The miniature Karnak of the Nile Delta: how did it happen?
Egypt, History, 9/23/2000

Why the capital of Egypt was transferred from Thebes (Luxor) in the South to the Nile Delta in the North during the reign of the Pharaonic Twenty-First Dynasty and how did it happen?! The Egyptian capital Tanis was founded in 1000 B.C. and it held the ancient Egyptian name "Suan" which was changed into San El-Hagar and later on into Tanis.

Egypt began to pay attention to San El-Hagar hill since the early seventies and she welcomed the request of the French Institute for Oriental Antiquities to excavate the area especially that the city was discovered to include temples, tombs, statutes, obelisks, wells, a sacred lake and papyri. All these things represent a miniature copy of Thebes of the South. Hence, Egyptian authorities began to work in collaboration with the French Institute on excavating the area and restoring its monuments. They focused first on the remains of the Eastern Temple which needs a lot of funds.

Thus, they began with erecting its marble pillars whose average height is ten meters apart from their capitals. The remains of the obelisks have been assembled to be restored. They are about twenty engraved obelisks. Therefore, the Egyptian Higher Council for Antiquities allocated funds for this huge project.

Work is going on during the season of winter every year to dig up the new miniature Thebes of the Nile Delta, disclose Ber -Ramsis, the capital of Ramses the Second, and Afaris, the capital of the Hyksos, and restore the wells and the sacred lake which is considered the second lake after the sacred lake of El-Karnak Temple in Luxor.

Although the area lies in the heart of the desert, foreign tourists are keen on visiting it. They include Americans, French, Koreans and Japanese. Thus, the area becomes full of tourists in winter from eight a.m. to five p.m. who start their tour with visiting the small museum which includes about eighty pieces. As a matter of fact, tourists got acquainted with the area through visiting the Tanis Hall in the Egyptian Museum.

Excavations went on at San El-Hagar so extensively that in the late thirties and early forties the great French archaeologist Pierre Monte succeeded in discovering the tombs of the kings of the Twenty-First and Twenty-Second Dynasties. These tombs were found intact and they include the complete funerary furniture of the Paraoh Pusinis the First, the founder of the Twenty-First Dynasty.

Although the contents of this Pharaoh's tomb are equal to those of the Pharaoh Tutankamoun, they were not universally appreciated due to the break-out of the Second World War. Meanwhile, the gold mask of the Pharaoh Shishnik the First's mummy as well as his intact funerary furniture were discovered.

Excavations came to a halt during and after the Second World War till they were resumed in the seventies of the twentieth century through the collaborative work of the French Institute and the Egyptian Higher Council for Antiquities. The excavators tried to survey the heaps of monuments which include remains of statues, pillars, obelisks and engraved stones but they discovered that the work needs millions of funds, long time and a large team.

Tanis became the Egyptian capital in the Nile Delta in the reign of the Pharaoh Semendis of the Twenty-First Dynasty when Egypt had strong relations with Asia. Maniton, the Ancient Egyptian historian, stated that seven Pharaohs ruled Egypt from Tanis for a period of 130 years.

The texts recorded at that time do not refer to any struggle or clash between Thebes (Luxor) and Tanis as friendly relations dominated. However, political leadership remained in Tanis whose Pharaohs held royal titles such as "Meri Amoun" i.e. the Loved by Amoun and "Stebin Amoun" i.e. the Selected by Amoun.

The most famous Pharaoh from Tanis is Pusinis the First who would have remained unknown unless his tomb had been discovered. It was disclosed that this Pharaoh has ruled Egypt for forty-six years during which he achieved the political and religious unity of Egypt. He asserted his connection with Thebes (Luxor) through becoming "Horus the Divine Bull" whose coronation took place there.

The tomb of this Pharaoh is rich in engravings. Meanwhile, every brick in his huge wall surrounding his temple in Tanis is engraved with his royal cartouche. This Pharaoh also made some additions to the temples of Amoun, Mut and their son Khunsu at Tanis. His funerary furniture is a masterpiece of art and craftsmanship which includes his gold mask, sandals, chest-covers, rings and vessels exhibited now at the Tanis Hall of the Egyptian Museum.

The discovery of the tombs of the Pharaohs of the Twenty-First and Twenty-Second Dynasties in the years 1939-1940 was so fascinating that it was attended by King Farouk himself. Traditionally, the tombs of the Pharaohs were dug in the rocky valleys of Thebes (Luxor) but since the Pharaohs of these two dynasties in particular transferred their political capital to Tanis, they dug their tombs there as well.

Among the intact royal tombs discovered at Tanis are those of the Pharaohs Pusinis the First, Amenembit, and Shishnik of the Twenty-First Dynasty and Osorcon the Second, his son Hurnekht and Shishnik the Third of the Twenty-Second dynasty. Two tombs for the leaders of the army were also discovered. Although these tombs are rich artistically and financially, they are of a small size. Undoubtedly, the tombs of some Pharaohs are still hidden. However, it is certain that the design of the tombs does not leave room for the princesses and queens to be buried there.

It is also certain that there are tombs belonging to the Twenty-First Dynasty up till the Ptolemic Era as asserted by the Egyptian and French archaeologists. The proof of this fact lies in the reused stones in the tomb of Shishnik the Third.

Some of these tombs might have been sacked especially during the Middle Ages but the robbers were mainly interested in the precious pieces buried with the funerary furniture. Therefore, it is expected to find new tombs if due attention is given. This attention is ensured by the Egyptian Higher Council for Antiquities whose head Dr. Gaballah Ali Gaballah declared that there is a plan for excavations and restorations approved by the Minister of Culture Farouk Hossni who is greatly interested in the area and therefore allocated funds for it every season.

Previous Stories:
  City of the Mummies : A first look at ancient Egyptian treasures   (9/19/2000)
  Al Sayeda Zeinab Mosque, between originality and modernization   (9/6/2000)
  Horus military route   (9/6/2000)

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