Shebitku

Shebitku reigned as king of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty from about 705 BC to 690 BC, with chronological dates uncertain by about three years. He was the son of Piye and succeeded his uncle Shabaka on the throne, ruling from the traditional administrative capital at Memphis. His tenure oversaw a period of heightened geopolitical tension between the expanding Neo-Assyrian Empire and the kingdoms of the Levant.

During his reign, Egypt adopted an active military policy in south-western Asia, dispatching troops to support local Levantine rulers against the forces of Sennacherib. At home, Shebitku maintained Nubian control across both Upper and Lower Egypt without significant internal challenge. When he died, he was interred in the ancestral cemetery at El-Kurru within pyramid tomb Ku. 18, though his mummy has not been preserved.

Scholars document Shebitku's rule through contemporary temple reliefs, king lists, and inscriptions, including building work and decorative scenes within the chapel of Osiris-Heqadjet located at Karnak.

Monuments

• Chapel of Osiris-Heqadjet at Karnak
• Pyramid at El-Kurru

Explore further

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