Arqamani
Arqamani (also Arkamani or Ergamenes II[2]) was a Kushite King of Meroë dating from the late 3rd to early 2nd century BCE.
| Arqamani | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Arqamani (right) presenting an offering, from the Temple of Dakka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pharaoh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reign | late 3rd to early 2nd Century BCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Arnekhamani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Adikhalamani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burial | Pyramid at Meroë: Beg. N 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biography
It is believed that Arqamani ruled in Meroë at the time of the Egyptian revolt of Horwennefer against Ptolemy IV Philopator (reign 221–204 BC).[2] He is attested by a number of inscriptions and reliefs from Kalabsha, Philae and the temple of Dakka.[3] In the latter locality, he usurped some donation inscriptions originally inscribed for Ptolemy IV.[4] He was buried in a pyramid in Meroë now known as Beg. N 7.[5]
Arqamani took an elaborate ancient Egyptian royal titulary (see infobox) which likely reflects his control above the reconquered Lower Nubia and its inhabitants.[2] He also took mortuary names: the mortuary Horus name is Kashy-netjery-kheper, meaning "The Kushite whose coming into being is divine", while his nomen is accompanied by the epithet Ankhdjet-meriaset, meaning "Given life, beloved of Isis", as well as Mkltk Istrk which is written in Meroitic script and whose meaning is not known.[5]
He was sometimes tentatively identified with the king Ergamenes mentioned by Diodorus Siculus but modern scholars now believe that an earlier king with a similar name, Arakamani, is a better candidate for this identification.[6] Nevertheless, Arqamani is sometimes called Ergamenes II.
Temple of Apedemak in Musawwarat es-sufra, built by Arnekhamani
Prince Arka, son of Arnekhamani, and possibly identical with Arqamani.[7]
Pyramid of King Arqamani, Meroe Northern Cemetery
See also
References
- von Beckerath, Jürgen (1999). Handbuch der Ägyptischen Königsnamen (in German). Mainz am Rhein, Von Zabern. ISBN 3-8053-2591-6. pp. 276-77
- Török (2008), p. 393
- J. Desmond Clark (1975). The Cambridge history of Africa. Cambridge University Press. pp. 228, 241. ISBN 978-0-521-21592-3. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
- Török (2008), p. 388
- László Török, The kingdom of Kush: handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization, 1997
- Török (2008), pp. 389–90 and references therein.
- Török, László (1996). Fontes Historiae Nubiorum, Vol. II. Bergen. ISBN 8291626014., p. 582
Further reading and Bibliography
