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Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt

1991 BC – 1802 BC
Fragment of a statue of Amenemhat III12th Dynasty c. 1800 BCState Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich
Fragment of a statue of Amenemhat III
12th Dynasty c. 1800 BC
State Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich
Capital Thebes, Itjtawy
Common languages Egyptian language
Religion
ancient Egyptian religion
Government Absolute monarchy
Historical era Bronze Age
• Established
1991 BC 
• Disestablished
 1802 BC
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt
Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt


The Twelfth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (Dynasty XII) is considered to be the apex of the Middle Kingdom by Egyptologists. It often is combined with the Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth dynasties under the group title, Middle Kingdom. Some scholars only consider the 11th and 12th dynasties to be part of the Middle Kingdom.

History

The chronology of the Twelfth Dynasty is the most stable of any period before the New Kingdom. The Turin Royal Canon gives 213 years (1991–1778 BC). Manetho stated that it was based in Thebes, but from contemporary records it is clear that the first king of this dynasty, Amenemhat I, moved its capital to a new city named "Amenemhat-itj-tawy" ("Amenemhat the Seizer of the Two Lands"), more simply called, Itjtawy. The location of Itjtawy has not been discovered yet, but is thought to be near the Fayyum, probably near the royal graveyards at el-Lisht.

The order of its rulers of the Twelfth Dynasty is well known from several sources: two lists recorded at temples in Abydos and one at Saqqara, as well as lists derived from Manetho's work. A recorded date during the reign of Senusret III can be correlated to the Sothic cycle, consequently, many events during this dynasty frequently can be assigned to a specific year.

Texts from the period mention Amenehmat I's mother being from the Elephantine Egyptian nome Ta-Seti. Many scholars in recent years have argued that Amenehmat I's mother was of Nubian origin.

Rulers

Dynasty XII Kings of Egypt
Name Horus (throne) name Image Date Pyramid Queen(s)
Amenemhat I Sehetepibre AmenemhetIPyramid.jpg 1991 – 1962 BC Pyramid of Amenemhet I Neferitatjenen
Senusret I (Sesostris I) Kheperkare Statue Senusret I Petrie.jpg 1971 – 1926 BC Pyramid of Senusret I Neferu III
Amenemhat II Nubkhaure Amenemhat II.jpg 1929 – 1895 BC White Pyramid Kaneferu
Keminub?
Senusret II (Sesostris II) Khakheperre Copenhagen 2018-01-14 (39149415244).jpg 1897 – 1878 BC Pyramid at
El-Lahun
Khenemetneferhedjet I
Nofret II
Itaweret?
Khnemet
Senusret III (Sesostris III) Khakaure Senwosret III, ca. 1836-1818 B.C.E. Granite.jpg 1878 – 1839 BC Pyramid at Dahshur Meretseger
Neferthenut
Khnemetneferhedjet II
Sithathoriunet
Amenemhat III Nimaatre Amenemhat III.jpg 1860 – 1814 BC Black Pyramid; Pyramid at Hawara Aat
Hetepi
Khenemetneferhedjet III
Amenemhat IV Maakherure AmmenemesIV(Front)-BritishMuseum-August19-08.jpg 1815 – 1806 BC Southern Mazghuna pyramid (conjectural)
Sobekneferu Sobekkare Statue of Sobekneferu (Berlin Egyptian Museum 14475).jpg 1806 – 1802 BC Northern Mazghuna pyramid (conjectural)

Known rulers of the Twelfth Dynasty are as follows:

Amenemhat I

This dynasty was founded by Amenemhat I, who may have been vizier to the last king of Dynasty XI, Mentuhotep IV. His armies campaigned south as far as the Second Cataract of the Nile and into southern Canaan. He also reestablished diplomatic relations with the Canaanite state of Byblos and Hellenic rulers in the Aegean Sea. He was the father of Senusret I.

Senusret I

Senusret I followed his father's triumphs with an expedition south to the Third Cataract.

Amenemhat II

GuardianStatueofAmenemhmatII
A guardian statue which reflects the facial features of the reigning king, probably Amenemhat II or Senwosret II, and which functioned as a divine guardian for the imiut. Made of cedar wood and plaster c. 1919–1885 BC

Amenemhat II was king during a very peaceful time.

Senusret II

Senusret II also was content to live in peace.

Head of Senusret III with youthful features. 12th Dynasty, c. 1870 BC. State Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich
Head of Senusret III with youthful features, 12th Dynasty, c. 1870 BC, State Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich
Statue of Sobekneferu (Berlin Egyptian Museum 14475)
Sobekneferu was the last ruler of the 12th Dynasty
Stele of Abkau
Stele of Abkau dates to the 12th Dynasty

Senusret III

Finding Nubia had grown restive under the previous rulers, Senusret sent punitive expeditions into that land. He also sent an expedition into the Levant. His military campaigns gave birth to a legend of a mighty warrior named Sesostris, a story retold by Manetho, Herodotus, and Diodorus Siculus. Manetho claimed the mythical Sesostris not only subdued the lands as had Senusret I, but also conquered parts of Canaan and had crossed over into Europe to annex Thrace. However, there are no records of the time, either in Egyptian or other contemporary writings that confirm Manetho's additional claims.

Amenemhat III

Senusret's successor Amenemhat III reaffirmed his predecessor's foreign policy. However, after Amenemhat, the energies of this dynasty were largely spent, and the growing troubles of government were left to the dynasty's last ruler, Sobekneferu, to resolve. Amenemhat was remembered for the mortuary temple at Hawara that he built, known to Herodotus, Diodorus, and Strabo as the "Labyrinth". Additionally, under his reign, the marshy Fayyum was first exploited.

Amenemhat IV

Amenemhat IV succeeded his father, Amenemhat III, and ruled for approximately nine years.

Sobekneferu

Sobekneferu, a daughter of Amenemhat III, was left with the unresolved governmental issues that are noted as arising during her father's reign when she succeeded Amenemhat IV, thought to be her brother, half brother, or step brother. Upon his death, she became the heir to the throne because her older sister, Neferuptah, who would have been the next in line to rule, died at an early age. Sobekneferu was the last king of the twelfth dynasty. There is no record of her having an heir. She also had a relatively short reign and the next dynasty began with a shift in succession, possibly to unrelated heirs of Amenemhat IV.

Ancient Egyptian literature refined

It was during the twelfth dynasty that Ancient Egyptian literature was refined. Perhaps the best known work from this period is The Story of Sinuhe, of which several hundred papyrus copies have been recovered. Also written during this dynasty were a number of didactic works, such as the Instructions of Amenemhat and The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant.

Also, the kings of dynasties twelve through eighteen are credited with preserving for posterity some of the most remarkable Egyptian papyri that have survived to today:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dinastía XII de Egipto para niños

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