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Titulary what's this?
Horus Name Netjerkheperu, "Horus, Divine of Shape"
Nebty Name Netjermesut, "TheTwo Ladies, Divine of Birth"
Golden Horus Name Kheper, "The Golden Falcon has Become"
Praenomen Khakaure, "Appearing like the Souls of Re", "The Souls of Re have Appeared"
Nomen Senusret, "Man of Goddess Wosret"
   
Manetho Sesostris
King Lists  
Alternate Names Senwosret, Sunusert, Sesostris
Dates what's this?
manetho reigned 48 years
turin canon reigned 30 years
piccione 1878-1842
egyptsite 1836-1817
von beckerath 1872-1853/52
malek 1878-1859
grimal 1878-1842
redford 1878-1843
dodson 1881-1840
arnold 1878-1841
franke 1837-1818
Succession
Predecessor Father Senusret II
Successor Son Amenemhet III
Co-regent Son, Amenemhet III
Associated People
Father Senusret II
Mother Khnum-et-nefer-hedjet-weret
Wives Mereret, Sit-Hathor (sister), Sebekshedti-Neferu
Son Amenemhet III
Burial Place
Pyramid in Dashur
Tomb in Abydos
Monuments
Temple of Montu, Karnak
Pyramid at Dashur
Tomb COmplex in Abydos
History

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Senusret is his height -- it is suggested that he was 4 cubits 3 palms and 2 fingers tall, about 6'6".

Of course, there is disagreement about the length of his reign, just as there are for many of the pharaohs in Egypt. Manetho says 48 years (again!) but it is thought that this may include the reigns of his predecessors who share the same name. THe turin canon notes more than thirty years, but the highest known year in his reign is he 19ths which is recorded on a stela in Nubia. However, he did so much building that such a short reign was unlikely as well.

Militarily, Senusret led at least one campaign against Palestine, and a high number of "Execration texts" -- written texts that were then destroyed, perhaps to symbolically destroy the subject -- show that he had a distinct anti-Asiatic policy. Four military campaigns against Nubia (during years 8, 10, 16, and 19 of his reign) show that he also moved against enemies in the south. These campaigns were brutal -- men killed, women nd children taken as slaves, fields burned and wells poisoned. He reinforced the fortresses that were built on the southern border earlier in the 12th Dynasty. It is documented that he personally led a campaign into Syria.

It is not known why Senusret supported such a sudden change in policy towards Nubia. Some evidence suggests that Kush (Nubia) may have raised an organized army against Egypt, but this is not fully supported. It may have been posturing and propaganda.

Internally, Senusret is credited with finally removing the power of the local governors and provinces, and strengthening the central government. He divided the country into three administrative regions, which was specifically designed to limit the power of individual regional rulers. Senusret III was well known for his support of the middle class -- the farmers, merchants, artisans and traders -- and these groups saw an increase in their influence and power.

Senusret built view monuments of his own, instead upgrading and adding to the monuments of previous pharaohs. It is possible that the buildings that he did raise were later used as quarries, or that he built in uncommon places, such as the area around Fayoum and away from the "standard" burial grounds of the pharaohs.

.He also broke with the way that the pharaoh was traditionally shown in statuary -- usually, the pharaoh was shown as a young, virile man, an idealized version of the king. Senusret, however, is shown as an aging man -- at least in his older face, with rings under his eyes and wrinkles. His body is still that of a young man. The faces may be an actual portrait of the king.

THe pyramid of Senusret is located in Dashur, near that of his grandfather Amenemhet II. It is a large mud brick pyramid with a number of underground galleries for the pharaoh's family, although it appears that he was never buried in the limestone burial chamber of the pyramid. It is the largest of the mud brick pyramids, and like the pyramid of his father, Senusret II, the entrance is not in he "Standard" location but instead in the pavement to the west of the pyramid. The causeway approached from the southeast, although it has not been excavated, and the valley temple at its end has not been found.

However, a funerary complex for the pharaoh was also built in Abydos. The underground tomb and temple were used as a cult center for the king for the next two centuries. A valley temple and 900 m causeway lead to the enclosure, and the tomb was for a long time considered the largest in Egypt. He wasn't found in this tomb, either.

 

pharaohs

Amenemhet I
Senusret I
Amenemhet II
Senusret II
Senusret III
Amenemhet III
Amenemhet IV
Neferusobek

monuments

Pyramid, Dashur
Tomb, Abydos
Temple of Montu, Karnak