Taharqa: One Of Ancient Egypt’s African Pharaohs And One Of The Bible’s Pharaohs
Taharqa was the ruler of the Ancient Egyptian 25th dynasty, also known as The Nubian Dynasty, and the monarch of the Kingdom of Kush, which is situated in the region now recognized as modern-day Northern Sudan.
Taharqa was the son of Piye, a Nubian king from Napata who initially conquered Egypt. Furthermore, he was the cousin and successor of Shebitku.
The reign of Taharqa can be dated from 690 BC to 664 BC. The evidence for the dates of his reign comes from the Serapeum stela, catalog number 192.
Despite Taharqa’s reign being fraught with conflicts with the Assyrians, it was also a period of prosperity and renaissance in Egypt and Kush. Around the age of 20, Taharqa participated in a significant battle with the Assyrian Emperor, King Sennacherib, at Eltekeh. At the behest of Hezekiah, King of Israel, Taharqa and the combined Egyptian/Kushite army managed to halt the Assyrian advance on Jerusalem, the ancient capital of Israel. In the Bible, he is referred to as Tirhakah, making him one of the few Pharaohs mentioned therein.
His rule over Egypt was marked by peace and prosperity, and the empire flourished. The sixth year of Taharqa’s reign saw prosperity further bolstered by abundant rainfall and a large harvest, an advantage that Taharqa fully capitalized on.
However, it was during his reign that Egypt’s adversary, Assyria, finally invaded Egypt. Esarhaddon led several campaigns against Taharqa, documenting them on numerous monuments. His first assault in 677 BC aimed to pacify Arab tribes around the Dead Sea, a mission that brought him as far as the Brook of Egypt. Following the quelling of a revolt in Ashkelon, Esarhaddon proceeded to invade Egypt proper during Taharqa’s 17th regnal year.
Taharqa passed away in the city of Thebes in 664 BC and was succeeded by his chosen successor, Tantamani, a son of Shabaka. Taharqa was laid to rest in Nuri, North Sudan.
Comments