Tutkheperre Shoshenq

Who is Tutkheperre Shoshenq?

Tutkheperre Shoshenq or Shoshenq IIb is an obscure Third Intermediate Period Libyan king whose existence was doubted until recently. However, in 2004, a GM 203 German article by Eva R. Lange on a newly discovered stone block decoration from the Temple of Bubastis which bore his rare royal prenomen, Tutkheperre, confirmed his existence beyond doubt because his name is now found in both Lower and Upper Egypt respectively. Tutkheperre's prenomen translates approximately as "Appearance of the Image of Re."

This king was first attested in Ostracon Louvre E.31886 discovered at Abydos in Upper Egypt by Émile Amélineau in his 19th Century excavations there. This particular ostracon is now located in the Louvre Museum and was examined by M. A. Bonheme in a 1995 paper titled "Les Chechanquides: Qui, Combien?" According to Bonheme, the Ostracon contains the name 'Tutkheperre [...]Amun| |' written in black ink and was discovered among votive deposits of various dates, starting from the New Kingdom onwards near the First Dynasty 'Tomb of Osiris' at Abydos in Upper Egypt.

The ostracon evidence was not considered conclusive evidence for this king's existence at the time since the writer of this object was assumed to have mistakenly written the small bird or chick symbol for Tut instead of the Red Crown symbol for Hedj, as in king Hedjkheperre Shoshenq I. However, in her 2004 GM paper, Lange notes that the name Tutkheperre cannot be a mistake for either Shoshenq I or for "Tjetkheperre", Psusennes II's prenomen, because their hieroglyphic symbols are completely different. Secondly, the prenomen Tutkheperre is also inscribed in an architectural building in Bubastis. Lange's GM 203 article established that this king was indeed genuine and distinct from either Shoshenq I or Psusennes II. It examines an architectural fragment from the Great Temple of Bubastis which mentions his unique prenomen and nomen: 'Tutkheperre Shoshenq'. The likelihood of an error here is remote because these stone architectural blocks were created by professionally trained royal artisans who would not mistakenly transcribe something as important as a king's throne name onto a royal monument or temple. Tutkheperre Shoshenq's reign was probably brief because he is completely unattested beyond these 2 documents.