Ta’o I 395Period (1640–1550 B.C.E.) and a shrine on the site con-
tains the seals of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.).
The great temple of AMUNin Tanis contains six royal
tombs, three of them found intact. The main portion of
the tomb and 15 obelisks date to Ramesses II, and the
gate of the shrine to the reign of SHOSHENQ III( 835–783
B.C.E.).
Another temple on the site was erected in the Thirti-
eth Dynasty (380–343 B.C.E.). This shrine had a lake on
the northeastern corner and was made out of granite
with palmiform columns. A limestone gate erected by
PTOLEMY I SOTER(r. 304–284 B.C.E.) was also discovered.
Attached to this Amun complex was a temple dedicated
to the god HORUS, with additional chapels for the deities
MUT, KHONS (1), and ASTARTE (Ishtar), who was a
Canaanite goddess.
Royal tombs were uncovered as well in the area of
Tanis in deep chambers. OSORKON II(r. 883–855 B.C.E.)
was buried in a chamber of granite, with adjoining lime-
stone rooms. TAKELOT II(r. 860–835 B.C.E.) was also dis-
covered in this tomb, which had Osirian decorations. The
tomb of PSUSENNES I(r. 1040–992 B.C.E.) contained his
royal remains and those of PSUSENNES II (r. 959–945
B.C.E.), AMENEMOPE(r. 993–984 B.C.E.), and SHOSHENQ II
(r. 883 B.C.E.). An unidentified mummy was also found
there.
The remains of Psusennes I were found buried in a
pink granite sarcophagus with a mask of gold, all proba-
bly usurped from earlier burial sites. A silver coffin was
discovered as well inside the sarcophagus and the
remains of SHOSHENQ III(r. 835–783 B.C.E.) had been
deposited there.
Tanis Sphinxes They are figures made for AMENEMHET
III(r. 1844–1797 B.C.E.) in conjunction with the local cult
rituals conducted in the FAIYUMand other regions. This
SPHINXform is a recumbent LIONwith outstretched paws,
a human face, and a large leonine mane. The ears of the
Tanis Sphinxes were large. This type of sphinx was
brought to Tanis during the Ramessid Period (1307–1070
B.C.E.) and remains associated with that site. HATSHEPSUT
(r. 1473–1458 B.C.E.) was memorialized as a Tanis sphinx.
Tanis Stela A monument erected by PTOLEMY II
PHILADELPHUS(r. 285–246 B.C.E.), the stela depicts him
and his consort ARSINOE(2). The ruler wears the red and
white crowns of Egypt and carries a SCEPTER. Arsinoe is
shown wearing the red crown with Isis plumes, the horns
of HATHOR, and the horns of AMUN. She carries a scepter
and an ankh.
Tanqur It is a site in NUBIA(modern Sudan), located
about 75 miles above the second cataract of the Nile. An
inscription erected there in the reign of TUTHMOSIS I
(1504–1492 B.C.E.) depicts that pharaoh’s hand-to-hand
battle with a local chief during a military campaign. This
expedition, which ultimately continued on to Tombos,
took place in Tuthmosis I’s second regnal year. The
viceroy of Nubia serving Tuthmosis I erected the monu-
ment to commemorate the event. Tanqur has dangerous
outcroppings, making travel on that part of the Nile per-
ilous.Tantamani See TANUTAMUN.Tantamun (1)(fl. 11th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of
the Twentieth Dynasty
She was the consort of RAMESSES XI(r. 1100–1070 B.C.E.)
and the mother of Princess TANTAMUN(2) and Princess
HENUTTAWY.Tantamun (2)(fl. 11th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of
the Twenty-first Dynasty
The consort of SMENDES(r. 1070–1044 B.C.E.), Tanta-
mun was the daughter of RAMESSES XIand Queen TANTA-
MUN(1).Tanutamun (Bakaré, Tantamani)(d. c. 655 B.C.E.)
Fourth ruler of the Nubian Twenty-fifth Dynasty
He reigned from 664 B.C.E. until 657 B.C.E. He then
retired from Egypt and possibly ruled for a time in NUBIA
(modern Sudan). Tanutamun was a nephew of TAHARQA,
who had suffered defeat at the hands of the ASSYRIANS.
When ASSURBANIPALattacked Egypt and looted THEBES,
Tanutamun retired to Nubia. He had won back Thebes,
ASWAN, and MEMPHISprior to Assurbanipal’s invasion. In
that campaign he put NECHO Ito death in 664 B.C.E. and
forced PSAMMETICHUS Ito flee to Assyria.
A stela inscribed in GEBEL BARKALdepicts Tanuta-
mun’s coronation at Napata in 664 B.C.E. Called “the
Dream Stela,” this monument also details Tanutamun’s
dream of two snakes. He believed this vision symbolized
that he would rule both Upper and Lower Egypt. Tanuta-
mun was buried at Nuri, the royal necropolis in Nubia.Ta’o I (Senakhtenré, Djehuti’o)(d. c. 1540 B.C.E.)
Ruler of the Seventeenth Dynasty, at Thebes
The dates of his reign are not known. Ta’o I apparently
usurped the throne of Thebes from INYOTEF VIIand was
possibly related to INYOTEF V. Ta’o ruled contemporane-
ously with the HYKSOSbut maintained control of Egypt as
far south as ASWAN.
His queen was a commoner, TETISHERI, who outlived
him and directed the course of Theban affairs for
decades. He also married a Queen MENTJUHOTEP. Ta’o I
and Tetisheri resided at DEIR EL-BALLAS, north of Thebes.
His children included TA’OIIand Princess AH’HOTEP(1).
Ta’o I, called the Elder, was the third ruler of a second
group of the Seventeenth Dynasty. He was buried in
Thebes.