Adikhalamani Explained

Kushite King of Meroe
Reign:First half of the 2nd century BCE
Predecessor:Arqamani
Successor:Tabirqo (?)
Spouse:Nahirqo (?)

Adikhalamani was a king of Kush, ruling from Meroë in the first half of the 2nd century BCE.[1]

Sources and chronology

Adikhalamani's name is known only from inscriptions at the temple complex of Philae.[2]

Although no burial for Adikhalamani can be securely identified, he is conventionally attributed either Beg. N 8 or Beg. N 9, both located in Meroë and dating to the approximate time of Adikhalamani's reign. Beg. N 8 preserves the fragmentary name "(...)mr(...)t" and Beg. N 9 preserves the name "Tabirqo". László Török (2015) suggested that Tabirqo was a "funerary name" of Adikhalamani and that (...)mr(...)t was a distinct succeeding king.[3] Josefine Kuckertz (2021) instead proposed that Adikhalamani and (...)mr(...)t were the same king and that Tabirqo was a distinct succeeding king.[1] If Kuckertz's identification is accepted, Adikhalamani was the husband of Nahirqo, whose name is recorded in Beg. N 8 and who later ruled as the first queen regnant of Kush.[1]

Adikhalamani is believed to have been contemporary with an Egyptian revolt dated to ca. 207-186 BCE. During this revolt a ruler, Horwennefer (who may have been a Nubian) took control of Thebes and revolted against Ptolemy IV Philopator. The revolt ended ca. 186 BCE when Ankhwennefer (his successor or more likely Horwennefer with a different nomen) was captured and executed.[4]

Titles

Titenre Setepnetjeru ("Image of Re, chosen of the Gods")

Adikhalamani with epithet Meryiset[5]

Notes and References

  1. Kuckertz. Josefine. 2021. Meroe and Egypt. UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology. 5, 11–13.
  2. Book: Eide. Tormod. Fontes Historiae Nubiorum: Textual Sources for the History of the Middle Nile Region Between the Eighth Century BC and the Sixth Century AD: Vol. II: From the Mid-Fifth to the First Century BC. Hägg. Tomas. Holton Pierce. Richard. Török. László. László Török. 1996. University of Bergen. 82-91626-01-4. 590.
  3. Book: Török, László. The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization. 2015. Brill. 978-90-04-29401-1. 204.
  4. http://www.tyndalehouse.com/Egypt/ptolemies/genealogy.htm The Ptolemaic Dynasty
  5. Török, László. The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization, 1997.