Aspelta was a ruler of the kingdom of Kush (c. 600 – c. 580 BCE). More is known about him and his reign than most of the rulers of Kush. He left several stelae carved with accounts of his reign.
Aspelta was the son of Senkamanisken and Queen Nasalsa. Aspelta was the brother and successor of Anlamani. The King is thought to have had several wives, including Henuttakhebit (buried in pyramid Nuri 28), Meqemale (buried in pyramid Nuri 40), Asata (buried in pyramid Nuri 42), Artaha (buried in pyramid Nuri 58).[1] he may have also been married to his sister Madiqen.[2]
Aspelta used titles based on those of the Egyptian Pharaohs.[3] Horus name: Neferkha ("Whose Appearances are Beautiful") Nebty Name: Neferkha ("Whose Appearances are Beautiful") Golden Horus Name: Userib ("Whose heart is strong") Prenomen: Merykare ("Re is one whose ka is loved") Nomen: Aspelta
Reignedit
According to relevant inscriptions, Aspelta was selected as ruler by a committee of twenty-four religious and military leaders. He then set out north to Napata to be selected as king by the gods and crowned.
Another stele that might date from Aspelta's reign recounts how a group of priests were put to death, likely as punishment for conspiring against the king.
In 592 BCE, Kush was invaded by an Egyptian military expedition initiated by Pharaoh Psamtik II[4] perhaps because Aspelta posed a threat to this pharaoh's authority over Upper Egypt, to the south and close to Kush. The invaders sacked Napata, and some historians believe that because of this attack, Aspelta decided to move the Nubian capital to the more secure city of Meroe.[citation needed]
Tombedit
Aspelta's tomb was located at Nuri and is the second largest burial structure here.[5] His tomb was excavated by George A. Reisner in 1916 and many items were discovered within it, most of which are now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The palace built by him and his brother was excavated by Reisner in 1920.
Monuments and items mentioning Aspeltaedit
Nuri pyramid Nu VIII of King Aspelta, the best preserved of the pyramids in Nuri.
Aspelta is well attested. A list of items mentioning the King:[6]
Two cartouche-plaques of Aspelta (Ashmolean Mus. 1932.749 and Brussels, E.7010) from the West side room Temple A at Kawa.[7]
Fragments of granite stela of Aspelta (Ashmolean Mus. I9J2.I295) found in south-east corner of the Court in Temple T at Kawa.[8]
Wall depicting Aspelta, (Oxford, Ashmolean Mus. 1936.662). One scene shows the King offering image of Maat to the ram-headed god Amun-Re and Anukis-Nethy, another shows King before Amun-Re and Mut.[9]
Granite stela (Berlin Mus. 2268). The scene depicts Nastasen and the Queen-Mother Pelkha and similarly Nastasen with Queen Sakhmakh. The text is dated to year 8, and mentions King Aspelta, Harsiotef, Alara and Kambasuden. The stela probably comes from Gebel Barkal.[10]
A shrine dedicated to Aspelta was found at the temple in Sanam.[11][12]
Stela of Aspelta (Louvre C. 257) Possibly from Sanam.[13]
A diorite stela of Khaliut, the Mayor of Kanad, son of Pi'ankhy, was erected by Aspelta. The text mention's the Queen-Mother Nasalsa.[14]
Enthronement-stela, year I of Aspelta with scene at top showing the Queen-Mother Nasalsa (Cairo Mus. Ent. 48866), was found at Gebel Barkal.[15]
Adoption-stela from year 3 of Aspelta probably from Sanam. The text records the appointment of Henuttakhebit as priestess of Napata. The King is shown with his mother Queen Nasalsa and Queen Madiqen.[16]
A fragment of one of the canopic jars of Aspelta was found in Room A of the tomb of Anlamani (Nuri 6).[18]
Tomb Nuri 8 belonged to Aspelta. Excavated by Reisner in 1917. Four foundation deposits which include tablets and cups are now spread over several museums. A stela from the chapel was later reused in Tomb Nuri 100. The tomb had three burial chambers and included the sarcophagus of the King. Finds include: Gold and silver vases, inscribed gold vase (Boston Museum 20.341), Silver-spouted beaker (Boston Mus. 24.901.), Gold cylinders (Boston Mus. 21.339-40), Inscribed alabaster jars (Khartum Mus. 1386 A, Boston M us. 20.1070), Two canopic jars (Boston Mus. 20.1062), Porphyry offering-table (Boston Mus. 21.1192).[19]
Two alabaster jars with the name of Aspelta, found in tomb S.44 in the South Cemetery of Meroe (Boston Mus. 24.886, Khartum Mus. 182I)[20]
Alabaster vase with name of Aspelta, a faience fragment with cartouche of Aspelta (Brussels E. 3539, E. 3977) and faience fragment with cartouches of Aspelta (Copenhagen, Ny Carlsberg Glypt. IE.I.N. 1307-8)[21]
Faience ankh showing the cartouches and epithets of Aspelta. Votive offering. From Meroe, modern-day Sudan. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
Artifacts including large metal tweezers, decorated and inscribed vessels, gold sheaths, and a ewer marked for King Aspelta found in Nuri pyramid 8. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
The Sarcophagus of King Aspelta found in Nuri pyramid 8. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
^Bertha Porter; Rosalind L B Moss; Ethel W Burney, Topographical bibliography of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic texts, reliefs, and paintings. VII, Nubia, the deserts, and outside Egypt, Oxford : Griffith Institute, 1995
aspelta, ruler, kingdom, kush, more, known, about, reign, than, most, rulers, kush, left, several, stelae, carved, with, accounts, reign, kushite, king, napata, statue, reconstruction, with, egyptian, headdress, louvre, museumpredecessoranlamanisuccessoraramat. Aspelta was a ruler of the kingdom of Kush c 600 c 580 BCE More is known about him and his reign than most of the rulers of Kush He left several stelae carved with accounts of his reign AspeltaKushite King of NapataAspelta statue reconstruction with Egyptian headdress Louvre MuseumPredecessorAnlamaniSuccessorAramatle qoDiedc 580 BCEBurialNuri Nu 8 SpouseMadiqen Henuttakhebitpossibly Meqemale Asata and Artaha possible IssueAramatle qo Queen AmanitakayeNamesAspeltaFatherSenkamanisken MotherNasalsaAspeltain hieroglyphsEra Late Period 664 332 BC Contents 1 Family 2 Reign 3 Tomb 4 Monuments and items mentioning Aspelta 5 Artifacts 6 ReferencesFamily editAspelta was the son of Senkamanisken and Queen Nasalsa Aspelta was the brother and successor of Anlamani The King is thought to have had several wives including Henuttakhebit buried in pyramid Nuri 28 Meqemale buried in pyramid Nuri 40 Asata buried in pyramid Nuri 42 Artaha buried in pyramid Nuri 58 1 he may have also been married to his sister Madiqen 2 Aspelta used titles based on those of the Egyptian Pharaohs 3 Horus name Neferkha Whose Appearances are Beautiful Nebty Name Neferkha Whose Appearances are Beautiful Golden Horus Name Userib Whose heart is strong Prenomen Merykare Re is one whose ka is loved Nomen AspeltaReign editAccording to relevant inscriptions Aspelta was selected as ruler by a committee of twenty four religious and military leaders He then set out north to Napata to be selected as king by the gods and crowned Another stele that might date from Aspelta s reign recounts how a group of priests were put to death likely as punishment for conspiring against the king In 592 BCE Kush was invaded by an Egyptian military expedition initiated by Pharaoh Psamtik II 4 perhaps because Aspelta posed a threat to this pharaoh s authority over Upper Egypt to the south and close to Kush The invaders sacked Napata and some historians believe that because of this attack Aspelta decided to move the Nubian capital to the more secure city of Meroe citation needed Tomb editAspelta s tomb was located at Nuri and is the second largest burial structure here 5 His tomb was excavated by George A Reisner in 1916 and many items were discovered within it most of which are now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston The palace built by him and his brother was excavated by Reisner in 1920 Monuments and items mentioning Aspelta edit nbsp Nuri pyramid Nu VIII of King Aspelta the best preserved of the pyramids in Nuri Aspelta is well attested A list of items mentioning the King 6 Two cartouche plaques of Aspelta Ashmolean Mus 1932 749 and Brussels E 7010 from the West side room Temple A at Kawa 7 Fragments of granite stela of Aspelta Ashmolean Mus I9J2 I295 found in south east corner of the Court in Temple T at Kawa 8 Wall depicting Aspelta Oxford Ashmolean Mus 1936 662 One scene shows the King offering image of Maat to the ram headed god Amun Re and Anukis Nethy another shows King before Amun Re and Mut 9 Granite stela Berlin Mus 2268 The scene depicts Nastasen and the Queen Mother Pelkha and similarly Nastasen with Queen Sakhmakh The text is dated to year 8 and mentions King Aspelta Harsiotef Alara and Kambasuden The stela probably comes from Gebel Barkal 10 A shrine dedicated to Aspelta was found at the temple in Sanam 11 12 Stela of Aspelta Louvre C 257 Possibly from Sanam 13 A diorite stela of Khaliut the Mayor of Kanad son of Pi ankhy was erected by Aspelta The text mention s the Queen Mother Nasalsa 14 Enthronement stela year I of Aspelta with scene at top showing the Queen Mother Nasalsa Cairo Mus Ent 48866 was found at Gebel Barkal 15 Adoption stela from year 3 of Aspelta probably from Sanam The text records the appointment of Henuttakhebit as priestess of Napata The King is shown with his mother Queen Nasalsa and Queen Madiqen 16 Statue of Aspelta Boston Mus 2J 7JO 17 A fragment of one of the canopic jars of Aspelta was found in Room A of the tomb of Anlamani Nuri 6 18 Tomb Nuri 8 belonged to Aspelta Excavated by Reisner in 1917 Four foundation deposits which include tablets and cups are now spread over several museums A stela from the chapel was later reused in Tomb Nuri 100 The tomb had three burial chambers and included the sarcophagus of the King Finds include Gold and silver vases inscribed gold vase Boston Museum 20 341 Silver spouted beaker Boston Mus 24 901 Gold cylinders Boston Mus 21 339 40 Inscribed alabaster jars Khartum Mus 1386 A Boston M us 20 1070 Two canopic jars Boston Mus 20 1062 Porphyry offering table Boston Mus 21 1192 19 Two alabaster jars with the name of Aspelta found in tomb S 44 in the South Cemetery of Meroe Boston Mus 24 886 Khartum Mus 182I 20 Alabaster vase with name of Aspelta a faience fragment with cartouche of Aspelta Brussels E 3539 E 3977 and faience fragment with cartouches of Aspelta Copenhagen Ny Carlsberg Glypt IE I N 1307 8 21 Artifacts edit nbsp Colossal statue of King Aspelta from Jebel Barkal Boston Museum of Fine Arts 22 nbsp Statue of Aspelta Kerma Museum nbsp Faience ankh showing the cartouches and epithets of Aspelta Votive offering From Meroe modern day Sudan The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology London nbsp Statue from Jebel Barkal nbsp Statue from Jebel Barkal nbsp Cartouche of Aspelta nbsp Name of Aspelta on his statue nbsp Sandstone wall of King Aspelta offering Ma at Truth to ram headed god Amun Re accompanied by Anukis Temple T at Kawa Ashmolean Museum I9J2 I295 23 nbsp Artifacts including large metal tweezers decorated and inscribed vessels gold sheaths and a ewer marked for King Aspelta found in Nuri pyramid 8 Museum of Fine Arts Boston nbsp The Sarcophagus of King Aspelta found in Nuri pyramid 8 Museum of Fine Arts Boston nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aspelta References edit Porter and Moss pg 232 Aidan Dodson amp Dyan Hilton The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt Thames amp Hudson 2004 pp 236 239 ISBN 0 500 05128 3 Laszlo Torok The kingdom of Kush handbook of the Napatan Meroitic Civilization The New Encyclopaedia Britannica Micropaedia Vol 8 15th edition 2003 p 817 Aspelta Bertha Porter Rosalind L B Moss Ethel W Burney Topographical bibliography of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic texts reliefs and paintings VII Nubia the deserts and outside Egypt Oxford Griffith Institute 1995 Porter and Moss pg 184 Porter and Moss pg 187 Porter and Moss pg 188 Porter and Moss pg 193 Porter and Moss pg 199 Kathryn Howley Worshipping Amun in Nubia in Egyptian Archaeology 58 Spring 2021 pp 25 27 Porter and Moss pg 202 Porter and Moss pg 216 Porter and Moss pg 217 Porter and Moss pg 218 Porter and Moss pg 221 Porter and Moss pg 226 Porter and Moss pg 227 Porter and Moss pg 259 Porter and Moss pg 261 Statue of King Aspelta collections mfa org Museum notice Preceded byAnlamani Rulers of Kush Succeeded byAramatle qo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aspelta amp oldid 1177825674, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
