Arnekhamani was a

Nubia Nubia () (Nobiin: Nobīn, ) is a region along the Nile river encompassing the area between the first cataract of the Nile (just south of Aswan in southern Egypt) and the confluence of the Blue and White Niles (in Khartoum in central Sudan), or ...

n king of the Kushite Kingdom in the third century BC. The king is mainly known from his building activity at the

Musawwarat es-Sufra Musawwarat es-Sufra (Arabic: , Meroitic: Aborepi, Old Egyptian: jbrp, jpbr-ˁnḫ), also known as Al-Musawarat Al-Sufra, is a large Meroitic temple complex in modern Sudan, dating back to the early Meroitic period of the 3rd century BC. It is l ...

temple complex. The main temple complex at this place was built by Arnekhamani, but was never finished. Most likely the king died before completing the temples. Three names are attested for Arnekhamani. His birth name was ''Arnekhamani'', his

throne name A regnal name, or regnant name or reign name, is the name used by monarchs and popes during their reigns and, subsequently, historically. Since ancient times, some monarchs have chosen to use a different name from their original name when they ac ...

''Kheperkare'' and his

Horus name The Horus name is the oldest known and used crest of ancient Egyptian rulers. It belongs to the " great five names" of an Egyptian pharaoh. However, modern Egyptologists and linguists are starting to prefer the more neutral term: the "serekh nam ...

''Kanakht Merymaat''. His birthname includes several epithets that were changed in his reign. To the birth name was originally added ''beloved of

Amun Amun (; also ''Amon'', ''Ammon'', ''Amen''; egy, jmn, reconstructed as (Old Egyptian and early Middle Egyptian) → (later Middle Egyptian) → (Late Egyptian), cop, Ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ, Amoun) romanized: ʾmn) was a major ancient Egyptian ...

'', later it was extended to ''may he live for ever, beloved of Amun''. Finally it became ''may he live for ever, beloved of

Isis Isis (; ''Ēse''; ; Meroitic: ''Wos'' 'a''or ''Wusa''; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤎, romanized: ʾs) was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingd ...

''. The Egyptian king

Ptolemy IV Philopator egy, Iwaennetjerwymenkhwy Setepptah Userkare Sekhemankhamun Clayton (2006) p. 208. , predecessor = Ptolemy III , successor = Ptolemy V , horus = ''ḥnw-ḳni sḫꜤi.n-sw-it.f'Khunuqeni sekhaensuitef'' The strong youth whose f ...

(221–204 BC) is also called in his Egyptian name ''beloved of Isis'' and it seems possible that Arnekhamani's name was influenced by the name of the Egyptian king, providing a chronological fixpoint for the rule of Arnekhamani. In the temple complex are also mentioned the wife of Arnekhamani and his son. The name of the wife is not preserved. The son is called Arky and bears the title ''Priest of Isis, of Ipeber-ankh'' (Musawwarat es-Sufra). The latter might be identical with king

Arqamani Arqamani (also Arkamani or Ergamenes IITörök (2008), p. 393) was a Kushite King of Meroë dating from the late 3rd to early 2nd century BCE. Biography It is believed that Arqamani ruled in Meroë at the time of the Egyptian revolt of Horwen ...

, who was then the successor of Arnekhamani. Sudan tempel of musawwar es sufra.jpg, Temple of Apedemak in

, built by Arnekhamani File:Apedemak temple in Musawwarat es-sufra (13) (33736799510).jpg, King Arnekhamani (detail) File:King Arnekhamani (portrait).jpg, King Arnekhamani (portrait) File:Prince Arka.jpg, Prince Arka, son of Arnekhamani, and possible future king

.Török, László (1996). ''Fontes Historiae Nubiorum'', Vol. II. Bergen. {{ISBN, 8291626014., p. 582

References

3rd-century BC monarchs of Kush 3rd-century BC rulers

See also

References