Egyptian early-era
Egyptian middle-era
Egyptian final-era

Ancient Egyptian Artifacts High Era 1782BC to 1070BC

 

Introduction

The high era lasted about a seven-hundred years and is broken into two periods: the second intermediate period and the new kingdom. The second intermediate period covers the 13th through 17th dynasties, covering about two hundred years. The new kingdom is composed of dynasties 18 and 19, covering around five hundred years.

Second Intermediate Period

The transition from the 12th Dynasty to the 13th seems to have gone without violence; although, Egypt was no longer united. Ten rulers have been identified, and most reigns lasted only a short time. Little is known for sure about this period. Toward the end of the 13th Dynasty, the 14th ruled the eastern part of the Delta. Even less is known of the 14th Dynasty. The 15th Dynasty came from Asia, primarily from the desert areas of Lebanon and Palestine. The invaders, called the Hyksos, were a Semitic people who invaded Egypt and ruled it during the 16th and 17th centuries BC They introduced the horse and chariot into Egypt. They took control of the Eastern Delta from the 14th Dynasty. The capital of the 15th Dynasty was at Avaris. The Hyksos sacked Memphis in about 1720 BC, controlling most of Lower Egypt. Little is known of the 16th Dynasty. It consisted of several kings who were probably controlled by the Hyksos rulers at Avaris. The 13th Dynasty gave way to the 17th in Thebes. The Thebeans ruled the area between Cusae and Abu at the first rapids. During the 17th Dynasty they eventually drove out the Hyksos invaders and conquered all of central Egypt again.

Burial Customs

Dynasty 13 Pharaohs were buried in pyramids near Saqqara.

Little remains of this period, and examples of art are not common.

Sobekhotep IV
Dynasty 13

New Kingdom

Egypt during the New Kingdom was mostly ruled from Thebes. During the New Kingdom the Theban priesthood began a long rise to power. Eventually the Pharaohs, recognizing that the power of the clergy rivaled their own, made some attempts to stem it. One approach attributable to Akhenaten was to move the capital away from Thebes and the powerful priesthood. He also tried to modify the traditional pluralistic theology into a new monotheistic one based on the sun-god: aten. No one knows if the politics or the religion were the greater influence with Akhenaten. But, in any case, he moved the capital to Amarna, about half way between Memphis and Thebes. He called the new city Akhetaten, meaning Aten's horizon. But this was a short lived capital, since the priests probably backed his murder, and soon after his death the capital moved back to Thebes. In any case his immediate successor soon died, and nine year-old child pharaoh Tutankhamun took over the throne.

Nefertiti Akhenaten's wife.

Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun

 

But Tutanhkamun only lasted about a decade himself, dying at about age seventeen. It is not clear why he died, or under what circumstances. Tutankhamun's wife quickly tried to take a Hittite prince, Zannanza, as her husband and potential Pharaoh, but he was killed at the border of Egypt trying to get to her, probably by Horemheb, the commander of the military. The vizier, Ay, married Tutankhamun's widow, and became king. He was her grandfather, but he was old and lasted only four years. When he died it seems likely his wife had died before him, another great story wrapped in mystery. In the end, Horemheb ascended the throne and ruled for about 30 years.

Horemheb was succeeded by Ramesses I, a close friend and vizier of Horemheb. Ramesses started the 19th Dynasty, the so called Rammiside period where Egypt reached it's greatest heights. Ramesses' wife was the first not to be buried with her husband, instead she was the first queen to be buried in the Valley of the Queens on the Theban west bank.

Seti I, son of Ramesses the first, was a warrior and conquerors. He led several expeditions into Palestine and further North into Syria. He went against the rival power of the Hittites, and conquered Kadesh.

Ramesses II, Seti I's son, was probably Egypt's greatest monarch.

The capital was shifted to the Delta in the 19th Dynasty by Ramesses II to a new city he created called Piramesses. Its remains have never been found. However all of the New Kingdom Kings continued to be buried near Thebes, even Ramsses II.

More History and Artifacts from the New Kingdom

Continue with Final Era History and Artifacts

Overview of Egyptian Artifacts

 

2003-02-26