HERIHOR

flourished 11th century BC Egyptian army officer and usurping high priest of Amon, who founded a dynasty of priest-kings that ruled southern Egypt when the country became disunited in the last years of the 20th dynasty. Herihor's origins are altogether obscure. He is believed to have advanced through the military ranks during the troubled reign of Ramses XI (last king of the 20th dynasty, ended 1075). It was probably Herihor who expelled the viceroy of Cush from Thebes around the 19th year of Ramses' reign. At the same time, he began a new dating scheme, probably to mark his own rise to power. Herihor's moves to usurp the throne are clearly recorded in the temple of Khons in Thebes. Reliefs in the pillared hall depict his titles of high priest of Amon, general, and captain, but subsequently, in the forecourt of the temple, he took the full pharaonic title and completely ignored Ramses XI. Nonetheless, Ramses outlived Herihor by at least two years. See also Ramses XI.