Iny

Iny was an ephemeral ruler of the Twenty-third Dynasty based at Thebes, reigning from about 755 BC to 750 BC, with dates uncertain by around eight years. Little is known about his family background, and his parentage remains unrecorded in surviving sources. He succeeded Rudamun at a moment when central royal authority had completely broken down into rival territorial principalities.

His brief reign represents the end of the Twenty-third Dynasty's hold on Thebes. Political control of Egypt was shifting rapidly towards northern delta rulers such as Tefnakht of Sais, as well as the Kushite kings advancing from Nubia. No tomb or mummy belonging to Iny has ever been located, illustrating how little physical evidence survives from his administration.

Scholars confirm Iny's existence through minimal contemporary traces, principally an inscription dating to his fifth regnal year found at Thebes and a bronze plaque discovered at Karnak that bears his royal names.

Monuments

• Year 5 graffiti at Thebes
• Karnak bronze plaque

Explore further

Try the name on the Cartouche Desk, or see where the reign falls on the timeline.