Sekhemre Shedwaset

Sekhemre Shedwaset was a native ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 16th Theban Dynasty during the Second Intermediate Period.^[1]

Sekhemre Shedwaset
Partial cartouches of Sekhemre Shedtawy Sobekemsaf II, sometimes identified with Sekhemre Shedwast
Pharaoh
Predecessor	Bebiankh
Successor	Sekhemre-Wepmaat Intef (if of the 17th Dynasty; disputed)
Royal titulary Turin King List Sekhemre-Shed-Waset Sḫm Rˁ-šd-W3st the Might of Re which rescues Thebes''
Consort	Nubkhaes II (disputed)
Children	Sekhemre-Wepmaat Intef (disputed)
Dynasty	16th Dynasty

Reign

King Sekhemre Shedwast is not attested in archaeology, but only appears as a name in the Turin King List. His name associates him directly to the city of Waset/Thebes, during a time when Egypt was fragmented into rival kingships. It is often specualted that his name is a variant of Sekhemre Shedtawy which would refer more broadly to the "two lands", i.e. the entire land.

His throne name Sekhemre Shedwast, translates literally as "the Might of Re which rescues Thebes", while his personal name is unknown.^[2]

King Lists

The Turin King List 11:9 from the time of Ramesses II mentions: "Dual King, Sekhemre Shedwaset (cartouche), x years...". His name can translate as "the Powerful One of Ra, who has rescued Thebes" or "Powerful/Mighty Ra, Rescuer of Waset/Thebes". He is after 11:8 Seuserenre often identified as Bebiankh, and before 11:10 [...]ra.

His name can be broken up into word-concepts:

• Sekhem refers to "form" and the concept of soul/spirit. The sekhem scepter was a symbol of authority. It also refer to power/mighty.
• Ra refers to the god of the Sun and the king/father of the gods.
• Shed was the god of rescue also known as "the Savior", depicted as a child or young prince.
• Waset was the ancient Egyptian name of Thebes.

Theories

Identification

It has been suggested, but not universally accepted, that Sekhemre Shedwast may be identical to Sekhemre Shedtawy Sobekemsaf II, since their throne names are similar. If so, he may have been married to queen Nubkhaes II and they may have had a son named Sekhemre-Wepmaat Intef.^[3]

References

1. Kim Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period c.1800-1550 B.C, Museum Tusculanum Press, (1997), p. 202
2. Ryholt, p. 156
3. Chris Bennett, A Genealogical Chronology of the Seventeenth Dynasty, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, Vol. 39 (2002), pp. 123-155 JSTOR