The Twenty-fourth Dynasty

The 24th Dynasty “ 735:721 ” 

• The Historical Background:  

The 24th Dynasty backed to the 3rd intermediate period in the Egyptian history. The Third Intermediate Period covers the centuries between the New Kingdom and the Late Period; for much, but not all, of this time, the country was divided into two or more segments. They made the capital Sais in the western desert; it was controlled in the hands of Tefnakhte. 

• 1- TEFNAKHTE  

1. Horus name: Sia-khet
2. Nebty name: Sia-khetnebti
3. Golden Falcon name: Biknub
4. Prenomen: Shepsesre
5. Nomen: Tefnakht

Tefnakht is always called the "Great Chief of the West" in Piye's Victory stela and in two stelas datingto the regnal years 36 and 38 of Shoshenq V. His power expanded in a few years into the Nile Valley. Tefnakht erected two donation stelas at the time of Shoshenq V as a Prince at Sais. His Year 38 stela from Buto is significant not only because Tefnakht employs the rather boastful epithet of "Great Chief of the entire land" but due to its list of his religious titles as prophet of Neith, Edjo and the Lady of Imay. This reflects his control over Sais, Buto to the north and Kom el-Hish to the southwest even prior to the end of the 22nd Dynasty—with the death of Shoshenq V—and reflects Tefnakht's political base in the Western Delta region of Egypt. and formed an alliance with other minor kings of the Delta region to conquer Middle and Upper Egypt, which was under the sway of the Nubian king Piye. He was able to capture and unify many of the cities of the Delta region, thus making Tefnakht considerably more powerful than any of his predecessors in either the 22nd or 23rd dynasties. His modest title 'Great chief of the West' also hints at a non-royal background. Tefnakht managed to extend his control southward, capturing the city of Memphis and besieging the city of Herakleopolis, which was an ally of the Kushite king Piye of Nubia. This caused him to face considerable opposition from Piye, especially after Nimlot, the local ruler of Hermopolis defected from Piye's sphere of influence, to his side. A pair of naval engagements soon checked any further advances by Tefnakht's coalition into Piye's Middle Egyptian territories, and Memphis was soon recaptured by Piye. After further campaigns, Tefnakht's allies surrendered to Piye and Tefnakht soon found himself isolated. He finally dispatched a letter formally submitting his loyalty and swearing his loyalty to Piye. Tefnakht, however, was the only Lower Egyptian prince to avoid seeing Piye face to face. These details are recounted in the Great Victory stela of Piye which this Nubian ruler erected on the New Year's Day of his 21st regnal year.