Bubastite dynasty

ancient Egyptian dynasty

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June 22, 2026

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The Bubastite dynasty, also known as the 22nd dynasty of ancient Egypt, was a period of Libyan rule that lasted from approximately 943 to 746 BCE. This dynasty was founded by Sheshonk I, a Meshwesh chief from Bubastis, who rose to power with military backing. Bubastis, a city in the Nile River delta, became prominent when pharaohs of the 19th dynasty moved their capital there. The city's god was Bastet, a cat-headed deity whose festivals were known for their revelry.12

The Bubastite dynasty attempted to consolidate power by establishing military garrisons and forging political alliances with Theban priestly families through marriages. Despite these efforts, internal conflicts, particularly over the high priesthood of Amon in Thebes, led to civil war and fragmentation of the kingdom. The dynasty's influence extended to Palestine, with Sheshonk I notably plundering Jerusalem. However, by the end of the dynasty, Egypt was divided, with local rulers governing numerous areas.1

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ancient Egypt
Libyan rule: the 22nd and 23rd dynasties
…was an ancestor of the 22nd dynasty, which followed a generation later. From Osorkon’s time to the 26th dynasty, leading Libyans in Egypt kept their Libyan names and ethnic identity, but in a spirit of ethnicity rather than cultural separatism. Although political institutions were different from those of the New…
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…was an ancestor of the 22nd dynasty, which followed a generation later. From Osorkon’s time to the 26th dynasty, leading Libyans in Egypt kept their Libyan names and ethnic identity, but in a spirit of ethnicity rather than cultural separatism. Although political institutions were different from those of the New…
Read More

Karnak
The Bubastite Gate at the southeast corner of this court commemorates the victories won by Sheshonk I (reigned 945–924), the biblical Shishak, in Palestine. The Kushite (Nubian) pharaoh Taharqa (reigned 690–664) erected a tall colonnade, of which one pillar still stands. The smaller
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The Bubastite Gate at the southeast corner of this court commemorates the victories won by Sheshonk I (reigned 945–924), the biblical Shishak, in Palestine. The Kushite (Nubian) pharaoh Taharqa (reigned 690–664) erected a tall colonnade, of which one pillar still stands. The smaller
Read More