Origins & Early Life

Taharqa, also spelled Taharka or Taharqo (Neo-Assyrian Akkadian: 𒁹𒋻𒄣𒌑, romanized: Tarqû; Hebrew: תִּרְהָקָה, romanized: Tīrhāqā; Manetho's Τάρακος, Tárakos; Strabo's Τεαρκὼ, Tearkṑ, Septuagint's Θαρακὰ, Tharakà), was a pharaoh of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt and qore (king) of the Kingdom of Kush (present day Sudan) from 690 to 664 BC. He was one of the Black Pharaohs – also called Nubian or Kushite Pharaohs – who ruled over Egypt for nearly a century. Taharqa may have been the son of Piye, the Nubian king of Napata who had first conquered Egypt, though the relationships in this family are not completely clear (see Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt family tree). Taharqa was also the cousin and successor of Shebitku.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The successful campaigns of Piye and Shabaka paved the way for a prosperous reign by Taharqa. Taharqa's reign can be dated from 690 BC to 664 BC. Evidence for the dates of his reign is derived from the Serapeum stele, catalog number 192. This stela records that an Apis bull born and installed (fourth month of Season of the Emergence, day 9) in year 26 of Taharqa died in Year 20 of Psamtik I (4th month of Shomu, day 20), having lived...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Romulus — Contemporary figure (Died in -717) (-717): Legendary founder and first king of Rome, credited with establishing its core institutions.
• Piye — Contemporary figure (Died in -716) (-716): Founder of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt, a powerful Kushite pharaoh.
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• Takaaki Kajita — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering physicist recognized for the discovery of neutrino oscillations.
• -720 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -720
• -664 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -664