Egyptian Liberation War Against The Hyksos

The 17th Dynasty and the war of reunification
Rishi cofin of Sekhemra Intef VI

Buried by his brother, Nubkheperra Intef VII
Both appear to be sons of Sobekemsaf
Dra Abu el-Naga
Thebes
Intef VII from Dra Abu el-Naga
Part of a shrine at Koptos
built by Intef VII
Nubkheperre
Sobekemsaf II
Sobekemsaf II statuary
Sources for the War of Reunification at the end of the
Second Intermediate Period
Archaeological:
body of Seqenenre-Taa
tomb artifacts of Ahhotep
remarkably little else – destruction layers at Nubian forts?
abandonment of northern sites?
Deir el-Ballas fortification and palaces
Literary:
Two stelae set up at Karnak by Kamose
Rhind Mathematical Papyrus insert (only source from Hyksos
point of view!)
Stela at Karnak set up by Ahmose for Ahhotep
Tomb autobiographies of soldiers from el-Kab, especially
Ahmose, son of Ibana
Pictorial:
relief scenes from the temple at Ahmose’s pyramid complex at Abydos
Seqenenre Taa – 17th Dynasty
king
Started the war of reunification
against the Hyksos
Stela of Kamose, last king of
Dynasty XVII
Excerpts from the Kamose stela:
His majesty spoke in his palace to the council of nobles who were in his
retinue: 'Let me understand what this strength of mine is for! (One) prince is in
Avaris, another is in Nubia, and (here) I sit associated with an Asiatic and a
Nubian! Each man has his slice of this Egypt, dividing up the land with me . . . .
No man can settle down, when despoiled by the taxes of the Asiatics. I will
grapple with him, that I may rip open his belly! My wish is to save Egypt and to
smite the Asiatic!
I went north because I was strong (enough) to attack the Asiatics through the
command of Amun, the just of counsels. My valiant army was in front of me
like a blast of fire. The troops of the Madjai were on the upper part of our
cabins, to seek out the Asiatics and to push back their positions. East and west
had their fat, and the army foraged for things everywhere. I set out a strong
troop of the Madjai, while I was on the day's patrol . . . to him in . . . Teti, the
son of Pepi, within Nefrusi. I would not let him escape while I held back the
Asiatics who had withstood Egypt. He made Nefrusi the nest of the Asiatics. I
spent the night in my boat, with my heart happy.
When day broke, I was on him as if it were a falcon. When the time of
breakfast had come, I attacked him. I broke down his walls, I killed his people,
and I made his wife come down to the riverbank. My soldiers were as lions
are, with their spoil, having serfs, cattle, milk, fat and honey, dividing up their
property, their hearts gay.
Ahmose: first king of the 18th Dynasty
Son of Seqenenre and Ahhotep
Probably brother of Kamose
Finishes the war of reunification

From the stela of Ahhotep at Karnak, set
up by Ahmose
“She is the one who has accomplished the

rites and taken care of Egypt... She has
looked after her soldiers, she has guarded
her, she has brought back her fugitives and
collected together her deserters, she has
pacified Upper Egypt and expelled her
rebels.”
Ahhotep’s outer coffin and some
of the gold jewelry found on her
body.
Jewelry from the tomb of Ahhotep
Excerpts from autobiography of Ahmose son of Ibana
“I followed the sovereign (Ahmose) on foot when he rode about

on his chariot. When the town of Avaris was besieged, I fought
bravely on foot in his majesty’s presence.”
“Then there was fighting on the water in Pjedku of Avaris. I made

a seizure and carried off a hand. When it was reported to the
royal herald the gold of valor was given to me.”
“Then there was fighting in Egypt to the south of this town and I
carried off a man as a living captive. I went down to the water –
for he was captured on the city side – and crossed the water
carrying him. When it was reported to the royal herald I was
rewarded with gold once more. Then Avaris was despoiled, and I
brought spoil from there: one man, three women, total: four
persons. His majesty gave them to me as slaves. Then
Sharuhen was besieged for three years. His majesty despoiled it
and I brought spoil from it: two women and a hand. Then gold of
valor was given to me, and my captives were given to me as
slaves.”
From the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
insert:
“Regnal year 11, second month of shomu,

Heliopolis was entered. First month of akhet,
day 23, this southern prince broke into Tjaru.
Day 25 – it was heard tell that Tjaru had been
entered. Regnal year 11, first month of akhet,
the birthday of Seth – a roar was emitted by the
Majesty of this god. The birthday of Isis – the
sky poured rain.”
Fortifications and palace
at Deir el-Ballas
Kingship in the 18th Dynasty: themes
Royal women
Karnak and other temples
Warfare and international relations
Early New Kingdom Chronology
18th Dynasty:
Early 18th Dynasty
Ahmose-Hatshepsut/Thutmose III
reunification of Egypt, reconquest of Nubia, establishment of Asitatic Empire
Mid-18th Dynasty
Amenhotep II-Amenhotep III
peace, prosperity, monumental building projects in Egypt and Nubia
Amarna Period
Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten-Smenkhare
religious “revolution”, establishment of new political capital, shifting balance
of power in Asia
Late 18th Dynasty/Post Amarna Period

Tutankhamun-Horemheb
return to religious orthodoxy, end of the 18th Dynasty royal family,
reemphasis on militarism
Royal women in Ahmose’s reign:
The ancestors
Burial of Ahhotep by
Stela for Tetisheri erected by
Ahmose (her son)
Ahmose (her grandson) at Abydos
Ahmose-Nefertari, wife of Ahmose
First “God’s Wife of Amun”
Warfare in the reign of Ahmose: reunification and beyond
More from Ahmose son of Abana from the reign of Ahmose

“Now when his majesty had slain the nomads of Asia, he sailed
south to Khent-hen-nefer, to destroy the Nubian Bowmen. His
majesty made a great slaughter among them, and I brought spoil
from there: two living men and three hands. Then I was rewarded
with gold once again, and two female slaves were given to me. His
majesty journeyed north, his heart rejoicing in valour and victory.
He had conquered southerners, northerners.
Then Aata came to the South. His fate brought on his doom. The
gods of Upper Egypt grasped him. He was found by his majesty at
Tent-taa. His majesty carried him off as a living captive, and all his
people as booty. I brought two young warriors as captives from the
ship of Aata. Then I was given five persons and portions of land
amounting to five arurae in my town. The same was done for the
whole crew.
Then came that foe named Tetian. He had gathered the

malcontents to himself. His majesty slew him; his troop was wiped
out. Then I was given three persons and five arura of land in my
town.”
Ahmose Pyramid complex at Abydos
Fragments of war-related reliefs
from Ahmose’s mortuary temple
at Abydos
Genealogy of the early 18th Dynasty
17th Dynasty (Second Intermediate Period)
18th Dynasty (New Kingdom)
Red indicates people who ruled as kings

Amenhotep I at Karnak
Amenhotep I statue
from Sai Island
Further excerpt from Ahmose son of Ibana:
Then I conveyed King Djeserkare (Amenhotep I), the justified,

when he sailed south to Kush, to enlarge the borders of Egypt.
His majesty smote that Nubian Bowman in the midst of his army.
They were carried of in fetters, none missing, the fleeing
destroyed as if they had never been. Now I was in the van of
our troops and I fought really well. His majesty saw my valor. I
carried off two hands and presented them to his majesty. Then
his people and his cattle were pursued, and I carried off a living
captive and presented him to his majesty. I brought his majesty
back to Egypt in two days from ‘Upper Well’, and was rewarded
with gold. I brought back two female slaves as booty, apart from
those that I had presented to his majesty. Then they made me a
Warrior of the Ruler.
Genealogy of the early 18th Dynasty
17th Dynasty (Second Intermediate Period)
18th Dynasty (New Kingdom)
Red indicates people who ruled as kings

Autobiography of Turi, King’s Son of Kush (viceroy) under Thutmose I: the
coronation decree
"This royal [decree is brought] to inform you that My Majesty, may he live,
prosper and be healthy, has arisen as King of Upper and Lower Egypt upon
the Horus throne of the living, with no equal in eternity. My titulary has been
composed as:
`Horus Mighty Bull, Beloved of Truth, He of the Two Ladies, Risen with the
fiery serpent, Great of Strength, Horus of Gold, Perfect of Years. He who
makes hearts live, King of Upper and Lower Egypt Aakheperkara Son of Ra
Thutmose living forever and eternity.'
Now you are to have divine offerings presented to the temples of the Southern
Reach of Elephantine in doing what is praised upon the life-prosperity-health
of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Aakheperkara given life, and you are to
have oaths taken in the name of My Majesty, may he live, prosper and be
healthy, born of the King's Mother Seniseneb, in health. This is sent to inform
you of this, and that the Royal domain flourishes and prospers.
Year 1, month 3 of winter, day 21, day of the feast of the coronation."
Yet more from Ahmose son of Ibana (it’s a long
inscription):
Then his majesty (Thutmosis I) was informed that the Nubian…. At

this, his majesty became enraged like a leopard. His majesty shot,
and his first arrow pierced the chest of that foe. Then those
[enemies turned to flee], helpless before his Uraeus. A slaughter
was made among them; their dependents were carried off as living
captives. His majesty journeyed north, all foreign lands in his
grasp, and that wretched Nubian Bowman head downward at the
bow of his majesty’s ship “Falcon”.
…
His majesty (still Thutmosis I) reached Naharin and found that the
fallen one had mustered his troops. Then his majesty made a great
slaughter among them, there was no end to the living captives his
majesty took in his victory.

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The 17th Dynasty and the war of reunification

Rishi cofin of Sekhemra Intef VI

Finishes the war of reunification

“She is the one who has accomplished the

“I followed the sovereign (Ahmose) on foot when he rode about

“Then there was fighting on the water in Pjedku of Avaris. I made

“Regnal year 11, second month of shomu,

Late 18th Dynasty/Post Amarna Period

More from Ahmose son of Abana from the reign of Ahmose

Then came that foe named Tetian. He had gathered the

17th Dynasty (Second Intermediate Period)

18th Dynasty (New Kingdom)

Red indicates people who ruled as kings

Then I conveyed King Djeserkare (Amenhotep I), the justified,

17th Dynasty (Second Intermediate Period)

18th Dynasty (New Kingdom)

Red indicates people who ruled as kings

Then his majesty (Thutmosis I) was informed that the Nubian…. At

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