The Nile Level Records of the Twenty-Second and Twenty-Third Dynasties in Karnak: A Reconsideration of their Chronological Order *

Abstract

Investigation of the Nile Level Records of the Twenty-second and Twenty-third Dynasties with regard to their positions on the quay wall, their orthography and their structure can shed new light on their chronological order and on the identity of the kings mentioned. The author ascertains that in the texts the word ḥ'pj is spelled in two different ways, with one orthography going out of use and being replaced by another. As a result there is more clarity about the so far uncertain identification of some of the kings mentioned. Contrary to what is generally accepted, text No. 3 does not belong to Shoshenq I, but should be attributed either to Shoshenq IV, the successor to Shoshenq III, or, more probably, to an Upper Egyptian king Shoshenq, not known from other sources, who might be defined as Shoshenq VIa.