Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox pharaoh Taharqa, also spelled Taharka or Taharqo, Akkadian: File:Rassam cylinder Tar-qu-u2.jpg Tar-qu-ú, Template:Langx, Manetho's Tarakos, Strabo's Tearco), was a pharaoh of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt and qore (king) of the Kingdom of Kush (present day Sudan) from 690 to 664 BC. He was one of the "Black Pharaohs" - or, more consensually, Nubian or Kushite Pharaohs<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>"One of the other problems with the "Black Pharaohs" moniker is that it implies that none of the other Predynastic, Protodynastic, or dynastic Egyptian rulers could be called "black" - in the sense of the Kushites - which, while not particularly interesting, is not true. Even Sir Flinders Petrie, father of the Asiatic "Dynastic Race" theory of dynastic Egypt's foundation, stated that various other dynasties were of "Sudany" origin or had connections there, based on phenotype; which implies [incorrectly] that particular traits could not have been Egyptian i.e. been a part of its ancestral biological variation".{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> - who ruled over Egypt for nearly a century.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>"Pharaoh Taharqa ruled from 690 to 664 BCE and in all likelihood was the last black pharaoh to rule over all of Egypt" in Template:Cite book</ref>
Early lifeEdit
Template:See also Taharqa may have been the son of Piye, the Nubian king of Napata who had first conquered Egypt, though the relationships in this family are not completely clear (see Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt family tree). Taharqa was also the cousin and successor of Shebitku.<ref>Toby Wilkinson, The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Ancient Egypt, Thames & Hudson, 2005. p.237</ref> The successful campaigns of Piye and Shabaka paved the way for a prosperous reign by Taharqa.
Ruling periodEdit
Taharqa's reign can be dated from 690 BC to 664 BC.Template:Sfn Evidence for the dates of his reign is derived from the Serapeum stele, catalog number 192. This stela records that an Apis bull born and installed (fourth month of Season of the Emergence, day 9) in year 26 of Taharqa died in Year 20 of Psamtik I (4th month of Shomu, day 20), having lived 21 years. This would give Taharqa a reign of 26 years and a fraction, in 690–664 BC.Template:Sfn
Irregular accession to powerEdit
Taharqa explicitly states in Kawa Stela V, line 15, that he succeeded his predecessor (previously assumed to be Shebitku but now established to be Shabaka instead) after the latter's death with this statement: "I received the Crown in Memphis after the Falcon flew to heaven."Template:Sfn The reference to Shebitku was an attempt by Taharqa to legitimise his accession to power.Template:Sfn However, the text never mentions the identity of the royal falcon and completely omits any mention of Shabaka's intervening reign between Shebitku and Taharqa, possibly because Taharqa ousted Shabaka from power.Template:Sfn
In Kawa IV, line 7–13, Taharqa states:
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He (Taharqa) sailed northward to Thebes amongst the beautiful young people that His Majesty, the late King Shabataqo/Shebitku, had sent from Nubia. He was there (in Thebes) with him. He appreciated him more than any of his brothers. (There here follows a description of the [poor] state of the temple of Kawa as observed by the prince). The heart of his Majesty was in sadness about it until his Majesty became king, crowned as King of Upper and Lower Egypt (...). It was during the first year of his reign he remembered what he had seen of the temple when he was young.<ref>[52 – JWIS III 132-135; FHN I, number 21, 135-144.]</ref>{{#if:|{{#if:|}}
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In Kawa V: line 15, Taharqa states
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I was brought from Nubia amongst the royal brothers that his Majesty had brought. As I was with him, he liked me more than all his brothers and all his children, so that he distinguished me. I won the heart of the nobles and was loved by all. It was only after the hawk had flown to heaven that I received the crown in Memphis.<ref>[53 – JWIS III 135-138; FHN I, number 22, 145-158.]</ref>{{#if:|{{#if:|}}
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Therefore, Taharqa says that King Shebitku, who was very fond of him, brought him with him to Egypt and during that trip he had the opportunity to see the deplorable state of the temple of Amun at Kawa, an event he remembered after becoming king. But on Kawa V Taharqa says that sometime after his arrival in Egypt under a different king whom this time he chose not to name, there occurred the death of this monarch (Shabaka here) and then his own accession to the throne occurred. Taharqa's evasiveness on the identity of his predecessor suggests that he assumed power in an irregular fashion and chose to legitimise his kingship by conveniently stating the possible fact or propaganda that Shebitku favoured him "more than all his brothers and all his children."Template:Sfn
Moreover, in lines 13 – 14 of Kawa stela V, His Majesty (who can be none other but Shebitku), is mentioned twice, and at first sight the falcon or hawk that flew to heaven, mentioned in the very next line 15, seems to be identical with His Majesty referred to directly before (i.e. Shebitku).<ref name=Broekman>Template:Cite book</ref> However, in the critical line 15 which recorded Taharqa's accession to power, a new stage of the narrative begins, separated from the previous one by a period of many years, and the king or hawk/falcon that flew to heaven is conspicuously left unnamed in order to distinguish him from His Majesty, Shebitku. Moreover, the purpose of Kawa V, was to describe several separate events that occurred at distinct stages of Taharqa's life, instead of telling a continuous story about it.<ref name=Broekman /> Therefore, the Kawa V text began with the 6th year of Taharqa and referred to the High Nile flood of that year before abruptly jumping back to Taharqa's youth at the end of line 13.<ref name=Broekman /> In the beginning of line 15, Taharqa's coronation is mentioned (with the identity of the hawk/falcon—now known to be Shabaka—left unnamed but if it was Shebitku, Taharqa's favourite king, Taharqa would clearly have identified him) and there is a description given of the extent of the lands and foreign countries under Egypt's control but then (in the middle of line 16) the narrative switches abruptly back again to Taharqa's youth: "My mother was in Ta-Sety …. Now I was far from her as a twenty year old recruit, as I went with His Majesty to the North Land".<ref name=Broekman /> However, immediately afterwards (around the middle of line 17) the text jumps forward again to the time of Taharqa's accession: "Then she came sailing downstream to see me after a long period of years. She found me after I had appeared on the throne of Horus...".<ref name=Broekman /> Hence, the Kawa V narrative switches from one event to another, and has little to no chronological coherence or value.
ReignEdit
Although Taharqa's reign was filled with conflict with the Assyrians, it was also a prosperous renaissance period in Egypt and Kush.<ref name=Welsby>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Torok>Template:Cite book</ref> The empire flourished under Taharqa, due in part to a particularly large Nile river flood, abundant crops,<ref name="Welsby" /> and the "intellectual and material resources set free by an efficient central government."<ref name="Torok" /> Taharqa's inscriptions indicate that he gave large amounts of gold to the temple of Amun at Kawa.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Nile valley empire was as large as it had been since the New Kingdom.<ref name="Török, László 1997">Török, László. The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization. Leiden: Brill, 1997. Google Scholar. Web. 20 Oct. 2011.</ref> Taharqa and the 25th dynasty revived Egyptian culture.<ref name="Diop 219–221">Template:Cite book</ref> Religion, arts, and architecture were restored to their glorious Old, Middle, and New Kingdom forms. During Taharqa's reign, the "central features of Theban theology were merged with Egyptian Middle and New Kingdom imperial ideology.".<ref name="Torok" /> Under Taharqa, the cultural integration of Egypt and Kush reached such a point that it could not be reversed, even after the Assyrian conquest.<ref name="Torok" /> Template:Multiple image Taharqa restored existing temples and built new ones. Particularly impressive were his additions to the Temple at Karnak, new temple at Kawa, and temples at Jebel Barkal.<ref name="Diop 219–221" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Mokhtar1990" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Taharqa continued the 25th dynasty's ambitious program to develop Jebel Barkal into a "monumental complex of sanctuaries...centered around the great temple of...Amun."<ref name="Torok" /> The similarity of Jebel Barkal to Karnak "seems to be central to the builders at Jebel Barkal.".<ref name="Torok" /> The rest of Taharqa's constructions served to create "Temple Towns", which were "local centers of government, production, and redistribution."<ref name="Torok" />
It was during the 25th dynasty that the Nile valley saw the first widespread construction of pyramids (many in modern Sudan) since the Middle Kingdom.<ref name="Mokhtar1990">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Emberling2011">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Silverman1997">Template:Cite book</ref> Taharqa built the largest pyramid (~52 meters square at base) in the Nubian region at Nuri (near El-Kurru) with the most elaborate Kushite rock-cut tomb.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Taharqa was buried with "over 1070 shabtis of varying sizes and made of granite, green ankerite, and alabaster."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
War between Taharqa and AssyriaEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Multiple image Taharqa began cultivating alliances with elements in Phoenicia and Philistia who were prepared to take a more independent position against Assyria.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Taharqa's army undertook successful military campaigns, as attested by the "list of conquered Asiatic principalities" from the Mut temple at Karnak and "conquered peoples and countries (Libyans, Shasu nomads, Phoenicians?, Khor in Palestine)" from Sanam temple inscriptions.<ref name="Torok" /> Torok mentions the military success was due to Taharqa's efforts to strengthen the army through daily training in long-distance running, as well as Assyria's preoccupation with Babylon and Elam.<ref name="Torok" /> Taharqa also built military settlements at the Semna and Buhen forts and the fortified site of Qasr Ibrim.<ref name="Torok" />
Imperial ambitions of the Mesopotamian-based Assyrian Empire made war with the 25th dynasty inevitable. In 701 BC, the Kushites aided Judah and King Hezekiah in withstanding the siege of Jerusalem by King Sennacherib of the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:9; Isaiah 37:9).<ref name=Aubin>Template:Cite book</ref> There are various theories (Taharqa's army,<ref name="The Rescue of Jerusalem">Template:Cite book</ref> disease, divine intervention, Hezekiah's surrender, Herodotus' mice theory) as to why the Assyrians failed to take Jerusalem and withdrew to Assyria.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> historians claim that Sennacherib was the overlord of Khor following the siege in 701 BC. Sennacherib's annals record Judah was forced into tribute after the siege.<ref name="Roux">Template:Cite book</ref> However, this is contradicted by Khor's frequent utilization of an Egyptian system of weights for trade,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the 20 year cessation in Assyria's pattern (before 701 and after Sennacherib's death) of repeatedly invading Khor,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Khor paying tribute to Amun of Karnak in the first half of Taharqa's reign,<ref name="Torok" /> and Taharqa flouting Assyria's ban on Lebanese cedar exports to Egypt, while Taharqa was building his temple to Amun at Kawa.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 679 BC, Sennacherib's successor, King Esarhaddon, campaigned into Khor and took a town loyal to Egypt. After destroying Sidon and forcing Tyre into tribute in 677-676 BC, Esarhaddon invaded Egypt proper in 674 BC. Taharqa and his army defeated the Assyrians outright in 674 BC, according to Babylonian records.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This invasion, which only a few Assyrian sources discuss, ended in what some scholars have assumed was possibly one of Assyria's worst defeats.Template:Sfn In 672 BC, Taharqa brought reserve troops from Kush, as mentioned in rock inscriptions.<ref name="Torok" /> Taharqa's Egypt still held sway in Khor during this period as evidenced by Esarhaddon's 671 BC annal mentioning that Tyre's King Ba'lu had "put his trust upon his friend Taharqa", Ashkelon's alliance with Egypt, and Esarhaddon's inscription asking "if the Kushite-Egyptian forces 'plan and strive to wage war in any way' and if the Egyptian forces will defeat Esarhaddon at Ashkelon."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> However, Taharqa was defeated in Egypt in 671 BC when Esarhaddon conquered Northern Egypt, captured Memphis, imposed tribute, and then withdrew.<ref name="Welsby" /> Although the Pharaoh Taharqa had escaped to the south, Esarhaddon captured the Pharaoh's family, including "Prince Nes-Anhuret, royal wives,"<ref name="Torok" /> and most of the royal courtTemplate:Citation needed, which were sent to Assyria as hostages. Cuneiform tablets mention numerous horses and gold headdresses were taken back to Assyria.<ref name="Torok" /> In 669 BC, Taharqa reoccupied Memphis, as well as the Delta, and recommenced intrigues with the king of Tyre.<ref name="Welsby" /> Taharqa intrigued in the affairs of Lower Egypt, and fanned numerous revolts.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Esarhaddon again led his army to Egypt and on his death in 668 BC, the command passed to Ashurbanipal. Ashurbanipal and the Assyrians again defeated Taharqa and advanced as far south as Thebes, but direct Assyrian control was not established."<ref name="Welsby" /> The rebellion was stopped and Ashurbanipal appointed as his vassal ruler in Egypt Necho I, who had been king of the city Sais. Necho's son, Psamtik I was educated at the Assyrian capital of Nineveh during Esarhaddon's reign.Template:Sfn As late as 665 BC, the vassal rulers of Sais, Mendes, and Pelusium were still making overtures to Taharqa in Kush.<ref name="Torok" /> The vassal's plot was uncovered by Ashurbanipal and all rebels but Necho of Sais were executed.<ref name="Torok" />
The remains of three colossal statues of Taharqa were found at the entrance of the palace at Nineveh. These statues were probably brought back as war trophies by Esarhaddon, who also brought back royal hostages and numerous luxury objects from Egypt.<ref name="Yale University Press"/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
DeathEdit
Taharqa died in the city of Thebes<ref>Historical Prism inscription of Ashurbanipal I Template:Webarchive by Arthur Carl Piepkorn page 36. Published by University of Chicago Press</ref> in 664 BC. He was followed by his appointed successor Tantamani, a son of Shabaka, who invaded Lower Egypt in hopes of restoring his family's control. This led to a renewed conflict with Ashurbanipal and the Sack of Thebes by the Assyrians in 663 BCE. He was himself succeeded by a son of Taharqa, Atlanersa.
Nuri pyramidEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Taharqa chose the site of Nuri in North Sudan to build his pyramid, away from the traditional burial site of El-Kurru. It was the first and the largest pyramid of Nuri, and he was followed by close to twenty later kings at the site.<ref>Why did Taharqa build his tomb at Nuri? Template:Webarchive Conference of Nubian Studies</ref>
Biblical referencesEdit
Mainstream scholars agree that Taharqa is the Biblical "Tirhakah" (Heb: תִּרְהָקָה), king of Nubia (Kush), who waged war against Sennacherib during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah (2 Kings 19:9; Isaiah 37:9).<ref>Template:JewishEncyclopedia</ref><ref name="The Rescue of Jerusalem" />
The events in the biblical account are believed to have taken place in 701 BC, whereas Taharqa came to the throne some ten years later. If the title of king in the biblical text refers to his future royal title, he still may have been too young to be a military commander,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> although this is disputed.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> According to the egyptologist Jeremy Pope, Taharqa was probably between 25 and 33 years old in 701 BC and, following Kushite custom to delegate actual leadership in combat to a subordinate, was sent by his predecessor Shabako as a military commander to fight against the Assyrians.Template:Sfn
Aubin mentions that the biblical account in Genesis 10:6-7 (Table of Nations) lists Taharqa's predecessors, Shebitku and Shabako (סַבְתְּכָ֑א and סַבְתָּ֥ה).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Concerning Taharqa's successor, the sack of Thebes was a momentous event that reverberated throughout the Ancient Near East. It is mentioned in the Book of Nahum chapter 3:8-10:
DepictionsEdit
Taharqa, under the name "Tearco the Aethiopian", was described by the Ancient Greek historian Strabo. Strabo mentioned Taharqa in a list of other notable conquerors (Cyrus the Great, Xerxes, Sesotris) and mentioned that these princes had undertaken "expeditions to lands far remote."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Strabo mentions Taharqa as having "Advanced as far as Europe",<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and (citing Megasthenes), even as far as the Pillars of Hercules in Spain:<ref>Snowden, Before Color Prejudice: The Ancient View of Blacks. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1983, p.52</ref> Similarly, in 1534 the Muslim scholar Ibn-l-Khattib al-Makkary wrote an account of Taharqa's "establishment of a garrison in the south of Spain in approximately 702 BC."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
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However, Sesostris, the Aegyptian, he adds, and Tearco the Aethiopian advanced as far as Europe; and Nabocodrosor, who enjoyed greater repute among the Chaldaeans than Heracles, led an army even as far as the Pillars. Thus far, he says, also Tearco went.{{#if:Strabo, Geographia, XV.1.6.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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The two snakes in the crown of pharaoh Taharqa show that he was the king of both the lands of Egypt and Nubia.
Monuments of TaharqaEdit
Taharqa has left monuments throughout Egypt and Nubia. In Memphis, Thebes, and Napata he rebuilt or restored the Temple of Amon.<ref>Cf. D. Meeks, Hommage à Serge Sauneron I, 1979, Une fondation Memphite de Taharqa (Stèle du Caire JE 36861), Template:P..</ref>
Taharqa in KarnakEdit
Taharqa is known for various monuments in Karnak.
- Karnak R03.jpg
Taharqa column
- Karnak Tempel Vorhof 25.JPG
Kiosk of Taharqa in Karnak
- Chapelle Taharka Chepenoupet.jpg
Chapel of Taharqa and Shepenwepet in Karnak
- Taharqa's kiosk. Karnak Temple.jpg
Taharqa's kiosk. Karnak Temple
Shrine of Taharqa in KawaEdit
A small temple of Taharqa was once located at Kawa in Nubia (modern Sudan). It is located today in the Ashmolean Museum.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Shrine of the 25th dynasty pharaoh and Kushite King Taharqa Egypt 7th century BCE.jpg
- Shrine & Sphinx of Taharqa.jpg
Shrine and Sphinx of Taharqa. Taharqa appears between the legs of the Ram-Spinx
- Ram-Sphinx of Amun-Ra.jpg
The Ram-Spinx and Taharqa
- Taharqa relief.jpg
Relief of Taharqa on the shrine
- Taharqa cartouche.jpg
Taharqa cartouche on the Shrine
- Pharaoh Taharqa and the gods of Thebes. Standing on the left, he offers "a white loaf" to his father Amun-Re, who is accompanied by Mut, Khonsu and Montu, Kawa Temple.jpg
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- Taharqa and the gods of Gematen (the Temple of Kawa). He makes an offering to the ram-headed god Amun-Re. Kawa shrine.jpg
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- Closeup of Taharqa embracing Horus on the Shrine of the 25th dynasty pharaoh and Kushite King Taharqa Egypt 7th century BCE.jpg
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Taharqa in Jebel BarkalEdit
Taharqa is depicted in various reliefs in Jebel Barkal, particularly in the Temple of Mut.
- Interior, Temple of Mut (B 300), Jebel Barkal, Sudan, North-east Africa.jpg
Taharqa in the Temple of Mut
- Amun in Barkal.jpg
Taharqa before the god Amun in Gebel Barkal (Sudan), in Temple of Mut, Jebel Barkal
- Abar.jpg
Taharqa followed by his mother Queen Abar. Gebel Barkal – room C
- Taharqa-queen.jpg
Taharqa with Queen Takahatamun at Gebel Barkal
- JebelBarkalMutTemple3.jpg
Lion-headed God Appademak with Pharaoh Taharqa (right) in the Jebel Barkal Temple of Mut
- JebelBarkalMutTemple2.jpg
Taharqa, followed by the sistrum shaking queen Takahatenamun in the Jebel Barkal Temple of Mut
- Taharqa in the Temple of Mut, Jebel Barkal, Sudan.jpg
Taharqa making dedications to Egyptian Gods, in the Temple of Mut, Jebel Barkal, Sudan. His name appears in the second cartouche: 𓇿𓉔𓃭𓈎 (tꜣ-h-rw-k, "Taharqa").
Museum artifactsEdit
- Egypte louvre 062 offrande.jpg
Taharqa offering wine jars to Falcon-god Hemen
- Taharqa, ca. 690-64 BCE, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen (36420740125).jpg
Taharqa, Template:Circa-64 BCE, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen
- Taharqo under a sphinx.jpg
Taharqa under a sphinx, British Museum
- Rulers of Kush, Kerma Museum.jpg
Taharqa appears as the tallest statue in the back (2.7 meters), Kerma Museum.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- SphinxOfTaharqa.jpg
Granite sphinx of Taharqa from Kawa in Sudan
- Serpentine weight of 10 daric. Inscribed for Taharqa in the midst of Sais. 25th Dynasty. From Egypt, probably from Nesaft. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg
Serpentine weight of 10 daric. Inscribed for Taharqa in the midst of Sais. 25th Dynasty. From Egypt, probably from Nesaft. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
- Egypte louvre 063 crosse.jpg
Taharqa as a sphinx
- Louvre 042005 10.jpg
Taharqa close-up
- Taharqa in double uraeus cap.jpg
Pharaoh Taharqa. 25th dynasty of Egypt
- Shabti of King Taharqa.jpg
Shabti of King Taharqa
See alsoEdit
- List of monarchs of Kush
- List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources
- Takhar (the deity)
- Victory stele of Esarhaddon
- Statues of Amun in the form of a ram protecting King Taharqa
- Sphinx of Taharqo
ReferencesEdit
SourcesEdit
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Further readingEdit
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