The 29th Dynasty “399:380”
The Historical Background:
The Twenty-ninth Dynasty of Egypt (notated Dynasty XXIX, alternatively 29th Dynasty or Dynasty 29) is usually classified as the 4th Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptian Late Period. It was founded after the overthrow of Amyrtaeus, the only Pharaoh of the 28th Dynasty, by Nefaarud I in 398 BC, and disestablished upon the overthrow of Nefaarud II in 380 BC.
the rulers of the Twenty-Ninth or Mendesian Dynasty were:
- 1- Nef'aurud I (Nepherites I) 399-392 BC
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| The statue of Nepherites I |
It is believed that Nepherites was a general from the deltaic city of Mendes who, in the autumn of 399 BC, rose against pharaoh Amyrtaeus, defeated him in open battle, and then executed him at Memphis. Nepherites then crowned himself pharaoh at Memphis and possibly also at Sais, before shifting the capital from Sais to his hometown Mendes. The fact that Nepherites I chose the same Horus name of Psamtik I and the Golden Horus name of Amasis II – both relevant rulers of the earlier 26th Dynasty - is thought to demonstrate that he wanted to associate his rule with an earlier 'golden age' of Egyptian history. According to Manetho, Nepherites I ruled for 6 years, although his highest archaeologically attested date is his regnal year 4. Evidence of Nepherites' building work has been found in several locations across the country. In Lower Egypt, he is attested at Thmuis, Tell Roba, Buto.
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| phinx of pharaoh Nepherites I, found in 1513 and purchased in 1808 in Italy. Louvre museum. |
- 2- Userra Setepenptah Psimut (Psammuthis) 392-391 BC
Psammuthes or Psammuthis, was a pharaoh of the 29th Dynasty of Egypt during 392-391 BC. The place of this king in the dynasty is a matter of debate. Although he is mentioned in three different epitomes of Manetho's Aegyptiaca (Africanus, Eusebius and the Armenian version of the latter) and in the Demotic Chronicle, the sequence of kings is different among these sources and it is unclear if Psammuthes succeeded Hakor, or vice versa. According to a hypothesis of the Egyptologist John D. Ray, upon the death of Nepherites I in 392 BC, the throne passed to his son and successor, which is likely to had been Hakor. However, it seems that in his Year 2 a usurper, Psammuthes (a hellenized form of the Egyptian name Pasherienmut), seized power and deposed Hakor, while proclaiming himself pharaoh. Both Manetho and the Demotic Chronicle give to Psammuthes a reign length of a year, agreeing with the highest date given by archaeological records.
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| Bronze statue of Psammuthes. |
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| Relief bearing part of Psammuthes' royal titulary, Metropolitan Museum of Art. |
- 3- Maatchnumra Setepemchnum Hakor (Achoris) 391-380 BC
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| King Hakor |
Hakor or Hagar, also known by the hellenized forms Achoris or Hakoris, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 29th Dynasty. His reign marks the apex of this feeble and short-lived dynasty, having ruled for 13 years – more than half of its entire duration. Hakor's accession and relationships with his predecessor Nepherites I were long debated. After Nepherites' death a dynastic struggle did seem to have occurred. In Karnak, Hakor finished the chapel for the sacred barque of Amun-Ra near the first pylon which was started by Psammuthes or possibly by Nepherites I. Hakor died in 379/8 BCE, leaving his throne to his son Nepherites II. However, the latter was able to keep it for just four months before being overthrown and replaced by an army general from Sebennytos, Nectanebo I.
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| Sphinx of King Hakor |
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| Hakor's chapel in Karnak |
- 4- Nef'aurud II (Nepherites II) 380-380 BC
Nepherites II or Nefaarud II was the last pharaoh of the feeble and short-lived 29th Dynasty, the penultimate native dynasty of Egypt. King Hakor had already to face, towards the end of his reign, frequent riots likely inspired by Nectanebo. Pharaoh Nectanebo I, who founded the Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt after overthrowing Nepherites II.
