23 Facts About Taharqa

1.

Taharqa, spelled Taharka or Taharqo, was a pharaoh of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt and qore of the Kingdom of Kush, from 690 to 664 BC.

2.

Taharqa was one of the "Black Pharaohs" who ruled over Egypt for nearly a century.

3.

Taharqa was the son of Piye, the Nubian king of Napata who had first conquered Egypt.

4.

Therefore, Taharqa says that King Shebitku, who was very fond of him, brought him with him to Egypt and during that trip he had the opportunity to see the deplorable state of the temple of Amun at Kawa, an event he remembered after becoming king.

5.

Therefore, the Kawa V text began with the 6th year of Taharqa and referred to the High Nile flood of that year before abruptly jumping back to Taharqa's youth at the end of line 13.

6.

Taharqa found me after I had appeared on the throne of Horus.

7.

Taharqa built the largest pyramid in the Nubian region at Nuri with the most elaborate Kushite rock-cut tomb.

8.

Taharqa began cultivating alliances with elements in Phoenicia and Philistia who were prepared to take a more independent position against Assyria.

9.

Taharqa's army undertook successful military campaigns, as attested by the "list of conquered Asiatic principalities" from the Mut temple at Karnak and "conquered peoples and countries " from Sanam temple inscriptions.

10.

Taharqa built military settlements at the Semna and Buhen forts and the fortified site of Qasr Ibrim.

11.

In 672 BC, Taharqa brought reserve troops from Kush, as mentioned in rock inscriptions.

12.

In 669 BC, Taharqa reoccupied Memphis, as well as the Delta, and recommenced intrigues with the king of Tyre.

13.

Taharqa intrigued in the affairs of Lower Egypt, and fanned numerous revolts.

14.

The remains of three colossal statues of Taharqa were found at the entrance of the palace at Nineveh.

15.

Taharqa was followed by his appointed successor Tantamani, a son of Shabaka, who invaded Lower Egypt in hopes of restoring his family's control.

16.

Taharqa was himself succeeded by a son of Taharqa, Atlanersa.

17.

Taharqa chose the site of Nuri in North Sudan to build his pyramid, away from the traditional burial site of El-Kurru.

18.

Mainstream scholars agree that Taharqa is the Biblical "Tirhakah", king of Ethiopia, who waged war against Sennacherib during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah.

19.

The events in the biblical account are believed to have taken place in 701 BC, whereas Taharqa came to the throne some ten years later.

20.

Taharqa is depicted in various reliefs in Jebel Barkal, particularly in the Temple of Mut.

21.

Taharqa, followed by the sistrum shaking queen Takahatenamun in the Jebel Barkal Temple of Mut.

22.

Taharqa making dedications to Egyptian Gods, in the Temple of Mut, Jebel Barkal, Sudan.

23.

Taharqa appears as the tallest statue in the back, Kerma Museum.