Sonbef (Sekhemkare Amenemhat Sonbef)
13th Dynasty
Open full-size illustration →Source: Shaw, Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000)
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Royal lineage and succession
Sonbef (Sekhemkare Amenemhat Sonbef) was the second ruler of the Thirteenth Dynasty, reigning for approximately four years around 1800 BCE. His nomen, frequently translated as "Amenemhat's son Sonbef," suggests he was likely a son of late 12th Dynasty king Amenemhat IV and brother to his predecessor, Sekhemre Khutawy Sobekhotep. Although older historiography occasionally conflated him with Sekhemkare Amenemhat V, modern chronological consensus recognizes Sonbef as a distinct ruler.
Attestations and Nile flood records
While governing Egypt from the residence city of Itjtawy near the Faiyum, contemporary physical monuments of Sonbef derive chiefly from the south. Preserved relics include relief blocks from the temple at El-Tod, a glazed cylinder seal housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and scarabs. Crucially, Nile inundation level markings recorded at the Nubian fortress stations of Semna and Askut date to regnal years 3 and 4, proving continued crown administration and fortress management along the southern Nile frontier.
Sources for this profile
- Baker, D. D. (2008). The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume 1. Stacey International.
- Shaw, I. (Ed.). (2000). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press.
- Ryholt, K. (2004). The Turin King-list. Ägypten und Levante, 14, 135–155.
- Dodson, A., & Hilton, D. (2004). The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson.
- University College London. Digital Egypt for Universities.
The complete, APA-formatted reference list is on the Academic Sources & Bibliography page.