TVM Entry Floor: Ancient Egyptian Artifacts -- Middle Kingdom

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Egyptian middle-era
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Ancient Egyptian Artifacts
Middle Kingdom
2040BC to 1782BC

Introduction

The Middle Kingdom represents a reunification of Egypt by the warlords of Upper Egypt, just as they had done a millennium before. This time the drive down from the South came from Thebes rather than Hierakonpolis. The Middle Kingdom period is represented by Dynasties 11 and 12. This period lasted about 300 years before Egypt again dissolved into separate states.

The Middle Kingdom

Reunification of Egypt
at the End of the First Intermediate Period,
and Expansion in the Middle Kingdom.

The Thebean rulers (Wasteans), made war on the Hierakonpoleans of Dynasty 9 in the South. They eventually conquered the South as far as the first rapids.

Then the focus turned to Thinis, King Khety III. By the time of Montuhotep II the whole of Egypt was united under Thebean rule. Thus, ancient Egyptian records record him as the founder of the Middle Kingdom. Successive Kings in Dynasty Eleven rebuilt the national government and resumed trade with other powers in the region.

The Middle Kingdom was centered at Thebes (or Wast as it was called then) and it became the foremost city of Egypt. Memphis remained important, but second to Thebes. The Theban priesthood began their rise to power arising primarily from gifts of land and riches from succeeding Pharaohs.

The 11th Dynasty Pharaohs pushed South into Nubia up the Nile to the second cataract and then under Senusret III pushed up to almost half way to the third cataract.

The 12th Dynasty Kings ruled Egypt from a new capital city created to distance themselves from both Thebes and Memphis, it was called Itj-tawy. However only its general location is known, it was located near the Fayium along the major part of the Nile.

Dynasty 13 Kings continued to rule from the new capitol, Itj-tawy.

Burial Customs

The first Kings of Dynasty 11 were buried in great tombs near on the Western Theban plain. Mentuhotep I lived 50 years and created a temple/tomb on the Western Theban plain at Deir el-Bahari (where later Queen Hatshepsut would build her temple next to it). Mentuhotep II was buried near him.

Amenemhet I, founder of Dynasty 12, moved both not only the primary capital but also the royal cemetery to near the Fayium Amenemhet was buried in a pyramid at Lisht, the new royal cemetery.

East Wall of Khumhotep Funerary Chapel
Dynasty 12

Mummy of
Menuhotep Warrior
Dynasty 11

Coffin of Warrior Userhet

Mummy of Wah
Dynasty 11

Sarcophagus with Models
Dynasty 12

Granary Model
Dynasty 11

Plowman Model
Dynasty 11

Shabatti (Tomb Servants)

Art

King Nephepetra
and Kemsit
Dynasty 11

Kemsit
Dynasty 11

Limestone Relief
from the
Tomb of Tjetji
Dynasty 11

Statuary/Monuments

Lady Senebi
Dynasty 12

Ritual Figure
Dynasty 12

Senwosret-Senebfny (detail)
Dynasty 12

Sandstone Sculpture of
Nebhepetra-Menuhotep
Dynasty 11

A Hippopotamus
Dynasty 12

Jewelry

Khnument Jewelry
Dynasty 12

Khnument Jewelry
Dynasty 12

Queen Mereret Jewelry
Dynasty 12

Queen Mereret Jewelry
Dynasty 12

Back to the Middle Era Art.

Next look at the High Era Art

Egyptian early-era
Egyptian middle-era
Egyptian high-era
Egyptian final-era

2003-02-26