Harsiotef

Who is Harsiotef?

Harsiotef was a Kushite King of Meroe.

Harsiotef took on a full set of titles based on those of the Egyptian Pharaohs.

Horus name: Kanakht Khaemnepet

Nebty Name: Nednetjeru

Golden Horus Name: Uftikhesutnebut

Prenomen: Sameryamun

Nomen: Harsiotef

Harsiotef was the son of Queen Atasamale and likely of King Amanineteyerike. He had a wife named Queen Batahaliye and may have had another wife named Queen Pelkha. If Queen Pelkha was his wife, he would also be the father of King Nastasen. It is possible that King Akhraten was also a son of Harsiotef, and Queen Sakhmakh, the wife of Nastasen, may be his daughter.

He left an inscription dated to his thirty-third regnal year, listing the battles from his successful campaign east of his kingdom against a town called Habasa, whose inhabitants were called Matit. As a result of his victory, the Matit agreed to pay tribute to him.

The name of this place may be the earliest recorded use of the word Habesha, the etymological basis for English "Abyssinia," the only earlier text which may refer to the term is the mention of a people of Punt living in incense-producing regions called ḫbstjw during Queen Hatshepsut's time.