La XXe Egyptian dynasty, spanning from 1189 to 1077 BC, marks the beginning of the decline of ancient Egyptian civilization. This period is part of New Empire and is characterized by political instability, economic problems and internal tensions.
Despite these challenges, the XXe dynasty produced some of the most famous and powerful pharaohs in Egyptian history, including Ramesses III, often considered the last great pharaoh.
The pharaohs of the XXe dynasty
La XXe dynasty was marked by a succession of pharaohs mainly from the same family, the Ramessids. Among the most notable rulers are:
- Ramesses III : Often compared to Ramses II for his military achievements and construction projects, Ramses III managed to repel the invasions of the Sea Peoples and save Egypt from collapse during his reign. Despite his successes, his assassination in a palace plot marked the beginning of a period of decline for the dynasty.
- Ramesses IV : Successor of Ramses III, he tried to maintain order and revive the economy by launching new construction projects and by exploiting the gold and copper mines. However, his reign was short and his efforts failed to stem the country's decline.
- Ramesses IX : His reign was marked by anarchy and corruption, notably with the repeated robberies of royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Despite this, he attempted to restore royal authority by reforming the administration and punishing those responsible for the looting.
The challenges and problems of XXe dynasty
La XXe dynasty had to face many challenges and problems, including:
- Invasions: The Sea Peoples, a group of maritime tribes originating from the Aegean region, have invaded Egypt on several occasions. Although Ramesses III managed to repel them, these invasions weakened the empire and contributed to its decline.
- Internal unrest: Corruption, conspiracies, and power struggles eroded royal authority and weakened Egypt's political structure.
- Economic problems: XXe dynasty faced dwindling resources, mismanagement and runaway inflation. This led to deteriorating living conditions for the Egyptian population and fueled social tensions.
The cultural heritage of XXe dynasty
Despite the difficulties, the XXe dynasty left a rich cultural and artistic heritage. The pharaohs commissioned many building projects, including temples, tombs and monuments, which still testify today to their ambition and determination to preserve the greatness of Egypt.
- The art: The art of XXe dynasty continued to evolve, with more expressive and naturalistic depictions of figures, as well as a refinement in sculpting and painting techniques. Artists also produced high quality grave goods and amulets for royal tombs.
- Literature: The XXe dynasty produced important literary and religious texts, such as the Book of Gates and the Book of the Earth, which enriched the Egyptian literary tradition and were used to decorate royal tombs.
The end of the XXe dynasty and the transition to the Third Intermediate Empire
La XXe dynasty ended in a context of decline and political fragmentation. The pharaohs gradually lost control of remote provinces and central authority crumbled.
The end of this dynasty was marked by conflicts and rivalries between the priests ofAmun and the pharaohs, which ultimately resulted in the division of the country.
The last pharaoh of the XXe dynasty, Ramses XI, was followed by a period of chaos and instability known as the Third Intermediate Period. This era saw the rise of the priests of Amun in Thebes and the emergence of competing kingdoms in Upper and Lower Egypt.
List of Pharaohs of the XXe dynasty:
Sethnakht/Ramesses III/Ramesses IV/Ramesses V/Ramses VI/Ramses VII/Ramesses VIII/Ramesses IX/Ramesses X/Ramses XI
📋 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 | ||