Sobekemsaf I
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Sobekemsaf I (or more properly Sekhemre Shedtawy Sobekemsaf) was an Egyptian king, of the Seventeenth dynasty of Egypt, and therefore ruled during the Second Intermediate Period, when Egypt was ruled by multiple kings (although he could also be placed in the late Thirteenth Dynasty). It is now assumed that Sekhemre Shedtawy Sobekemsaf was the father of both Antef VI and Antef VII based on an inscription carved on a door jamb discovered from the ruins of a temple at Gebel Antef which was built under Nebkheperre Antef VII. However, the jamb only mentions a king Sobekem[saf] as the father of Nebkheperre Antef VII. (Antef begotten of Sobekem...) [1]
[edit] The Robbery of Sobekemsaf's Tomb
The Abbott and Leopold-Amherst Papyrus, which is dated to Year 16 of Ramesses IX, states that this king's pyramid tomb was violated and destroyed by tomb robbers. The confessions and tomb robbery trials of the men responsible for the looting of Sekhemre Shedtawy Sobekemsaf's tomb are detailed in the latter papyrus which is dated to Year 16, III Peret day 22 of Ramesses IX. This document relates that a certain Amenpnufer, son of Anhernakhte, a stonemason from the Temple of Amun Re "fell into the habit of robbing the tombs [of king's and noblemen in West Thebes] in company with the stonemason Hapiwer" and how they robbed Sobekemsaf's tomb along with six other accomplices in Year 13 of Ramesses IX.[2] Amenpnufer confesses that they
- "went to rob the tombs...and we found the pyramid of [king] Sekhemre Shedtaui, the son of Re Sebekemsaf, this being not at all like the pyramids and tombs of the nobles which we habitually went to rob"[3]
In his trial, Amenpnufer recounts that he and his companions dug a tunnel into the king's pyramid with their copper tools:
- "Then we broke through the rubble...and we found this god (king) lying at the back of his burial-place. And we found that the burial-place of Nubkhaas, his queen, situated beside him...We opened their sarcophagi and their coffins in which they were, and found the noble mummy of this King equipped with a falcon; a large number of amulets and jewels of gold were upon his neck, and his head-piece of gold was upon him. The noble mummy of this King was completely bedecked with gold, and his coffins were adorned withgold and silver inside and out and inlaid with all kinds of precious stones. We collected the gold on the noble mummy of this god...and we collected all that we found on her (the Queen) likewise; and we set fire to their coffins. We took their furniture...consisting of articles of gold, silver and bronze, and divided them amongst ourselves...Then we crossed over to Thebes. And after some days the District Superintendent of Thebes heard that we had been stealing in the west, and they seized me and imprisoned me in the office of the Mayor of Thebes. And I took the twenty deben of gold which had fallen to me as my portion and gave them to Khaemope, the scribe of the quarter attched to the landing place of Thebes. He released me, and I rejoined my companions, and they compensated me with a portion once again, Thus I, together, with other thieves who are with me, have continued to this day in the practise of robbing the tombs of the nobles and the [deceased] people of the land who rest in the west of Thebes." [4]
Amenphufer states that the treasures taken from the two royal mummies amounted to "160 deben of gold" or 32 lbs (14.5 kg).[5] The document ends with the conviction of the thieves--with a probable death sentence--and notes that a copy of the official trial transcripts was dispatched to Ramesses IX in Lower Egypt.
[edit] References
- ^ mentioned by Ryholt: The Political Situation in Egypt 266-270 394 File 17/4.6 & p.270
- ^ Leonard Cottrell, The Lost Pharaohs, Pan Books, 8th printing:1977, p.135
- ^ Cotttrell, Ibid., p.135
- ^ Cottrell, Ibid., pp.135-36
- ^ Peter Clayton, Chronicle of the Pharaohs, Thames & Hudson Ltd, 1994, p.171
[edit] Literature
- Kim Ryholt: The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period c.1800-1550 B.C, Museum Tuscalanum Press. ISBN 87-7289-421-0, 393 File 17/2
- Leonard Cottrell, The Lost Pharaohs, Pan Books London and Sydney, 8th printing:1977
| Preceded by: Rahotep |
Pharaoh of Egypt Seventeenth Dynasty |
Succeeded by: Antef VI |
