Shabaka

Shabaka was the third Kushite pharaoh of the 25th dynasty of Egypt, who reigned from 705 to 690 BC. He was the brother of Piye, the first Kushite king who conquered Egypt. Shabaka consolidated his power by defeating the Libyan invaders in the Delta and restoring the authority of the central government. He also supported the revival of the ancient Egyptian culture and religion, and commissioned the copying of an old religious text on a large stone slab, known as the Shabaka Stone. He was regarded as a benefactor by the priests of Amun, who gave him the title of “beloved of the gods”. Shabaka also expanded his influence beyond Egypt, and intervened in the affairs of the Levant and Assyria. He sent troops to help Jerusalem against the Assyrian king Sennacherib, but was defeated. He also tried to form an alliance with the king of Babylon, but failed. Shabaka died in 690 BC and was buried in a pyramid at el-Kurru in Nubia. He was succeeded by his nephew Taharqa, who continued the Kushite rule over Egypt.