Senkamanisken

Senkamanisken was a Kushite King who ruled from 640 to 620 BC at Napata. He used royal titles based on those of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs.^[1]

Senkamanisken
Senkamanisken
Senkamanisken statue, with Kushite headress (Louvre Museum, reconstruction of original colors through color-pigment analysis).
Kushite king of Napata
Reign	c. 640–620 BC
Predecessor	Atlanersa
Successor	Anlamani
Royal titulary Horus name Seh(er)tawy Pacifier (?) of the Two Lands Nebty name Khahermaat Who appears in Equity Golden Horus Userpehty Whose strength is mighty Praenomen Sekheperenre He who Ra has raised Nomen Senkamanisken
Consort	Nasalsa, Amanimalel, Masalaye ?
Children	Anlamani, Aspelta, Queen Henuttakhebit?, Queen Madiqen?
Father	Atlanersa ?
Mother	Queen Maletaral
Burial	Nuri (Nu. 3)

Biography

He might have been married to queens Amanimalel and Nasalsa, the latter of whom bore him two sons: Anlamani and Aspelta. Both sons would ultimately assume the Kushite throne after his death at Napata, Nubia's capital city.^[2] His pyramid is Nu.3 in Nuri.

Statues of Senkamanisken have been found buried or hidden in the Jebel Barkal, presumably due to Psamtik II's attack on Kush in 592 BC. A sphinx has also been found which was inscribed with his name.^[3] Objects bearing the name of this king have also been found in Meroë^[4] indicating that he placed a degree of importance to this site which would be the political capital of the Kushite kingdom after Psamtik II's sack of Napata in 592 BC.

He is the only Nubian king after the 25th Dynasty known from an inscription found in Egypt. He appears on a fragment of an offering table from Memphis.^[5]

Artifacts

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  Senkamanisken statue, Kerma Museum
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  Senkamanisken, Louvre Museum reconstruction, with pharaonic headdress.
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  Senkamanisken portrait in the Kerma Museum
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  Senkamanisken portrait in the Kerma Museum
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  Senkamanisken, original in Kerma Museum, and Louvre Museum reconstruction through color-pigment analysis
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  Senkamanisken, wearing the skin of a feline over his torso, Kerma Museum
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  An ushabti figurine of Senkamanisken, found in his tomb at Nuri
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  Statue of King Senkamanisken, Boston Museum of Fine Arts
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  Queen Amanimalil, possible consort of Senkamanisken
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  Ruins of the pyramid of Senkamisken at Nuri

Temple B700 at Jebel Barkal

He also decorated Temple B700 (started by Aspelta) at Jebel Barkal, where he is shown clubbing enemies.^[6]

The hieroglyphic inscription on the Temple described the role of God Amun in selecting Sekamanisken as king:

I said of you (while you were still) in your mother's womb that you were to be ruler of Kemet ("Black Land"= Egypt). I knew you in the semen, while you were in the egg, that you were to be lord. I made you receive the Great Crown, which Re (the Sun god) caused to appear on the first good occasion. (Inasmuch as) a father makes his son excellent, it is I who decreed kingship) to you. (So) who shall share it with you? For I am the Lord of Heaven. As I give to Re, (so) he gives to his children, from gods to men. It is I who gives you the royal charter.... No other (can) decree (who is to be) king. It is I who grants kingship to whomever I will.

— Amun inscription, frieze of Sekamanisken, Temple B700, Jebel Barkal.^[7]

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  Ruins of Temple B700 of Jebel Barkal with relief of Senkamanisken clubbing enemies, drawn in 1821 by Louis Maurice Adolphe Linant de Bellefonds
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  Senkamanisken slaying enemies in front of God Amun, at Jebel Barkal (pylon of building B 700, west of the main temple).^[7]
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  Senkamanisken slaying enemies at Jebel Barkal (detail).^[7]
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  Detail of the enemies