Uronarti
Encyclopedia
Uronarti was an ancient Egyptian settlement located on an island in the Nile above (to the South of) the Second Cataract
. It is well known for its triangular-shaped fortress, constructed between the reigns of Middle Kingdom rulers Senusret I
and Senusret III
, in the nineteenth century BCE. The site was one of several established in Nubia
during this period as Egyptians sought to expand their influence to the south.
It is documented that Senusret III conducted four military campaigns into Kush
and established a line of forts within signalling distance of one another; Buhen
being the northernmost and the others along the banks of the Nile
were Mirgissa, Shalfak, Uronarti, Askut, Dabenarti, Semna, and Kumma
. The Kushites captured Buhen during the 13th dynasty
, and held it until Ahmose I
recaptured it at the beginning of the 18th dynasty
. It was stormed and recaptured by indigenous forces at the end of Egypt's 20th dynasty
.
The triangular shaped fortress located on an island took advantage of the narrow passage of the Nile between the walls of a canyon. Amongst the series of protective fortresses, Uronarti was the second only to Askut as the smallest. Its fortifications included bastion
s, buttress
es, rampart
s, battlement
s, and loophole
s. The walls of the fort were about five metres thick and ten metres high, with a length of approximately 120 metres and width of 60 metres. The literature speculates that the imposing fortresses constructed during this period exceeded the military requirement and may be considered a form of monumental architecture in the manner of the Giza pyramids or temple of Karnak
.
The fortress was excavated by George Reisner
and the site has not been submerged by Lake Nasser
created by the Aswan Dam
in 1964.
Temples dedicated to Dedwen and Montu
were located near the site.
Cataracts of the Nile
The cataracts of the Nile are shallow lengths of the Nile between Aswan and Khartoum where the surface of the water is broken by many small boulders and stones protruding out of the river bed, as well as many rocky islets. Aswan is also the Southern boundary of Upper Egypt...
. It is well known for its triangular-shaped fortress, constructed between the reigns of Middle Kingdom rulers Senusret I
Senusret I
Senusret I was the second pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. He ruled from 1971 BC to 1926 BC, and was one of the most powerful kings of this Dynasty. He was the son of Amenemhat I and his wife Nefertitanen. His wife and sister was Neferu. She was also the mother of the successor Amenemhat II...
and Senusret III
Senusret III
Khakhaure Senusret III was a pharaoh of Egypt. He ruled from 1878 BC to 1839 BC, and was the fifth monarch of the Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. Among his achievements was the building of the Sisostris Canal...
, in the nineteenth century BCE. The site was one of several established in Nubia
Nubia
Nubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
during this period as Egyptians sought to expand their influence to the south.
It is documented that Senusret III conducted four military campaigns into Kush
Kingdom of Kush
The native name of the Kingdom was likely kaš, recorded in Egyptian as .The name Kash is probably connected to Cush in the Hebrew Bible , son of Ham ....
and established a line of forts within signalling distance of one another; Buhen
Buhen
Buhen was an ancient Egyptian settlement situated on the West bank of the Nile below the Second Cataract. It is well known for its fortress, probably constructed during the rule of Senusret III, around the year 1860 BC . The site may have been first established as an outpost in Nubia during the...
being the northernmost and the others along the banks of the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
were Mirgissa, Shalfak, Uronarti, Askut, Dabenarti, Semna, and Kumma
Kumma
Kumma is a village in Kehtna Parish, Rapla County in northern-central Estonia....
. The Kushites captured Buhen during the 13th dynasty
Thirteenth dynasty of Egypt
The thirteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties XI, XII and XIV under the group title Middle Kingdom. Other writers separate it from these dynasties and join it to Dynasties XIV through XVII as part of the Second Intermediate Period...
, and held it until Ahmose I
Ahmose I
Ahmose I was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the founder of the Eighteenth dynasty. He was a member of the Theban royal house, the son of pharaoh Tao II Seqenenre and brother of the last pharaoh of the Seventeenth dynasty, King Kamose...
recaptured it at the beginning of the 18th dynasty
Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt
The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
. It was stormed and recaptured by indigenous forces at the end of Egypt's 20th dynasty
Twentieth dynasty of Egypt
The Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, New Kingdom. This dynasty is considered to be the last one of the New Kingdom of Egypt, and was followed by the Third Intermediate Period....
.
The triangular shaped fortress located on an island took advantage of the narrow passage of the Nile between the walls of a canyon. Amongst the series of protective fortresses, Uronarti was the second only to Askut as the smallest. Its fortifications included bastion
Bastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
s, buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es, rampart
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
s, battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
s, and loophole
Loophole
A loophole is a weakness that allows a system to be circumvented.Loophole may also refer to:*Arrowslit, a slit in a castle wall*Loophole , a short science fiction story by Arthur C...
s. The walls of the fort were about five metres thick and ten metres high, with a length of approximately 120 metres and width of 60 metres. The literature speculates that the imposing fortresses constructed during this period exceeded the military requirement and may be considered a form of monumental architecture in the manner of the Giza pyramids or temple of Karnak
Karnak
The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II . Sacred Lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some...
.
The fortress was excavated by George Reisner
George Reisner
-References:* * "Reisner, George Andrew." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 11 Nov. 2005 .-External links:...
and the site has not been submerged by Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser is a vast reservoir in southern Egypt, and northern Sudan, and is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Strictly, "Lake Nasser" refers only to the much larger portion of the lake that is in Egyptian territory , with the Sudanese preferring to call their smaller body of water...
created by the Aswan Dam
Aswan Dam
The Aswan Dam is an embankment dam situated across the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt. Since the 1950s, the name commonly refers to the High Dam, which is larger and newer than the Aswan Low Dam, which was first completed in 1902...
in 1964.
Temples dedicated to Dedwen and Montu
Mõntu
Mõntu is a village in Torgu Parish, Saare County in western Estonia....
were located near the site.