Dynasty 21

3rd Intermediate Period - Egypt Through Time - What is Ancient Egypt?

Brief History

During this 21st Dynasty, Lower Egypt was ruled from Tanis by the Pharaohs now known as the “21st Dynasty Pharaohs” whilst Middle and Upper Egypt was ruled from Thebes by the High Priests of Amun. In Tanis, there was a rival Priesthood who celebrated the same deity’s setup in opposition to their Theban opposites. Although by the third Ruler of this Dynasty there were direct family links between the High Priests of Amun in Thebes and these Pharaohs in Tanis. Their Capital City was at Tanis, to learn more about Tanis, click here

Family Tree

Capital City: Tanis

To learn more about Tanis, click on one of the Images

Pharaohs

For more detailed information about the Pharaohs of the 21st Dynasty, click on the relevant Name below

Pharaoh Nesbanebdjed I, “He of the Ram, Lord of Mendes”

Married to Queen Tentamun II, the daughter of Pharaoh Ramses IX. Together they had the future Pharaoh Amenemnisu

Pharaoh Amenemnisu

Son of former Pharaoh Nesbanebdjed I and Queen Tentamun II, the daughter of Pharaoh Ramses IX. When he died, he was buried in Tanis in Tomb NRT3

Pharaoh Psusennes I, “The Star appearing in the City”

Son of High Priest of Amun in Thebes, Pinediem I and Henuttawy. He ruled during a period of unrest in Egypt and died as an old man, probably 90 years old, as evidenced by his Mummy. He was buried in Tanis in Tomb NRT3 with a Solid Gold Death Mask, a Solid Silver Inner Coffin. He is known as the Silver Pharaoh

Pharaoh Amenemope

Son of Pharaoh Psusennes I and Great Royal Wife, Mutnodjmet. He was originally buried in Tanis in Tomb NRT4 and was later reburied in Tomb NRT3

Pharaoh Osorkon the Elder

He was the first Pharaoh of Meshwesh or of Libyan origin. He was the son of Shoshenq A, Great Chief of the Ma Peoples, and his Great Wife, Mehtenweshkhet A. He was Uncle to Pharaoh Shoshenq I, the Founder of the 22nd Dynasty. He was buried in Tanis in Tomb NRT3

Pharaoh Siamun, “Divine is the Manifestation of Ra, Chosen of Amun”

He was of Egyptian origin, rather than being a Libyan successor of Pharaoh Osorkon the Elder. When he died, he was buried in an unlocated Tomb and may have been washed away by the Nile. He was reburied in Tanis by Tomb NRT3