|
 Egypt's
18th Dynasty that established the New Kingdom is, to most people
interested in Egypt, a dynasty of stars. It is the dynasty of
Tutankhamun who was a fairly minor king, but perhaps the best known of any
of the pharaohs. It was also the dynasty of the well known Akhenaten, and of
Queen Hatshepsut.
 The
founder of this Dynasty is less well known to the general public, but
unquestionably of major importance to Egyptian history. He was
Ahmose I, during who's reign Egypt was finally and completely liberated
from the Hyksos. Various scholars attribute different dates to his reign,
but he probably became ruler of Egypt around 1550 BC at the age of
10, and ruled for a period of around 25 years before his death
(examination of his well preserved mummy suggest he was about 35 when he
died).
Ahmose I (Amosis to the Greeks) was given the birth
name Ah-mose (The Moon is Born). His thrown name was Neb-pehty-re
(The Lord of Strength is Re). He was probably a boy when he assumed
the thrown, having lost his father Seqenenre Taa II and his brother
Kahmose within three years of each other. His mother was Queen
Ashotep, a powerful woman who was perhaps his co-regent during his early
years. Egyptologists believe that during his very early
reign, little was probably accomplished and perhaps the Hyksos may have
even gained some ground, recapturing Heliopolis. However, by the end
of his first decade in power, we know from an Autobiography of
Ahmose, son
of Ibana, a naval officer from El-Kab, that he laid
siege on Avaris (The
tomb of Ahmose Pennekheb, another soldier also records the campaigns).
This was a long battle interrupted by the need to put down insurrections
in already liberated territories, but appears to have been successful
sometime between his 12th and 15th year as ruler. Afterwards, he attacked
the southwest Palestinian fortress of Sharuhen in a six year siege that
would finally put an end to Hyksos control of Egypt. 
A Stele of Ahmose I
Next, he
turned his attention to Nubia (Kush) and, while Kamose (his predecessor) may
have gained some ground prior to his death, Ahmose I pushed the boundaries
south to the Second Cataract. Here, he established a new civil
administration at Buhen probably initially headed by a Viceroy named
Djehuty. 
Ahmose I's Battle Ax
Apparently,
while Ahmose I was in Nubia, former Hyksos allies again attempted a few
uprising in the north lead by an arch enemy of Kamose named Teti-en.
In this instance, Ahmose I's mother, Ahhotpe, was probably responsible for
putting down the rebellion and for this she was awarded the gold flies, an
award for valor that was found on her mummy in her intact tomb at Thebes. After
Ahmose I's campaigns in Nubia, he once again returned to Palestine during
his 22nd year in power and may have fought his way as for as the
Euphrates, according to information on a stela of Tuthmosis
I. 
Ahmose I married his sister, Ahmose-Nefertiri, who became Egypt's first
great God's
Wife of Amun, and had a number of children
including:
-
Merytamun - eldest daughter of Ahmose-Nefertari (died young)
-
Tair - daughter of Kasmut
-
Satamun - 2nd daughter of Ahmose-Nefertari (died infant)
-
Sapair - eldest son of Ahmose-Nefertari (died young)
-
Saamen - 2nd son of Ahmose-Nefertari (died infant)
-
Aahotep - 3rd daughter of Ahmose-Nefertari (Queen)
-
Amenhotep I - 3rd son of Ahmose-Nefertari (King)
-
Satkames - 4th daughter of Ahmose-Nefertari (died aged ~30)
-
Henttameh- daughter of Thenthapi
-
Ahmose - daughter
We also know from Ahmose, son of Ibana that he supported
his reign and rewarded local princes who had supported the Theban cause
during the Second Intermediate Period by gifts of land (as recorded in
Ahmose, son of Ibana's tomb at el-Kab). We also know that he initiated
some temple building projects, notably at Abydos. However, though we
know he reopened the Tura limestone quarries, little survives of his
construction apart form a few additions to the temples of Amun and
Montu
at Karnak. However, a recent Dutch-Egyptian team of archaeologists believe
they may have unearthed the remains of Ahmose's palace in the Al-Dabaa
area in the Sharqiya Governorate of Egypt, a location that was probably
the ancient Hyksos capital. 
Pyramid of Ahmose I
He was
buried in the Dra Abu el-Naga area, but his tomb has yet to be
found. His actual mummy was found in the Deir el-Bahari
cache.
He did have a cenotaph at South Abydos, consisting of a cliff temple and a
pyramid and temple on the edge of the Nile valley. The pyramid which
measures about 70 meters square is the last known royal example built in
Egypt. Some battle scene decorations within the pyramid may have
depicted his wars with the Hyksos. In these scenes are some of the
earliest representation of horses in Egypt.
Archives
|
