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Ancient Egypt
1. Introduction
2. People
3. Life styles
4. Culture
5. Education and Science
6. Society
7. Economy
8. Government
9. Cities and Villages
10. Language
11. Religion
12. Kings / periods
13. History
14. Map

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Open map of Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt / Middle Kingdom / 12th Dynasty /
Sesostris 1
Other spellings: Seostris, Senusert, Senwosret

King Sesostris. From Luxor Museum, Luxor, Egypt.
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King Sesostris. From Luxor Museum, Luxor, Egypt.

King Sesostris 1's pyramid at Listh, Egypt.
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King Sesostris 1's pyramid at Listh, Egypt.

Statue of King Sesostris.
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Statue of King Sesostris.

King of Ancient Egypt,1956-1911 BCE, 45 years, the 2nd ruler of the 12th Dynasty.
Prior to this, 1972-1962, 10 years, he ruled together with his father Amenemhet 1, mainly dealing with foreign matters.
His way to power was problematic, as his father Amenemhet 1 was assassinated while he was away from the capital. According to some sources did he instruct the creation of Instructions of Amenemhet, telling about his father's good deeds and stresses that father passed the power over to him and none of his contenders. Sesostris made sure that the content of his work was well disseminated. The work of propaganda worked, and the Instructions of Amenemhet would become a classic in Egyptian literature.
His greatest achievement was conquering Nubia, a task he had started while in coregency with his father but didn't complete until he had ascended the throne. The control of Nubia allowed extensive exploration of its resources, including gold, copper, amethysts and diorite. Sesostris conquered several of the oasis in the Western Desert.
His main building projects were at Heliopolis with a large sanctuary, and at Thebes where he built the White Chapel, later a part of the famous Temple of Amon.
He built his pyramid and funerary temple close to his father's complex at Lisht, north of Fayoum. The pyramid was poorly constructed, and is in remarkable worse shape compared to older pyramids.
Like his father, he made his son Amenemhet 2 coregent towards the end of his reign. He died 2 years later.

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By Tore Kjeilen