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Ta’a(fl. 12th century B.C.E.) Courageous official of the

Twentieth Dynasty

He served RAMESSES III(r. 1194–1163 B.C.E.) as VIZIER.

Ta’a is mentioned in the records of the royal jubilee of the

reign. His successors would rebel against Ramesses III

and be captured at ATHRIBIS, but he was a loyal servant of

the pharaoh. He sailed north after gathering religious

articles from Thebes, taking them to PER-RAMESSES, the

capital at the time. He visited Egyptian cities while en

route. During the strike of tomb workers at DEIR EL-MED-

INA, Ta’a distributed rations to the people in order to

avert disaster. His courage and wisdom delayed the

unrest that struck Thebes.

See also TOMB WORKERS’ REVOLT.

Ta’apenes(fl. 10th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the

Twenty-first Dynasty

She was the consort of PSUSENNES I(r. 1040–992 B.C.E.), a

lower-ranked queen, as MUTNODJMET(2)was the Great

Wife. Some records indicate that Ta’apenes’s sister was

sent to Jerusalem to serve at the court there.

Tabiry(fl. eighth century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the

Nubian Twenty-fifth Dynasty

She was the consort of PIANKHI(r. 750–712 B.C.E.) and

the daughter of the Nubian ruler ALARA and Queen

Kasaga. Tabiry was possibly the mother of SHABAKAand

SHEPENWEPET(2). It is not known if Tabiry accompa-

nied Piankhi on his military campaigns in Egypt. Her

daughter, SHEPENWEPET (2), became a GOD’S WIFE OF

AMUN, or Divine Adoratrice of Amun, during Piankhi’s

reign.

Tadukhipa(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the

Eighteenth Dynasty, a Mitanni princess

She was a consort of AMENHOTEP III (r. 1391–1353

B.C.E.) and a MITANNIroyal princess, given to Amen-

hotep III to cement the ties between Egypt and her

homeland. Tadukhipa was also a niece of the MITANNI

princess Khirgipa, who had entered Amenhotep III’s

HAREMearlier. Tadukhipa arrived shortly before Amen-

hotep III died or perhaps soon after. She is mentioned in

a letter written by Queen TIYE (1), Amenhotep III’s

widow, as having married AKHENATEN. As a result, some

scholars believe that Tadukhipa was Queen KIYA of

Akhenaten’s court.

Taharqa (Khure’ nefertem, Tarku, Tirhaka)(d. 664

B.C.E.)Ruler of the Nubian Twenty-fifth Dynasty

He reigned from 690 B.C.E. until forced to abandon Egypt.

He was the son of PIANKHIand the cousin of SHEBITKU,

whom he succeeded. His mother, ABAR, came from NUBIA

(modern Sudan) to visit and to bless his marriage to

Queen AMUN-DYEK’HET. They had two sons, Nesishutef-

nut, who was made the second prophet of Amun, and

USHANAHURU, who was ill-fated. Taharqa’s daughter,

AMENIRDIS (2),was adopted by SHEPENWEPET(2) and

installed as a GOD’S WIFE OF AMUNat THEBES.

In 674 B.C.E., Taharqa met the Assyrian king

ESSARHADDONand his army at Ashkelon, defeating the

enemy and raising a STELAto celebrate the victory. He

also built extensively, making additions to the temples of

AMUNand MONTUat KARNAKand to MEDINET HABUand

MEMPHIS. One of his structures at Karnak was erected

between a SACRED LAKEand the outer wall. He built two