Historische Probleme Der 3. Zwischenzeit 1

Abstract

Republication of a statue of Bes in the Oriental Museum, Durham, showing that interpretations based on earlier copies are untenable. The statue was dedicated by a High Priest Shoshenq, but his son Harsiese was only an ordinary prophet of Amun. Starting from the chronology of Aston, JEA 75, the author distinguishes the king, Harsiese A, from a High Priest, Harsiese B, who held office under Osorkon II. The slightly earlier High Priest Takeloth F is identified with the later king Takeloth II. It is further suggested that the ‘Theban Twenty-third Dynasty’ consists of two rival lines, each with its own High Priest: 1) Takeloth II and Iuput I, with High Priest Osorkon B (perhaps resident at Herakleopolis), and 2) Pedubast I and Shoshenq IV, with High Priests Harsiese B followed by Takeloth E (perhaps resident at Hermopolis). Since Pedubast is also attested in Lower Egypt, he probably had allies there. Finally, the High Priest Shoshenq of the Bes statue is identified with the king Shoshenq who renewed the statue Cairo CG 42192 for Psusennes II.