After the brilliant stage of the New Kingdom, there was, once again, a period of weakness and political instability, known as the Third Intermediate Period, in which numerous Dynasties ruled.
International panorama of the Third Intermediate Period
At this time we are witnessing the formation of the Middle Assyrian Empire, a moment that roughly coincides with the first Greek colonization of Asia Minor. Already at the time of the Third Dynasty, the foundation of Carthage took place (year 814). Already in the I Millennium, the heirs of Hatti are known:Phrygia and the Maionian kingdom and the Neo-Hittite and Aramean Principalities. This will also be the moment of the Phoenician expansion through the Mediterranean.
DynastiesoftheThirdIntermediatePeriod
Dynasty XXI (1080-945)
In Upper Egypt and Nubia the Divine State of Amun was formed at this time. This god had replaced Osiris in his role as judge of the dead. Although the religion remained pantheistic, the worship of the other gods continued to the greater honor and glory of Amun.
In this period there were two kingdoms in Egypt:one in Thebes (High Priests, Dynasty XXI), to the south and another in Tanis, in the north.
a) In Thebes ruled Herihor (1080-1074), who reigned only a few years, since he came to the throne in old age. His authority as king-pontiff was recognized only in the Thebaid and he always considered himself a vassal, albeit independent, of the sovereign of Tanis , of the XXII Dynasty, Smendes I (1069-1043) (21st Dynasty, 1069-945).
He was also succeeded in Thebes by his son Piankhi (1074-1070), who did not claim royal title, with which Egypt was once again united, at least externally, under the power of Smendes I (1069-1043). ) who ruled in Tanis. With him great changes took place in this capital (formerly Avaris) and the ancient cult of the god Seth was abandoned, being replaced by the Theban triad Amun-Mut-Khonsu.
b) In Tanis , Psusenes I (1039-991) maintained good relations with the High Priest of Thebes, but without abandoning his rights to rule all of Egypt.
c) In Thebes later ruled by Pinedjem I (1070-1032), son of Piánkhi, who married a daughter of Psusennes, king of Tanis, which gave him real rights to the crown. High Priest of Amun, mayor of Thebes, Vizier and head of the Army, he was a great character even before accessing the throne. He was succeeded in the government of Thebes by his son Mahasarte (1054-1046), who died soon, producing great disturbances in this city, perhaps the Thebans seeking effective independence. He was succeeded by his brother Menkeperra (1045-992), also High Priest of Amun and son of Pinedjem, who was later succeeded by his sons Smendes II (992-990) and Pinedjem II (990-969). The last of these quasi-independent High Priests was Psusenes III (969-945), namesake of the king of Tanis.
d) In Tanis , Amenofthis or Amenemope III (993-984) and then Osorcón El Viejo (984-978) and Siamon (978-959) succeeded each other in government, and Pseusenes II (959-945), the last king of the XXI Dynasty, reigned after them. .
During the pontificate of Pinedjem II in Thebes, a Libyan family from Heracleopolis began to stand out, whose head, Sesonq or Senonquis, would later be the first pharaoh of the XXII Dynasty. producing the change of Dynasty without us having news of how it was done.
Dynasty XXII (945-712)
Sesonquis/Sesonq I (945-924) was Libyan, possibly of Berber origin. These Berbers, already rejected several times by Ramses III, were essentially warriors, mercenaries of the previous Egyptian pharaohs, who gave them land as payment, thus creating, in Egypt, colonies headed by a chief.
Sheshonq was not well received in Thebes and part of the clergy of this city emigrated to Upper Nubia, to Napata (possible origin of the XXV Dynasty of Ethiopian kings, priests of Amun).
Abroad, Palestine was now powerful, thanks to King David, whose son, Solomon, married an Egyptian princess. At this time, Jeroboam emigrated to Egypt, fleeing from Solomon, and at the death of this king, he founded the kingdom of Israel with the Israelite tribes while Rehoboam, with those of Judah and Benjamin, founded the kingdom of Judah (around 935 BC). C). Five years later, Sheshonq took Jerusalem and Egypt lived for almost two centuries on the great booty he brought from Palestine. He continued to be on good terms with Phoenicia and Egypt's prestige in Asia was maintained.
As for his internal policy, this king restarted the architectural works and rebuilt the temples.
The successors of Sheshonq I, Osorcón I, Sesonquis II, Tacelotis I. etc. They are very poorly known. They essentially lived in the Delta. In Bubastis and Tanis are the monuments that mention them. At this time, the priests of Thebes became strong again, usurping the royal title, from which it follows that the authority of Sheshonq I must not have been very strong.
The population was divided into professional classes:These were priests, artisans, shepherds, huntsmen, farmers and warriors. According to Diodorus, it was absolutely impossible to pass from one class to another. The military class was totally prohibited from exercising any other profession. They were divided into:
a) Calasirios:About 250,000 men who were mainly in the nomes of the Center and East of the Delta.
b) Hermotibios:About 160,000 men who were mainly in the west of the Delta.
Dynasty XXIII (817-730)
At the end of this XXII Dynasty there was a feudal dismemberment and the XXIII Dynasty (817-730) is parallel to the XXII, leaving some traces, above all, in Upper Egypt, in Karnak. At this time the series of Divine Husbands of Amón is inaugurated. , princesses of the royal house, appointed Wives of Amun by the pharaohs to control the riches of the god. The first was Sepenupel, daughter of Osorkon III. They will be the owners of Thebes for more than two centuries. The last king of this dynasty was Osorkon IV, dethroned by Tefnakht, first king of the XXIV Dynasty, of Sais.