Itjtawy (full
Egyptian name ''Amenemhat-itj-tawy'' — "Amenemhat, Seizer of the Two Lands"), is the name of the royal city founded as a new capital by
Twelfth Dynasty
The Twelfth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (Dynasty XII) is considered to be the apex of the Middle Kingdom by Egyptologists. It often is combined with the Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth dynasties under the group title, Middle Kingdom. Some ...
Egyptian King
Amenemhat I
:''See Amenemhat, for other individuals with this name.''
Amenemhat I ( Ancient Egyptian: ''Ỉmn-m-hꜣt'' meaning 'Amun is at the forefront'), also known as Amenemhet I, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the first king of the Twelfth Dynas ...
, who ruled from approximately 1991 BC to 1962 BC, during year 20 of his reign. As yet, the exact location of the royal city remains unidentified. Itjtawy is known to have been located in the
Faiyum
Faiyum ( ar, الفيوم ' , borrowed from cop, ̀Ⲫⲓⲟⲙ or Ⲫⲓⲱⲙ ' from egy, pꜣ ym "the Sea, Lake") is a city in Middle Egypt. Located southwest of Cairo, in the Faiyum Oasis, it is the capital of the modern Faiyum ...
region and documentation exists that its cemeteries were located at
Lisht
Lisht or el-Lisht ( ar, اللشت, translit=Al-Lišt) is an Egyptian village located south of Cairo. It is the site of Middle Kingdom royal and elite burials, including two pyramids built by Amenemhat I and Senusret I. The two main pyramids were ...
,
el-Lahun, and
Dahshur
DahshurAlso transliterated ''Dahshour'' (in English often called ''Dashur'' ar, دهشور ' , ''Dahchur'') is a royal necropolis located in the desert on the west bank of the Nile approximately south of Cairo. It is known chiefly for several p ...
.
Relocation of the capital may have been a strategic move. The site for Itjtawy may have been chosen for its proximity to the source of
Asiatic incursions into
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
, in order to help prevent further attacks.
See also
*
*
List of historical capitals of Egypt
The current capital of Egypt is Cairo. Over the course of history, however, Egypt's capital has changed.
List of Egyptian capitals
*Thinis: (3150 BC – 2686 BC) – I and II dynasties
* Memphis: (2686 BC – 2160 BC) – III dynasty to VIII ...
References
Populated places established in the 2nd millennium BC
Cities in ancient Egypt
Former populated places in Egypt
Lost ancient cities and towns
Former capitals of Egypt
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