Osorkon the Elder, also known as Aakheperre Setepenre, is a figure of great importance in the history of ancient Egypt. He distinguished himself not only by being the first Pharaoh of Meshwesh (ancient Libyan) origin, but also by his pioneering role which announced the advent of the 22nd dynasty. This anticipatory reign, although credited with six years by Manetho in his Aegyptiaca, is marked by several points of interest.
A remarkable ancestry: The great chief of the Ma and the “Mother of the King”
The prestige of Osorkon the Elder does not reside solely in his position as Pharaoh. The existence of Osorkon was debated among scholars until Eric Young demonstrated in 1963, through the induction of a temple priest, that this king ruled a generation before the induction of the son of this priest during the reign of Siamun.
A Close Connection to the 22nd Dynasty: Shoshenq I's Uncle
Kinship of Osorkon the Elder is intrinsically linked to the emergence of the 22nd Dynasty. Indeed, as the brother of Nimlot A, the Grand Chief of Ma, and of Tentshepeh A, the daughter of the Grand Chief of Ma, Osorkon is the uncle of Shoshenq I, the founder of the 22nd dynasty.
Karimala: a possible queen of Libyan origin
Chris Bennett put forward in 1999 the idea that a queen named Karimala, known from an inscription in the temple of Semna, would be the daughter of Osorkon the Elder. She is referred to as both 'King's Daughter' and 'King's Wife'. It is possible that she was the wife of Siamun or Psusennes II.
New attributions for Osorkon the Elder
Some items formerly attributed to Osorkon IV have recently been reassigned to Osorkon the Elder. Among these are a faience seal and a block bearing the name of a king Osorkon with the names Aakheperre Setepenamun, Osorkon Meryamun, both kept in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden. These elements lead to the attribution of the epithets Setepenre and Setepenamun to his throne name, Aakheperre.
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||