One of the strongest evidence that Shabaka ruled after Shebitku was demonstrated by the architectural features of the Kushite royal pyramids in El Kurru.
12 Facts About Shabaka
2.
The fully tunnelled and once decorated burial chamber of Shabaka's pyramid was clearly an architectural improvement since it was followed by Taharqa and all his successors.
3.
However, Shabaka's shabtis are larger with more developed inscriptions, including the quotation from the Book of the Dead, which is present on those Taharqo, Tanouetamani and Senkamanisken.
4.
Shabaka is thought to be the son of King Kashta and Pebatjma, although a text from the time of Taharqa could be interpreted to mean that Shabaka was a brother of Taharqa and hence a son of Piye.
5.
Shabaka is thought by some to be a wife of Taharqa.
6.
Shabaka is the father of at least two more children, but the identity of their mother is not known.
7.
Shabaka succeeded his uncle Shebitku on the throne, and adopted the throne name of the Sixth Dynasty ruler Pepi II Neferkare.
8.
Shabaka's reign was initially dated from 716 BC to 702 BC by Kenneth Kitchen.
9.
Shabaka's reign is significant because he consolidated the Nubian Kingdom's control over all of Egypt from Nubia down to the Delta region.
10.
The most famous relic from Shabaka's reign is the Shabaka Stone which records several Old Kingdom documents that the king ordered preserved.
11.
Shabaka is assumed to have died in his 15th regnal year based on BM cube statue 24429, which is dated to Year 15, II Shemu day 11 of Shabaka's reign.
12.
Shabaka was buried in a pyramid at el-Kurru and was succeeded by his nephew Taharqa.