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Smenkhkare

File:Relief_of_a_young_pharaoh_and_a_queen_holding_flowers_02.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Smenkhkare

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Smenkhkare (alternatively romanized Smenkhare, Smenkare, or Smenkhkara; meaning "Vigorous is the soul of Re") was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of unknown background who lived and ruled during the Amarna Period of the 18th Dynasty. Smenkhkare was married to Meritaten, the daughter of Akhenaten, Smenkhkare's probable co-regent. Since the Amarna period was subject to a large-scale condemnation of memory by later pharaohs, very little can be said with certainty about Smenkhkare, who therefore remains subject to immense speculation.

Key facts

Pharaoh.Name
AnkhkheperureSmenkhkare Djeser Kheperu
Pharaoh.Image
Relief of a young pharaoh and a queen holding flowers 02.jpg
Pharaoh.ImageSize
300px
Pharaoh.Caption
A young pharaoh who may be Smenkhkare depicted in Amarna style
Pharaoh.NomenHiero
N5-s-mnx-D28-D45-L1:Z2</hiero
Pharaoh.Nomen
Smenkhkare-DjeserkheperuVigorous is the Soul of Re, Holy of Forms.
Pharaoh.PrenomenHiero
ra-anx-xpr-Z2
Pharaoh.Prenomen
AnkhkheperureLiving are the Manifestations of Re
Pharaoh.Predecessor
Uncertain: Akhenaten (most likely) or Neferneferuaten
Pharaoh.Coregency
Akhenaten (possibly)
Pharaoh.Successor
Uncertain: Neferneferuaten (most likely) or Tutankhamun
Pharaoh.Spouse
Meritaten
Pharaoh.Dynasty
18th&nbsp;Dynasty
Pharaoh.Died
1334 BC or 1332 BC
Pharaoh.Father
possibly Akhenaten, Prince Thutmose, or Amenhotep III
Pharaoh.Children
Meritaten Tasherit (possibly)Ankhesenpaaten Tasherit (possibly) Tutankhamun (possibly)
Pharaoh.Burial
KV55?

via Wikipedia infobox

~25 min read

Encyclopedic overview

16 sections
Contents
  • Origin and family
  • Reign as pharaoh
  • Length of reign
  • Smenkhkare Hall
  • Theories of timing of Smenkhkare's reign
  • Co-regency with Akhenaten
  • Smenkhkare as successor to Neferneferuaten
  • Meritaten as successor to Smenkhkare
  • Identity and confusion over regnal name
  • Theories
  • Akhenaten and Smenkhkare as homosexual couple
  • Nefertiti as Smenkhkare
  • Evidence
  • Death and burial
  • References
  • Bibliography

Smenkhkare (alternatively romanized Smenkhare, Smenkare, or Smenkhkara; meaning "Vigorous is the soul of Re") was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of unknown background who lived and ruled during the Amarna Period of the 18th Dynasty. Smenkhkare was married to Meritaten, the daughter of Akhenaten, Smenkhkare's probable co-regent. Since the Amarna period was subject to a large-scale condemnation of memory by later pharaohs, very little can be said with certainty about Smenkhkare, who therefore remains subject to immense speculation.

Some researchers believe that Smenkhkare was the same person as female pharaoh Neferneferuaten, while others maintain they were two different individuals. This article follows the stance that Smenkhkare was a male ruler, separate from Neferneferuaten.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Smenkhkare” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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