In this book, Lisa Sabbahy presents a history of ancient Egyptian kingship in the Old Kingdom and its re-formation in the early Middle Kingdom. Beginning with an account of Egypt's history before the Old Kingdom, she examines the basis of kingship and its legitimacy. The heart of her study is an exploration of the king's constant emphasis on his relationship to his divine parents, the sun god Ra and his mother, the goddess Hathor, who were two of the most important deities backing the rule of a divine king. Sabbahy focuses on the cardinal importance of this relationship, which is reflected in the king's monuments, particularly his pyramid complexes, several of which are analysed in detail. Sabbahy also offers new insights into the role of queens in the early history of Egypt, notably sibling royal marriages, harem conspiracies, and the possible connotations of royal female titles.
Author(s): Lisa K. Sabbahy
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: x+208
Kingship, Power, and Legitimacy in Ancient Egypt: From the Old Kingdom to the Middle Kingdom
Contents
List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Background to Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian History and Chronology
Early Evidence and Formation of a State
The Early Dynastic Period: The First Dynasty
The Second Dynasty
Basis of Egyptian Kingship
Beginning of Government and Administration
2 The Early Old Kingdom
The Third Dynasty: The Reign of King Netjerikhet (2667–2648)
The Fourth Dynasty
The Reign of Sneferu (2613–2589)
The Reign of Khufu (2589–2566)
The Reign of Djedefra (2566–2558)
The Reign of Khafra (2558–2532)
The Reign of Menkaura (2532–2503) and the End of the Fourth Dynasty
3 The Later Old Kingdom
The Fifth Dynasty
The Reign of Userkaf (2494–2487)
The Reign of Sahura (2487–2475)
The Reign of Nyuserra (2445–2421)
The End of the Fifth Dynasty
The Reign of Unas (2375–2345) and the Pyramid Texts
The Sixth Dynasty
The Reign of King Teti (2345–2323)
The Reign of King Pepy I (2321–2287)
The Reign of King Pepy II (2278–2184)
The End of the Sixth Dynasty
4 The Early Middle Kingdom Reunifies Egypt
The Reign of Mentuhotep II (2055–2004)
The End of the Eleventh Dynasty
5 The Beginning of the Twelfth Dynasty
The Reign of Amenemhat I (1985–1956)
The Reign of Senusret I (1956–1911)
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
