Psusennes II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Psusennes II |
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| Pasebakhaenniut II | |
Statue with dedication to Psusennes II and Shoshenq I (originally for Thutmose III). Cairo, CG 42192 (JE 37005)
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| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 967 – 943 BC (21st Dynasty) |
| Predecessor | Siamun |
| Successor | Shoshenq I |
| Children | Maatkare B |
| Father | Pinedjem II |
| Mother | Isetemkheb D |
| Died | 943 BC |
| Burial | Unknown, possibly reburied in NRT III at Tanis |
Psusennes II was the very last king of the Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt. His royal name, Titkheperure, means "Image of the transformations of Re" in ancient Egyptian. He is also known as Hor-Pasebakhaenniut II.
Many experts believe that Psusennes II was the same person as Psusennes III, who was a High-Priest of Amun. A special carving, called a graffito, found in the Temple of Abydos, shows that a king named Tyetkheperre Setepenre Pasebakhaenniut Meryamun was also the High Priest of Amun and a top military leader. This suggests that Psusennes II was both the king in Tanis and the High Priest in Thebes at the same time.
We don't have many records from his time as pharaoh. Some things that mention him include the graffito in Seti I's temple at Abydos, a piece of pottery called an ostracon from Umm el-Qa'ab, and a mention at Karnak. His likely burial place was found in an area next to Psusennes I's tomb in Tanis. It included a gold-covered coffin with a royal uraeus (a cobra symbol) and a Mummy. Psusennes II was the son of Pinedjem II and Istemkheb. His daughter, Maatkare B, became the Great Royal Wife of Osorkon I.
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Discovering Psusennes II's Reign
Historians have found several clues that help us learn about Psusennes II's time as pharaoh. These clues often link him with his successor, Shoshenq I.
Evidence from Ancient Objects
One important piece of evidence is a linen cloth from a mummy, dated to Psusennes III's fifth year. Since Psusennes II and Psusennes III are thought to be the same person, this helps confirm his reign. Another clue is an old statue of Thutmose III (Cairo CG 42192). This statue has two sets of writings on it. One set mentions Psusennes II, and the other mentions Shoshenq I. This shows a connection between the two rulers.
A stone block found recently in Tell Basta also has the name of Shoshenq I along with the royal name of Psusennes II. There was also a carving in a tomb in Thebes (TT18) that mentioned both kings, but it is now lost.
New Discoveries and Dates
The first clear date for Psusennes II's reign came from a newly found stone block from Karnak. This document, called 'Block Karnak 94, CL 2149,' records when a priest named Nesankhefenmaat started working in the temple of Amun-Re in Karnak. This event happened in the 11th year of a king named Psusennes.
The line before this record mentions Nesankhefenmaat's father, Nesamun, becoming a priest during the reign of King Siamun. Siamun was the king before Psusennes II. This document then records that Nesankhefenmaat's son, Hor, became a priest in the 3rd year of King Osorkon I. This happened just one generation later, skipping over the 21-year reign of Shoshenq I. Because a generation in ancient Egypt was usually 25 to 30 years, the 11th year mentioned can only belong to Psusennes II. This makes it the first truly confirmed date for his rule.
British Egyptologist Aidan Dodson now agrees with this new evidence. He had previously thought that Psusennes II's reign was entirely within Shoshenq I's rule. But this new document shows that Psusennes II was a "real" king whose rule was recognized in Thebes. Dodson also notes that small clay figures, called shabtis, found in Psusennes I's tomb at Tanis, actually belonged to Psusennes II. This means Psusennes II's coffin and mummy are likely among the remains in that tomb.
How Long Did Psusennes II Rule?
Unlike the kings before and after him, Psusennes II doesn't have many records about his reign. Ancient writers like Manetho said he ruled for either 14 or 35 years. Most modern scholars, like Kenneth Kitchen, usually adjust this to 15 years.
The Dakhla Oasis Stela
A German scholar, Rolf Krauss, has suggested that Psusennes II ruled for 24 years, not 14. This idea comes from a large stone slab, called the Large Dakhla stela, found in the Dakhla Oasis. This stela dates to the 5th year of Shoshenq I. It mentions a land record from "Year 19 of a 'Pharaoh Psusennes'."
The stela tells a story about a man named Wayheset, sent by Shoshenq I to the Dakhla Oasis. Wayheset settled a water dispute by looking at a land record from "Year 19 of a Pharaoh Psusennes." This record showed that a woman named Tewhunet, Nysu-Bastet's mother, used to own certain water rights.
Historians first thought this "Pharaoh Psusennes" was Psusennes I, who ruled much earlier. But if it was Psusennes I, Nysu-Bastet would have been very old when he tried to claim his mother's water rights, which seems unlikely. This suggests that the "Pharaoh Psusennes" mentioned was actually Psusennes II, Shoshenq I's immediate predecessor. This would mean Psusennes II ruled for at least 19 years.
Understanding the Title "Pharaoh"
The way the title "Pharaoh Psusennes" is used in the Dakhla stela is very important. In ancient Egypt, the word "pharaoh" (pr-`3) was originally a term for the royal palace. It was used to talk about the king's actions, like "Pharaoh ordered a temple." It wasn't used as a title directly with a king's name, like "Pharaoh Ramesses."
However, this changed over time. The earliest known use of "pharaoh" as a title with a king's name is in the 17th year of King Siamun, who ruled before Psusennes II. Another example is a carving in the Abydos temple of Seti I, which calls Psusennes II "Pharaoh Psusennes."
This means that using "Pharaoh" as a title with a king's name started before Shoshenq I's reign. So, the "Pharaoh Psusennes" in the Dakhla stela must be Psusennes II. This makes the gap between Nysu-Bastet and his mother's water rights much shorter, making the story more believable. The stela's date also confirms that the king Shoshenq mentioned is Shoshenq I, not a later king.
A Longer Reign for Psusennes II
Because of this new evidence, many experts now believe Psusennes II ruled for 24 years instead of 14. This is similar to how the reign of Siamun was changed from 9 years to 19 years based on new discoveries.
Based on the Dakhla stela, Psusennes II ruled for at least 19 years. We also know that Siamun's 17th year was around 970 BC. Since Siamun ruled for 19 years, he would have died around 968/967 BC. Psusennes II would have become king by 967 BC at the latest. Therefore, a reign of 24 years, from 967 BC to 943 BC, is now considered very likely for Psusennes II.
Psusennes II's royal name has been found with his successor, Shoshenq I, in a carving from tomb TT18 and on an ostracon from Umm el-Qa'ab.
Images for kids
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Statue with dedication to Psusennes II and Shoshenq I (originally for Thutmose III). Cairo, CG 42192 (JE 37005)
