Nswt Nefertem-Khu-Ra, Taharqa

Summary of His Life

Taharqa functioned much like a mighty dam; for decades, he held back the relentless flood of the Assyrian Empire, while simultaneously channeling his kingdom’s resources to create lasting landmarks that changed the cultural landscape forever.

Architectural and Engineering Feats: He constructed remarkable monuments throughout his kingdom, including the "Kiosk of Taharqa" (or Taharqa’s Colonnade) at the temple of Karnak, which featured ten massive columns. He also restored the holy lake at Ipet-isut and built two temples at Jebel Barkal dedicated to the deities Het-Heru and Mut.

Taharqa ruled one of the largest countries in the world at that time for over two decades (690–664 BC). He was a prominent figure in the 25th Dynasty, a line of Kushite rulers from modern-day Sudan who governed both Kush and Kemet.

He became a leader at a young age and eventually commanded the combined armies of Kush and Kemet. In 701 BC, while serving as a commander for his royal relative, he led an army which assisted the people of Judah and Jerusalem against a siege by the powerful Assyrian army under Sennacherib. Historians note that his presence at this battle may have saved Jerusalem from being "consumed".

After becoming king in 690 BC, he successfully defeated the Assyrian King Esarhaddon in 674 BC, pushing his forces away from the northern border of Kemet. Even after facing later defeats and losing territory, he remained a "fighter" and launched a successful counteroffensive in 669 BC, recapturing northern Kemet and removing Assyrian puppet rulers from power.

The Heru, Qa-Khau ("Exalted of Appearances");

The Nebty, Qa-Khau ("Exalted of Appearances") - (Note: this title refers two the two female deities of Upper and Lower Kemet: Nekhbet (vulture deity of Upper Kemet) and Wadjet (cobra deity of Lower Kemet);

The Heru-Nebu (Heru of Gold), Khu-Tawy ("Protector of the Two Lands");

The Nswt-Bity (He of the Sedge and the Bee), Nefertem-Khu-Ra often transliterated as Khunefertemre) - ("Nefertem is his Protector" or The One Whom Nefertem and Ra Protect);

The Sa-Ra (Son of Ra), Taharqa.

Note: Nefertem is the son of Ptah and Sekhmet, whose name (Sekhem) means "The Powerful One.”

Reigned from 690 BC - 664 BC (also took control of his country’s army in 701 BC

Writings about Tahara

Isaih 37:9 and 2 Kings 19:9

Isaiah 37:9 And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah,…

Reign of Taharka (Nile markers at Ipet-isut)

Year 6 of Nswt-Bity Taharka, beloved of Amen the Great.

The Nile. Year 6 under the majesty of Nswt-Bity (King of Upper and Lower Kemet): Nefertem-Khure (.Njr-tm,Hw-Rc); Son of Ra: Taharka, living forever, beloved of Nun the Great, Amen the Great, the Nile, father of Gods, and the (divine) community upon the flood. (The Nile), which his father, Amen, gave to him, that his time might be made prosperous.

The Nile. Year 7 under the majesty of Nswt Taharka, living forever, beloved of Nun the Great, Amen the Great, the Nile, father of Gods, and the divine (community) upon the flood. (The Nile) which his father, Amen, gave to him, that his time might be made prosperous.

The Nile. Year 7 (sic!) under the majesty of Nswt (King) Taharka.

The Nile. Year 9 of Nswt Taharka, living forever, beloved of Nun the Great, and Amen the Great.

Stela in the North Marking the Coming of Taharqa’s Mother

“My father, Amen, [vouchsafed] to me to place all lands under my feet ------------------ [The east as far as] the rising of Ra, and the west XI[as far as his setting].

“[The Mut-Nswt, (Queen-Mother)] was in Napata as Snt-Nswt (King's-Sister), amiable in love, King's-Mother. Now, I had been separated from her as a youth (hwri) of twenty years, [accompanying his majesty] when he came to the Northland (Delta).

“Then she went north to the Northland where I was] after a long period (hnty) of years, and she found me crowned [as Nswt upon the throne of Heru], I had taken the Pschent (Double Crown) of Ra, and I had assumed the double serpent-crest, as -----------------as the protection of my limbs. She rejoiced greatly [when she saw] the beauty of his majesty, as Auset saw her son, Heru, crowned upon the throne--------------------while he was a youth in the marsh of---------------------------an countries. They bowed to the ground to this King's-Mother, while she------------ greatly!

“Their old as well as their young ones [gave praise to] this Mut-Nswt (King’s-Mother), saying: ‘Auset has received, she has — her son, Nswt-Bity (King of Upper and Lower Kemet), Taharqa, living forever ------------.

Building Inscriptions

In addition to the open-air colonnade at Ipet-isut, the monumental commemoration on the pinnacle of Jebel Barkal, the Temple of Amen at Kawa, and monuments in the north….Taharqa also built temples to Het-Heru and Mut (wife of, a part of the Trinity with, Amen) at Jebel Barkal (Pure Mountain).

The following dedications in the larger temple at Napata (Jebel Barka) record Taharka’s building activity there:

“Taharka, living forever; he made (it) as his monument for his mother, Mut of Napata; he built for her a temple anew, of fine white sandstone, his majesty having found this temple built of stone,b by the ancestors, of bad workmanship. His majesty caused that this temple should be built of excellent workmanship, forever.

The same hall as the above has:

“He made (it) as his monument for his mother, Mut, mistress of heaven, queen of Nubia; he built her house, he enlarged her temple anew, of fine white sandstone.

A cella beside the main adytum has:

“He made (it) as his monument for [his] mother, Mut, Eye of Re, Mistress of Heaven, Queen of Gods, residing in Napata; building her house of fine white sandstone.

An altar in the Amen-temple bears the dedication:

“He made (it) as his monument for his father, Amen-Re, Lord of Waset (Nesut-Tawy or ‘Thrones of the Two Lands’), Great God, residing in Nubia; (of) granite [—], in order to offer upon it in his palace. Never happened the like.