Ahmose Facts: Details On Ancient Egyptian King Revealed For Kids

Ahmose I was the pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty.

The Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt is famous as the dynasty in which Egypt gained its peak of power. King Ahmose was named after the phrase 'The Moon is born' or 'Child of the Moon'.

This ancient Egyptian king completed the expulsion of the ancient Hyksos capital, invaded Palestine, and re-exerted the Egyptian empire over northern Nubia. Resuming the war of liberation against the Hyksos early in his reign, King Ahmose crushed the foreigners’ allies in Middle Egypt and captured Memphis, the traditional capital of Egypt, near present-day Cairo.

As pharaoh Ahmose expanded the Egyptian kingdom, he reestablished trade with the conquered lands and used a strong administration to increase the overall wealth of the ancient Egyptians. This is how he became powerful and wealthy.

Ahmose I married several of his sisters and made Ahmose Nefertari his chief wife.

Pharaoh Ahmose died in c. 1525 BC. Ahmose I was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Amenhotep I.

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Ahmose History: Birth, And Other Information

Ahmose I was born to the then king Sequenenre Tao I and Queen Ahhotep I in Thebes, Egypt. He was a pharaoh and was born in the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt.

The local kings of Thebes and the Hyksos king Apepi started local conflict during the reign of Ahmose's father, Seqenenre Tao II, which continued for almost 30 years, even during king Ahmose's reign. They were unimpressed with the administration and took advantage of the lack of a stronghold to take over the King.

As is evident from his much-wounded mummy, Seqenenre Tao II was probably killed in a battle with the Hyksos.

His successor Kamose is known to have attacked and raided the lands around the capital of Hyskos. Kamose, who was the brother of Ahmose I had a short reign after which Ahmose took over the throne.

Ahmose Family Life

Ahmose I succeeded his elder brother Kamose, who had a short reign. He is believed to have bore children with his sister whom he later married, Ahmose Nefertari. Amenhotep I succeeded him after his death.

It is believed that Ahmose's grandparents, Senakhtenre Ahmose and Tetishei, had 12 or more children, which included Sequenenre Tao I and Ahhotep 1. The siblings subsequently married and bore children- Kamose, Ahmose I, and many daughters.

Ahmose I married several of his sisters, but Ahmose Nefertari was his chief wife. They probably had two daughters, Sitamun A and Meritamun B. Ahmose I also had sons, Ramose A, Ahmose ankh, Siamun A, Amenhotep I. Amenhotep I took over the throne after his father.

Ahmose Significance In Egypt

Ahmose I is very significant in Egyptian history because he was the founder of the New Kingdom of Egypt and unified North and South Egypt.

When looking into the history of ancient Egypt, it can be seen that when young Ahmose I took over the throne, ancient Egypt was in tremendous turmoil. The Hyksos had already captured the delta of the river Nile.

They also killed Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao ii, Ahmose’s father, and destroyed the army. They demanded recognition from the rulers of Egypt in Thebes and captured their princesses as wives.

King Ahmose took it upon himself to take down Hyksos and avenge the deaths of his father and brother. Armed with horse-drawn chariots and bronze weapons, he marched to Arvaris, captured the Hyksos fortress, and liberated ancient Egypt from foreign occupation.

By expelling the Hyksos from the delta. upper and Lower Egypt were united.

Ahmose I called for three attacks against Avaris, which was then the Hyksos capital. He also had to prevent southern Egypt from foreign attacks.

Ahmose I also conquered Sharuhen near Gaza. Syria and Nubia was the next target.

According to an ostracon found in the tomb of his wife, Ahmose I also reached Kedem. Ahmose I started by conquering neighboring lands and reestablishing the Egyptian borders, after which he used a strong hand to establish a strict yet harmonious administration over his kingdom.

After Ahmose I united Northern and Southern Egypt, he was now the pharaoh of a united ancient Egypt, which meant increased trade between different parts of the kingdom and overall improvement in the wealth of the kingdom. In order to conquer more land and make Egypt powerful, Ahmose required money.

So he traveled south to Nubia and defeated their kings. Nubia was the home to some of the richest gold mines of the ancient world and access to them brought a lot of wealth and prosperity to the kingdom.

After Ahmose I reunified Upper and Lower Egypt, he encouraged the flourishment of Egyptian art and monument construction. Ahmose I donated a tenth of all his profits towards the service of God. Thus the kingdom saw wealth and liberation under the rule of Ahmose I.

This was how Ahmose restored Egyptian rule. He established a loyal administration in ancient Egypt and gifted lands to eminent veterans of his campaigns and members of the royal family.

He restarted the copper mines at Sinai and resumed trade with the Syrian coast. Ahmose I restored the temples which had been neglected and also erected chapels for his family at Abydos.

After coming to power, Ahmose I began constructing brick temples in Southern Egypt. In Upper Egypt, he added architecture to the already existing temple of Amun at Karnak and to the temple of Montu which is located in Armant.

Thus not only did he unify northern and southern Egypt, but he also made considerable improvements in the conditions there and constructed religious monuments for the ancient God. Thus he managed to become the king of all Egypt.

Under Ahmose's rule, Thebes became the capital of ancient Egypt, forming the political and religious center of the country.

Ahmose Mummy Details

Ahmose I's tomb contained his mummy, which was discovered in 1881 in Deir el- Bahri Cache. The tomb had a coffin that bore his name in hieroglyphics. The bandages wrapping the body had his name written in hieratic script. A garland of Delphinium flowers was placed on the body.

As evident from the signs on the body, tomb robbers must have robbed the tomb. The head of Ahmose I was broken off from his body and his nose was smashed.

The tomb of Ahmose I containing his grave is part of the private tombs at Amarna shows no columns and has narrow and long halls. Thus it is somewhat different, being less extravagant than other tombs in Amarna.

However, it has been made with care and accuracy. The tomb of Ahmose I is also one of the earliest tombs of the group.

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