptions the Nubians, like all non-Egyptians, are regularly depicted in negative terms, in reality they were an integral aspect of Egyptian life and admired the Egyptian culture. It will be nearly impossible to determine how much of what the Greek writers attributed to Sesostris and Sesoosis were actually done by Senusret III, but the salient point is that ancient peoples, both Egyptians and Greeks, believed that he was one of the greatest Egyptian kings. Callender, Gae. . Situated between the better known Old and New Kingdoms was Egypts Middle Kingdom (ca. This page was last modified on 6 February 2023, at 06:30. [8], The Sebek-khu Stele, dated to the reign of Senusret III (reign: 1878 1839 BC), records the earliest known Egyptian military campaign in the Levant. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. https://www.biographies.net/biography/senusret-iii/m/066s10, https://www.biographies.net/people/en/senusret_iii. There was also a southern temple, however this has since been destroyed. Now my majesty has had an image made of my majesty, at this border which my majesty has made, in order that you maintain it, in order that you fight for it. (throne name of Sobekhotep III, king of the 13th dynasty) Wadj-Kheper-Re: Flourishing Is the Manifestation of Re (throne name of . Wegner interprets this as an implication that Senusret was still alive in the first two decades of his son's reign. It far surpassed those from the early twelfth dynasty in size, grandeur, and underlying religious conceptions. The total volume was approximately 288,000 cubic meters. n. l.[1] Vlda[editovat| editovat zdroj] Pyramida Senusreta III. The Cult of Amun in Egypt was the most powerful and wealthy throughout the country's history. When Senusret III came to power, he was the beneficiary of several successful kingships that provided him with a template upon which he based his rule. He ruled from 1897 BC to 1878 BC. Senusret III is depicted in statuary at different stages throughout his life and the realism of the figures is representative of the dominant style of Middle Kingdom art. Here were found the treasures of Sithathor and queen Mereret. Above this was a third mudbrick vault. His mother was not a royal wife and is believed to have been a commoner. He lived during the reigns of Amenemhat II (1922-1878 BC), Senwosret II (1880-1874 BC) and Senwosret III (1874-1855 BC). He ruled from 1878 BC to 1839 BC during a time of great power and prosperity, and was the fifth king of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. There has been speculation that Senusret was not necessarily buried there, but rather, in his sophisticated funerary complex in Abydos and his pyramid more likely being a cenotaph.[2]. Sesostris III strengthened the central government, minimizing the power and influence of the feudal nobility. [25], Some biblical scholars consider Senusret the pharaoh mentioned in Genesis 39-47, who elevated Joseph to a high administrative post, answerable directly to him. Genesis 47:20 [3], Senusret III was the son of Senusret II and Khenemetneferhedjet I, also called Khenemetneferhedjet I Weret (the elder). Senusret III was the second pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. What are the accomplishments of the pharaoh? 0 references. Herodotus, Diodorus, and Manetho: An Examination of the Influence of Egyptian Historiography on the Classical Historians., How Did the Ancient Egyptian City of Thebes Become Prominent, How Did the Ancient City of Sais Rise to Prominence, How Did Ancient Alexandria Rise to Prominence, How Did the Ancient City of Memphis Rise to Prominence, Why Did Seth Worship Become Popular in Ancient Egypt, How Did the Hyksos Conquer the Egyptian Delta, https://dailyhistory.org/index.php?title=How_Did_Senusret_III_Influence_Ancient_Egyptian_History&oldid=23104. Consequently, he is regarded as one of the sources for the legend about Sesostris. Since the first cataract canal had such high military and economic importance, Senusret III made sure that it was regularly maintained. Not only do we pay for our servers, but also for related services such as our content delivery network, Google Workspace, email, and much more. There has been speculation that Senusret was not necessarily buried there, but rather, in his sophisticated funerary complex in Abydos and his pyramid more likely being a cenotaph. One of the most interesting aspects of Senusret III's reign is his patronage of the Amun cult. Wegner's hypothesis is rejected by some scholars, such as Pierre Tallet and Harco Willems; according to them, it is more likely that such a coregency never occurred, and that the Year 39 control note still refers to Amenemhat III, who may have ordered some additions to Senusret's monuments. Senusret III is probably the best attested king of the New Kingdom. He was a great pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty and is considered to be, perhaps, the most powerful Egyptian ruler of the dynasty. The tomb of his physician Gua was also found (Info from British Museum). Senusret I established a military garrison on Egypt's southern border and erected a victory stele to commemorate his achievements. Egypt was divided into four great districts, each of which possessed a hierarchy of officials and scribes directly responsible to the vizier. The pharaoh in these chapters elevates Joseph to a position of power second only to his own and entrusts to him the salvation of Egypt from famine. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Senusret_III/. 02 Mar 2023. Many conservative biblical scholars consider Senusret the pharaoh mentioned in Genesis 39-47, who elevated Joseph to a high administrative post, answerable directly to him. Other sons are not known.[4]. Although Senusret I and Senusret II engaged in Nubian campaigns, they never extended the border as far as Senusret III; this makes him the most likely historical basis for Sesostris.