Senusret I (Sesostris I)
Senusret I, also known as Sesostris I, was a significant pharaoh of ancient Egypt who ruled during the Middle Kingdom, specifically from around 1971 to 1926 BCE. He was the son of Amenemhat I, the founder of the Twelfth Dynasty, and ascended to the throne after his father's assassination. As a ruler, Senusret I is noted for his military campaigns which expanded Egypt's borders into Nubia and secured its western front against Libya. His reign was marked by considerable wealth and political stability, allowing for a flourishing of arts and architecture.
Senusret I is acclaimed for his extensive building projects, including the reconstruction of the temple of Re at Heliopolis and the establishment of a limestone temple at Karnak. He is also recognized for creating obelisks and monumental structures that emphasized his authority and connection to the divine. His burial pyramid, located at el-Lisht, is one of the best-preserved from the period, despite the collapse of its core. Additionally, his familial connections included marriage to his sister Neferu III and fathering at least two known children, further intertwining royal lineage. Senusret I’s legacy continues to influence perceptions of ancient Egyptian culture and history.
Senusret I (Sesostris I)
Pharaoh during the Twelfth dynasty of Egypt
- Born: 20th century BCE
- Birthplace: Egypt
- Died: c. 1926 BCE
- Place of death: Egypt
Also known as: Sesostris I; Senusret I Kheperkare
Significance: Senusret I was a pharaoh who ruled Egypt during a long period of peace and prosperity from approximately 1971 to 1926 BCE. During his reign, Senusret built numerous monuments, expanded and stabilized Egypt's borders, and established trade relations with the kingdom of Syria.
Background
Senusret I ruled during a period of Egyptian history known as the Middle Kingdom. The Middle Kingdom is generally considered to have lasted from about 2040 to 1782 BCE. Egypt prospered during the period, enjoying relative political stability and producing some of the greatest works of literature and art in its history. The Middle Kingdom comprised the reign of three ruling families, or dynasties—parts of the Eleventh, the Twelfth, and parts of the Thirteenth dynasties.
Senusret I's father was Amenemhat I, the first ruler of the Twelfth dynasty. Amenemhat was an advisor to the previous pharaoh and rose to power around 1991 BCE. He moved Egypt's capital from Thebes to a now-lost city called Iti-tawi. Senusret was born sometime in the early twentieth century BCE to Amenemhat and his primary wife Nefertitanen. Senusret's name means "Man of goddess Wosret," and may have been a reference to the mother of Nefertitanen.
Reign
Many Egyptologists believe Amenemhat may have appointed Senusret co-ruler sometime around 1971 BCE. If this theory is true, it would mark the first example of power sharing in Egyptian history. Records indicate Senusret was fighting for his father in Libya when Amenemhat was assassinated around 1962 BCE. Senusret rushed back to the capital to assert his claim to the throne. As sole pharaoh, he took the name Kheperkare, or the "Soul of Re Comes into Being." Re is another name for Ra, the Egyptian sun god. Senusret is sometimes referred to as Sesostris, the ancient Greek version of his name.
Senusret continued his father's military campaigns against Libya and Nubia, an ancient kingdom to the south of Egypt. Senusret's armies captured the northern regions of Nubia, building a series of fortresses and extending Egypt's borders to the south. This area was valuable for its supplies of gold, copper, and precious stones. His military campaigns against the Libyans allowed Egypt to secure its borders to the west. To the northeast, Senusret opened diplomatic relations with Syria, negotiating trade routes that led to a prosperous flow of cedar, ivory, and other goods between the nations. Senusret also established borders within Egypt. While he allowed regional governors to maintain some control, the pharaoh exercised supreme authority over his kingdom.
As was common among Egypt's pharaohs, Senusret undertook many building projects as a means of glorifying both his name and his father's name. He was the first pharaoh to build monuments at all of the ancient holy sites in Egypt, a practice meant to remind local religious leaders of his authority. Archeologists believe he was responsible for more than thirty-six major works.
Among his projects, Senusret rebuilt the temple of Re at the ancient city of Heliopolis, near modern-day Cairo. He ordered the construction of two obelisks at the site. While the temple and city have been lost, one of the obelisks—a 67 foot (20.4 meter) stone pillar—still survives. The structure is considered the oldest surviving obelisk in Egypt. Senusret also ordered a limestone temple built at Karnak, near Thebes, to house a statue of the god Amun. The structure, called the White Chapel, was later dismantled to make way for a larger temple. Pieces of Senusret's first temple were discovered in the twentieth century and reconstructed at a museum at the site.
Under Senusret's reign, Egypt experienced a period of great wealth and relative peace. Records indicate he ruled for about forty-five years. It is believed Senusret followed the tradition set by his father and appointed his son, Amenemhat II, as co-ruler about three to four years before his death. Senusret died around the year 1926 BCE. He was buried in a pyramid at el-Lisht, a site south of Cairo and within a mile of his father's pyramid. Senusret was succeeded by his son, who took the name Amenemhat II Nubkare and carried on many of his father's legacies.
Impact
Senusret's prolific construction projects overshadowed many of the local architectural and art styles of the era, and are sometimes referred to as the royal style. Some biblical scholars believe Senusret is the pharaoh that the Jewish patriarch Abraham and his wife, Sarah, encounter in the Book of Genesis. The Bible states that Abraham and Sarah traveled to Egypt to escape a famine. Abraham pretended to be Sarah's brother so the pharaoh would not kill him and take Sarah as a member of his harem. The pharaoh did take Sarah for his harem and rewarded Abraham for the gift of his "sister." Abraham's God, however, was angry and sent a plague to punish the pharaoh. The pharaoh then returned Sarah to Abraham and ordered them to leave Egypt.
Senusret's pyramid at el-Lisht was constructed of limestone and reached a height of about 200 feet (61 meters) with a base of about 345 feet (105 meters). Despite being the best-preserved pyramid at the site, Senusret's burial structure has collapsed into a mound of stone and rubble. His pyramid complex also contained nine smaller pyramids for his wife and other relatives.
Personal Life
Senusret married his sister, Neferu III. The couple had at least two children together—a daughter, Sebat, and son, Amenemhat II. Archeological evidence suggests Senusret may also have had several other daughters. One of them, Itakayt, may be buried in her own pyramid at Senusret's complex. Artifacts uncovered near Senusret's pyramid contain the names Neferusobek, Neferuptah, and Nensed, and indicate they may be daughters of the pharaoh.
Bibliography
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Hill, J. "Senusret I Kheperkare." Ancient Egypt Online, 2010, www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/senusreti.html. Accessed 19 Jan. 2018.
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