Sobekhotep III (throne name: Sekhemre-sewadjtawy) was an Egyptian king of the Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt who reigned for three to four years, c. 1740 BC or 1700 BC.
Family of Sobekhotep III
Parents and siblings
The family of the king is known from several sources. A monument from Sehel Island shows Sobekhotep with his father, Mentuhotep. His mother was the king’s mother, Iuhetibu (Yauheyebu), his brothers Seneb and Khakau, and a half-sister called Reniseneb. Reniseneb was the daughter of Iuhetibu and her second husband, Dedusobek.
Wife and children
Sobekhotep III had two wives, Senebhenas and Neni. A stela from Koptos (Qift), now in the Louvre (C 8), mentions the daughters of Nenni: Iuhetibu (Fendy) and Dedetanqet. Iuhetibu Fendy wrote her name in a cartouche. This is the second time in Egyptian history that a king’s daughter received this honour.
Senebhenas is shown with Sobekhotep on an altar in Sehel Island and a stela in Wadi el-Hol. The stela depicts Sobekhotep III before the god Monthu. He receives an ankh and a was-sceptre from the god. Sobekhotep is followed by his father, Montuhotep, his mother, Iuhetibu, and his wife, Senebhenas.
Reign of Sobekhotep III
Sobekhotep III is known for many objects even though the Turin King List gives him a reign of only four years and two to four months in length. He added inscriptions to the temple of Menthu at Madamud and built a chapel at El Kab. On Sehel, an altar with his name was found.
Several scarab seals have been found from an officer of the ruler’s table Sobekhotep begotten of the officer of the ruler’s table Mentuhotep. It is possible that these seals belonged to Sobekhotep III before he became king.
Sobekhotep III was the first of a group of Thirteenth Dynasty kings about whom historical records exist. This group of Thirteenth Dynasty kings are all known for many objects. These kings produced many seals, and many private monuments can be dated to these reigns. This would seem to indicate that Egypt was relatively stable during this period.
