Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt

404 Thent Hep

with an insulting message sent by APOPHIS, the Hyksos
ruler, to Ta’o II, the ruler of Thebes (c. 1560 B.C.E.). The
Theban armies began to march on the Hyksos strongholds
as a result. When Ta’o II died in battle or in an ambush,
his son KAMOSE(r. 1555–1550 B.C.E.) entered the war and
rolled back the Hyksos forces. He died before taking
AVARIS, the Hyksos capital, and was succeeded by his
brother, ’AHMOSE, who evicted the Asiatics with campaigns
on land and sea. He even sent his armies against the tem-
porary stronghold of the Hyksos at Sharuhen in Palestine,
once again chasing the Asiatics all the way to Syria.
As a result of this victory, the god AMUNreceived
considerable support from the ruling clan, especially at
KARNAK, and the city became the deity’s cult center. The
shrines, temples, and buildings erected in Thebes gave it
a reputation for splendor and beauty that lasted for cen-
turies. All other cities were judged “after the pattern of
Thebes.”
The Tuthmossids of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550–
1307 B.C.E.) lavished care and wealth upon Thebes, mak-
ing it the nation’s capital, although MEMPHISremained an
administrative center of government and a temporary res-
idence of the royal clan. During the period of AKHENATEN
(r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.) Thebes was abandoned for el-
’AMARNA, to the north. His death, however, signaled a
return to Thebes and a resumption of the building pro-
jects and adornment of the temples, shrines, and royal
residences. The western shore of Thebes became a vast
and beautiful necropolis, as stunning mortuary com-
plexes were built at DEIR EL-BAHRI(where Montuhotep II
had erected his mortuary temple in the Eleventh
Dynasty) and in the VALLEY OF THE KINGSand the VALLEY
OF THE QUEENS.
When the Ramessids came to power in 1307 B.C.E.,
they built a new capital, Per-Ramesses, on the site of
Avaris, their clan home. Thebes, however, remained pop-
ular not only as a residence during certain months of the
year but as the site of the royal burial grounds. The deity
AMUNremained powerful as well, and the rulers contin-
ued to adorn the temples and shrines of the god through-
out Egyptian history. The rulers of the Third Intermediate
Period (1070–712 B.C.E.) and the Late (712–332 B.C.E.)
and Ptolemaic (304–30 B.C.E.) Periods did not reside
solely in Thebes, but the city received benefices from
these dynasties. The Romans continued to lavish shrines
and adornments on the site.

Suggested Readings: Livraga, Giorgio. Thebes. Trans.
Julian Scott. Boston: New Acropolis, 1986; Manniche,
Lise. City of the Dead: Thebes in Egypt.Chicago, 1987;
Strudwick, Nigel, and Helen M. Strudwick. Thebes in
Egypt: A Guide to the Tombs and Temples of Ancient Luxor.
Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1999.

Thent Hep(fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the
Eighteenth Dynasty

Thent Hep was a lesser-ranked consort of ’AHMOSE (r.

1550–1525 B.C.E.). She was the mother of Princess Hent-

Temehu.

Theocritus(d. 250 B.C.E.) Greek creator of pastoral

poetry who visited Alexandria

He was a poet from Syracuse who arrived in ALEXANDRIA

during the reign of PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS(285–246

B.C.E.). Theocritus was on the island of Cos when he

wrote to Ptolemy II, asking him to be his patron. In

Alexandria, he became a master of poetry, writing the

Idylls, which was copied by later Latins, and other

revered works. The Idyllsdepicts Alexandrian women at

a festival.

theophanies They were the various images of animals

or reptiles used by Egyptians to represent certain aspects

of the nation’s deities. Particular strengths or abilities were

shown in such images to define attributes of the gods.

Some theophanies date to Predynastic Periods (before

3000 B.C.E.), and others evolved over the centuries. It was

believed that animals, even serpents or reptiles, repre-

sented nature in a manner unknown to humans. Their

species existed in modes of creation beyond the human

awareness. Theophanies thus represented “the otherness”

of earth’s creatures and their roles in the ongoing spans of

life, called in some eras “the living images of the gods.”

Theshen(fl. 25th century B.C.E.) Counselor of the Fifth

Dynasty

He served SAHURÉ(r. 2458–2446 B.C.E.) as treasurer, coun-

selor, and companion. Theshen was the son of Zezemoneki

and Lady Nubhotep. His tomb, a gift from his father, was

prepared for him when he was very young. He added

adornments to the various chambers as he prospered.

thet It was a popular AMULETassociated with the cult of

the goddess ISIS, called the GIRDLE OF ISIS. The thetwas

worn by the living and the dead and was a symbol of Isis’s

protection.

Thethi(fl. 22nd century B.C.E.)Court official of the

Eleventh Dynasty in Thebes

He served in the reigns of INYOTEF I(2134–2118 B.C.E.)

and INYOTEF II(2118–2069 B.C.E.). Thethi was the royal

treasurer and a favored courtier during both reigns. The

Inyotefs ruled only Thebes and Upper Egypt at that time.

Thethi’s STELA, the first recorded document of that

dynasty, depicts the funeral of Inyotef I and the ascension

of Inyotef II to the throne. Thethi prepared Inyotef I’s

tomb at THEBES. He was buried near Inyotef I.

Thinis (Girga) A site in Upper Egypt just north of

ABYDOS, called Girga in modern times, Thinis was the