Whm Mswt
Encyclopedia
The period of Ancient Egypt
ian history known as wehem mesut (Manuel de Codage
transliteration
: wHm msw.t) can be literally translated as Repetition of Births, but is usually referred to as the Era of the Renaissance. It began in about year 19 of the reign of Ramesses XI
, around the end of the New Kingdom
and the start of the Third Intermediate Period. It marks a final waning of the power of the centralised monarchy, with Ramesses XI
still nominally pharaoh
, but with Herihor
as High Priest of Amun
in Thebes
and Smendes
in Tanis
ruling respectively Upper and Lower Egypt..
It was traditionally thought to end around Year 10 first month of Shemu day 25 of this period (or Year 28 proper of Ramesses XI) when a letter dating to the Late Ramesside Period shows that the High Priest Piankh was still in Nubia fighting a war against the Viceroy of Kush Pinehesy
. However, a graffito in Upper Egypt dates the return of Piankh to Thebes to the third month of Shemu day 23 or 3 days after the start of Ramesses XI's 29th regnal year which is equivalent to the start of Year 11 of the Wehem Mesut. More recently, Professor K.A. Kitchen has argued that the Late Ramesside Letter 41 (Wente, 75f; cf 15) with reference to West Theban graffito No.1393 likely shows that the Whm-Mswt reached a Year 12 or Year 30 proper of Ramesses XI.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian history known as wehem mesut (Manuel de Codage
Manuel de Codage
The Manuel de Codage is a standard system for the computer-encoding of transliterations of Egyptian hieroglyphic texts.-History:...
transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: wHm msw.t) can be literally translated as Repetition of Births, but is usually referred to as the Era of the Renaissance. It began in about year 19 of the reign of Ramesses XI
Ramesses XI
Ramesses XI reigned from 1107 BC to 1078 BC or 1077 BC and was the tenth and final king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He ruled Egypt for at least 29 years although some Egyptologists think he could have ruled for as long as 30...
, around the end of the New Kingdom
New Kingdom
The New Kingdom of Egypt, also referred to as the Egyptian Empire is the period in ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of Egypt....
and the start of the Third Intermediate Period. It marks a final waning of the power of the centralised monarchy, with Ramesses XI
Ramesses XI
Ramesses XI reigned from 1107 BC to 1078 BC or 1077 BC and was the tenth and final king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He ruled Egypt for at least 29 years although some Egyptologists think he could have ruled for as long as 30...
still nominally pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
, but with Herihor
Herihor
Herihor was an Egyptian army officer and High Priest of Amun at Thebes during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses XI although Karl Jansen Winkeln has argued that Piankh preceded Herihor as High Priest at Thebes and that Herihor outlived Ramesses XI before being succeeded in this office by Pinedjem I,...
as High Priest of Amun
High Priests of Amun at Thebes
While not regarded as a dynasty, the High Priests of Amun at Thebes were nevertheless of such power and influence that they were effectively the rulers of Upper Egypt from 1080 to c.943 BC, after this period their influence declined...
in Thebes
Thebes, Egypt
Thebes is the Greek name for a city in Ancient Egypt located about 800 km south of the Mediterranean, on the east bank of the river Nile within the modern city of Luxor. The Theban Necropolis is situated nearby on the west bank of the Nile.-History:...
and Smendes
Smendes
Hedjkheperre Setepenre Smendes was the founder of the Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt and succeeded to the throne after burying Ramesses XI in Lower Egypt – territory which he controlled...
in Tanis
Tanis, Egypt
Tanis , the Greek name of ancient Djanet , is a city in the north-eastern Nile delta of Egypt. It is located on the Tanitic branch of the Nile which has long since silted up.-History:...
ruling respectively Upper and Lower Egypt..
It was traditionally thought to end around Year 10 first month of Shemu day 25 of this period (or Year 28 proper of Ramesses XI) when a letter dating to the Late Ramesside Period shows that the High Priest Piankh was still in Nubia fighting a war against the Viceroy of Kush Pinehesy
Pinehesy
Pinehesy, Panehesy or Panehasy, depending on different transliteration was Viceroy of Kush during the reign of Ramesses XI, the last king of the Egyptian 20th Dynasty....
. However, a graffito in Upper Egypt dates the return of Piankh to Thebes to the third month of Shemu day 23 or 3 days after the start of Ramesses XI's 29th regnal year which is equivalent to the start of Year 11 of the Wehem Mesut. More recently, Professor K.A. Kitchen has argued that the Late Ramesside Letter 41 (Wente, 75f; cf 15) with reference to West Theban graffito No.1393 likely shows that the Whm-Mswt reached a Year 12 or Year 30 proper of Ramesses XI.