396 Ta’o IITa’o II (Sekenenré, Djehuti’o)(d. 1555 B.C.E.) Sec-
ond to the last ruler of the Seventeenth Dynasty at Thebes
Called also “the Brave,” Ta’o II ruled from an unknown
date until c. 1555 B.C.E. as a contemporary of the HYKSOS
at AVARIS. The son of TA’OIand QueenTETISHERI, Ta’o II
married Queen Ah’hotep (I), who bore him two sons,
KAMOSEand ’AHMOSE, and many daughters. He also had
lesser consorts, ’AHMOSE-IN-HAPIand HENUTEMPET.
Around 1554 B.C.E., Ta’o II received a message from
the HYKSOSking APOPHIS(r. 1585–1553 B.C.E.), com-
plaining that the sacred hippopotami in the temple pool
at Thebes kept him awake at night. The message, con-
tained in the SALLIER PAPYRUSII and called the QUARREL
OF APOPHIS AND SEKENENRÉ(TA’OII),was obviously a cal-
culated error. Apophis’s residence at AVARISwas more
than 400 miles to the north, which meant that the
announcement was politically nuanced, perhaps a
provocation.
Ta’o II responded instantly by starting military cam-
paigns against the Hyksos holdings. He met a violent
death, probably at the hands of enemy attackers during
this campaign. His mummified remains, buried originally
in DRA-ABÚ EL-NAGA, and then placed in the royal
mummy cache at DEIR EL-BAHRI, clearly demonstrate the
ferocity of the attackers.
Ta’o II suffered five major wounds, including two axe
cuts that caused a skull fracture, a blow to the bridge of
his nose, a blow to the left cheek, and another to the
right side of his head. His ribs and vertebrae were also
damaged. His attackers used axes, spears, and possibly
arrows. Ta’o II must have been assaulted while asleep, as
the arms and hands bore no wounds. His mummified
remains indicate that Ta’o II was slender and muscular,
with long black curly hair and a healthy set of teeth. He
was buried in a large anthropoid coffin with the rishi
design.
Taramsa This is a site at DENDEREH, demonstrating the
Middle Paleolithic Period culture now called Taramsa.
Various artifacts were recovered there, as well as the
remains of a small child, dating to c. 55,000 B.C.E.
Tarif, el- It was a site on the western shore of the Nile,
the northernmost necropolis of THEBES. Large and filled
with monuments, Tarif was connected to the mortuary
complex of MONTUHOTEP II(r. 2061–2010 B.C.E.). The site
was constructed in a rock court and contained “SAFF”
TOMBS, taken from the Arabic for “row.” Tombs from the
Eleventh Dynasty, as well as the Old Kingdom Period
(2575–2134 B.C.E.) MASTABAS, were found there. The
three most impressive tombs belong to INYOTEF I (r.
2134–2118 B.C.E.) at Saff el-Dawaba, INYOTEF II (r.
2118–2069 B.C.E.) at Saff el Kisasiya, and INYOTEF III(r.
2069–2061 B.C.E.) at Saff el-Bagar. These tombs had
doors and pillared facades.
Tarkhan It was a site in the FAIYUMregion of the Nile,
located on the western bank in an area called the lower
valley. The necropolis there dates to the Old Kingdom
Period (2575–2134 B.C.E.). Predynastic tombs were also
built in Tarkhan, where mortuary regalia and the names
of various rulers, including NARMER, were unearthed.Tarset(fl. 28th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the First
Dynasty
She was the consort of ’ADJIB(c. 2700 B.C.E.). The ranking
queen, Tarset was also the mother of SEMERKHET, the heir.
She was probably the ranking heiress of the Memphis
clans, married to ’Adjib to consolidate his political claims
to the throne.Tasedkhonsu(fl. 10th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of
the Libyan Twenty-second Dynasty
She was the consort of OSORKON I(r. 924–909 B.C.E.). The
ranking queen, Tasedkhonsu was the mother of TAKELOT
I, SMENDES III, and Prince IUWELOT.Tatenen (Tenen, Ta-tonen) He was an earth deity of
Egypt, also called Tenen, or Ta-tonen. Tatenen was
believed to have emerged from the watery abyss as “the
Lord of Creation” and was worshiped in MEMPHIS. His
name meant “the Risen Land,” and he was also called “the
Revered One.” Tatenen always carried two staffs that he
brought into the world to repel the serpent from the great
PRIMEVAL MOUND. He also carried a mace, called “the
Great White of the Earth Makers,” the cultic origin
unknown, and the weapon was dedicated to his son, the
falcon. This mace had magical powers and in some histor-
ical periods was worshiped as a separate deity. The famous
DJEDpillar was brought into the world by Tatenen, as well
as another amulet called “the Similitude of the Front of
the God.” Tatenen became associated with the cult of PTAH
and his djedpillar became a popular symbol of OSIRIS.Tawaret (Taueret, Thueris) Also called Thueris by
the Greeks, she was the patroness of childbirth in ancient
Egypt. Tawaret was normally depicted as a HIPPOPOTA-
MUS, sometimes dressed in the robes of a queen and wear-
ing a lion’s mane and a CROWN. Her head had the shape
of a CROCODILE’s snout and she had the feet of a lion.
Tawaret was also shown as a hippopotamus with the
head of a lion. In this form she carried daggers that she
used to smite the spiritual and physical enemies of Egypt.
Tawaret carried the SAAMULET. Her cult center was at
Thebes and she remained popular during celebrations at
OPET(modern LUXOR), where a Beautiful Feast of Tawaret
was conducted each year.Tcharu (Tharu) It was an Egyptian fortified city near
modern El-Qantara, bordering the SINAIPeninsula. The