Piye, Kushite King of Egypt
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Piye, Kushite King of Egypt (747-716 BC)
The British Museum
Piye, also called Piankhy (747-716 BC) and Kushite ruler of the Napatan period,
laid the foundations for the Twenty-fifth Dynasty (747-656 BC). He seized control
of Upper Egypt within the first decade of his reign, and his sister Amenirdis I was
adopted by Shepenwepet I as the next God's Wife of Amun, thus acquiring
Theban territories previously controlled by Osorkon III. In 728 BC, when Tefnakht,
the prince of Sais, created an alliance of Delta rulers to counter the growing
Nubian threat, Piye swept northwards and defeated the northern coalition. His
successful campaign is described on his Victory stela.
In 716 BC Piye died after a reign of over thirty years. He was buried in an Egyptian style
pyramid tomb at el-Kurru, accompanied by a number of horses, which were greatly
prized by the Nubians of the Napatan period. Piye was succeeded by his brother
Shabako (716-702 BC) who re-conquered Egypt and took full pharaonic titles,
establishing himself as the ruler of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of all Egypt.
Source URL: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/p/piye,_kushite_king_of_egypt.aspx
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/arth201
Reposted with permission for educational use by the British Museum.
Saylor.org
Page 1 of 1
The British Museum
Piye, also called Piankhy (747-716 BC) and Kushite ruler of the Napatan period,
laid the foundations for the Twenty-fifth Dynasty (747-656 BC). He seized control
of Upper Egypt within the first decade of his reign, and his sister Amenirdis I was
adopted by Shepenwepet I as the next God's Wife of Amun, thus acquiring
Theban territories previously controlled by Osorkon III. In 728 BC, when Tefnakht,
the prince of Sais, created an alliance of Delta rulers to counter the growing
Nubian threat, Piye swept northwards and defeated the northern coalition. His
successful campaign is described on his Victory stela.
In 716 BC Piye died after a reign of over thirty years. He was buried in an Egyptian style
pyramid tomb at el-Kurru, accompanied by a number of horses, which were greatly
prized by the Nubians of the Napatan period. Piye was succeeded by his brother
Shabako (716-702 BC) who re-conquered Egypt and took full pharaonic titles,
establishing himself as the ruler of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of all Egypt.
Source URL: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/p/piye,_kushite_king_of_egypt.aspx
Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/arth201
Reposted with permission for educational use by the British Museum.
Saylor.org
Page 1 of 1
