Taharqo edit

Taharqo is the name of the last Nubian king whom ruled over Egypt and was defeated by the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon and Aššurbanipal.[1] His reign lasted from 690 when he succeeded Shebitqo to his death in 664. He is the son of Piye and Abar and the father to his daughter, Amenirdis II.[1] Taharqo was one of the rulers of Kush who dominated Egypt as the Twenty-fifth Dynasty.[2] He was a significantly important ruler, initiating a golden age for his new kingdom. Although Taharqo wasn't of Egyptian decent, he highly worshipped the Egyptian god Amun, built pyramids and temples in the Egyptian model, and had his officials write in Egyptian hieroglyphics.[3]

The Sphinx edit

While the Sphinx of Taharqo is significantly smaller than those of Giza, it carries an importance with its infusion of Egyptian and Kush culture. The lion portrayed in the sphinx is done in classic Egyptian style while the face of the Sphinx is clearly an african male pharoah. The hieroglyphics on the statue spell out: this is a portrait of the great King Taharqo, the fourth pharaoh to rule over the combined kingdoms of Kush and Egypt. The sphinx is made of sandy grey granite.[3]

Bree's Suggestions: Elaborate more on Tahxarqo's life and significance. Add other forms of media.

  1. ^ a b "Taharqo - Livius". www.livius.org. Retrieved 2015-09-28.
  2. ^ "Sphinx of Taharqo". British Museum. Retrieved 2015-09-28.
  3. ^ a b "BBC - A History of the World - About: Transcripts - Episode 22 - Sphinx of Taharqo". Retrieved 2015-09-28.