Legitimation und Herrschaft in der Libyerzeit

During the Third Intermediate Period the rulers of Egypt, who were of Libyan origin, favoured Bubastis, the former city of the 18th nome of Lower Egypt. The increase in importance of the city was matched with extensive building and endowments in favour of its principal deity Bastet. Under Osorkon I and Osorkon II, the temple of Bastet at Bubastis was enlarged and embellished to a remarkable degree. To express his special relation to the divine mistress of Bubastis, Osorkon II even added the epithet Son of Bastet to his nomen. Obviously, the kings of Libyan descent chose Bastet as the main deity of the dynasty (Dynastiegottheit), as they felt particularly connected to her, and perhaps the conception of a successful rulership was defined in relation to Bastet. This article deals with a formerly unknown inscription of Osorkon I, recently discovered in the temple of Bastet at Bubastis by the Tell Basta-Project. It provides an insight into the process of selecting the main deity of the dynasty, in the reign of Osorkon I. Furthermore, the inscription exposes very interesting ideas about royal legitimation and rulership, which differ remarkably from the traditional Egyptian ideology, and thus echo the Libyan origin of these kings.