Pharaoh Senusret III and the Sothic cycle

Pharaoh Senusret III and

the Sothic cycle

The dates recorded during the reign of Senusret III can be linked to the Sothic cycle therefore many events during this dynasty can often be attributed to specific years as location influenced the observation of the Sothic cycle This observation is crucial evidence that has helped Egyptologists connect astronomical events with the historical timeline of ancient Egypt Calculations from these records have allowed scholars to more accurately determine the age of his reign and the 12th Dynasty indicating that the rising of the star Sothis occurred in the 7th year of his reign in the capital Itj-Tawi thus estimating the 12th Dynasty around 2506–2329 BC. 

The Sothic cycle associated with Pharaoh Senusret III is the astronomical discovery that confirms his age and the 12th Dynasty through observations of the rising of the stars Sothis and Sirius with the sun Ancient Egyptian calendar years holidays and records reflect a clear establishment at the point where the return of the bright star Sirius to the night sky signaled the annual flooding of the Nile River

The Sphinx statue of Pharaoh Senusret III one of the most powerful pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt He was the fifth pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty and reigned from approximately 1878 to 1839 BC. His reign is considered the zenith of the Middle Kingdom in art literature and architecture He is known for his successes in Nubia and Syria which helped expand the territory and bring wealth to Egypt and he was later worshipped as a god by the Nubians

The statue of Senusret III is notable for its emphasis on concern and a greater focus on aesthetic perfection than the conventional ideals in art and architecture Due to his powerful nature and immense influence Senusret III was later worshipped as a god in Semná In 1894 Jacques Morgan discovered an inscription near the Sehel Island recording his canal constructions Senusret III built temples and cities in Abydos and another temple in Medamud. The boundary stones of Semna or Semna and Uronarti were intended to define a border serving as signals of its enforcement When King Senusret III built several fortresses along the Second Nile to defend the border against the Kerma Kingdom he also erected two important inscriptions at Semna and Uronarti These inscriptions affirmed Egypt's future authority over Nubia and preserved this border