The Sheshonq Redemption: the crown prince Sheshonq D and the ancient line of the High Priests of Ptah at Memphis
Abstract
In the modern research, the significance of Memphis in the Third Intermediate Period is usually overshadowed by Thebes. Nevertheless, the higher priesthood of Ptah remain rather powerful during the same epoch.
Following the already established practice in Thebes, Osorkan II installed his eldest son, the crown prince Sheshonq D, as high priest in Memphis, interrupting the ancient family line that held the same position non-continuously since Mentuhotep II, but exclusively since the end of the New Kingdom; under Sheshonq I, high priest Shedswnefetem married king's sister. The installation of Sheshonq D in Memphis is usually interpreted as the foundation of a new 'dynasty' of high priests descending from the royal family.
This paper aims to challenge this interpretation by pointing out that there is no actual textual evidence that can prove a father-son relationship between Sheshonq D and his probable successor Takeloth B, except the fact that their tombs at Memphis lie closely to each other, but are of a completely different style. In fact, the family affiliations attested on a stela Louvre IM 3749 actually shows that Sheshonq D was a father-in-law to Takeloth B: Takeloth B's principal wife, Tjesbastetperet, was the daughter of Sheshonq D! Furthermore, Takeloth B could have been identical with a priest of Ptah, Takeloth A, attested on a stela Louvre IM 3429 as the son of high priest Osorkan, who himself held this position before Sheshonq D was installed.
If so, by marrying his own daughter to an heir of this particular family, Sheshonq D restored the highest religious position within the previous social circle without founding a new family line.