Arqamani (also Arkamani or Ergamenes II[2]) was a Kushite King of Meroë dating from the late 3rd to early 2nd century BCE.
| Arqamani | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Arqamani (right) presenting an offering, from the Temple of Dakka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pharaoh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reign | late 3rd to early 2nd Century BCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Arnekhamani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Adikhalamani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Burial | Pyramid at Meroë: Beg. N 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biography
editIt is believed that Arqamani ruled in Meroë at the time of the Egyptian revolt of Horwennefer against Ptolemy IV Philopator (reign 221–204 BC).[2] He is attested by a number of inscriptions and reliefs from Kalabsha, Philae and the temple of Dakka.[3] In the latter locality, he usurped some donation inscriptions originally inscribed for Ptolemy IV.[4] He was buried in a pyramid in Meroë now known as Beg. N 7.[5]
Arqamani took an elaborate ancient Egyptian royal titulary (see infobox) which likely reflects his control above the reconquered Lower Nubia and its inhabitants.[2] He also took mortuary names: the mortuary Horus name is Kashy-netjery-kheper, meaning "The Kushite whose coming into being is divine", while his nomen is accompanied by the epithet Ankhdjet-meriaset, meaning "Given life, beloved of Isis", as well as Mkltk Istrk which is written in Meroitic script and whose meaning is not known.[5]
He was sometimes tentatively identified with the king Ergamenes mentioned by Diodorus Siculus but modern scholars now believe that an earlier king with a similar name, Arakamani, is a better candidate for this identification.[6] Nevertheless, Arqamani is sometimes called Ergamenes II.
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Temple of Apedemak in Musawwarat es-sufra, built by Arnekhamani -
![Prince Arka, son of Arnekhamani, and possibly identical with Arqamani.[7]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Prince_Arka.jpg/116px-Prince_Arka.jpg)
Prince Arka, son of Arnekhamani, and possibly identical with Arqamani.[7] -
Pyramid of King Arqamani, Meroe Northern Cemetery
![Prince Arka, son of Arnekhamani, and possibly identical with Arqamani.[7]](/wiki/File:Prince_Arka.jpg)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b von Beckerath, Jürgen (1999). Handbuch der Ägyptischen Königsnamen (in German). Mainz am Rhein, Von Zabern. ISBN 3-8053-2591-6. pp. 276-77.
- ^ a b c Török (2008), p. 393.
- ^ Clark, J. Desmond (1975). The Cambridge history of Africa. Cambridge University Press. pp. 228, 241. ISBN 978-0-521-21592-3. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
- ^ Török (2008), p. 388.
- ^ a b Török, László, The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization, (1997).
- ^ Török (2008), pp. 389–90 and references therein.
- ^ Török, László (1996). Fontes Historiae Nubiorum, II. Bergen. ISBN 8291626014., p. 582.
Further reading and Bibliography
edit
- Török, László (1996). Fontes Historiae Nubiorum. Vol. II. Bergen. ISBN 8291626014., pp. 660–662
- Török, László (2008). Between Two Worlds: The Frontier Region Between Ancient Nubia and Egypt 3700 BC - 500 AD. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-17197-8.