Sobekhotep II

birth name: Sobekhotep (Amenemhat)

throne name: Sekhemre Khutawy

Sobekhotep II was an Egyptian king of the 13th Dynasty.

He is known from several monuments, including a statue, several Nile level records in Nubia and from building works at Medamud and Luxor. The Nile level records provide a year date 'four', showing that he reigned at least three years.

The Papyrus Boulaq 18 found in the tomb of the scribe of the great enclosure Neferhotep, is an administrative document of the Theban palace which dates to Sobekhotep II and names the 'king's wife' Aya, the vizier Ankhu and other officials.

There is some dispute in Egyptology over the position of this king in the 13th Dynasty. The throne name Sekhemre Khutawyre appears in the Turin King List as the 19th king of the 13th Dynasty. However, the Nile level records and his appearance on a papyrus found at Lahun indicate that he might date to the early 13th Dynasty. In both monument types so far only kings of the late 12th and early 13th Dynasty are mentioned.

In the Turin King List appears as first king Khutawyre and it is therefore possible that the writer of the list confused Khutawyre with Sekhemre Khutawy (compare: Wegaf).

Based on his name it has been suggested that Sobekhotep was a son of the last king of the 12th Dynasty, King Amenemhat IV. Sobekhotep may have been a brother of Sonbef, another ruler of the 13th Dynasty.

Further reading

• K.S.B. Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period, c.1800-1550 BC, (Carsten Niebuhr Institute Publications, vol. 20. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, 1997), 336, File 13/1.

Preceded by Sedjefakare

Pharaoh of Egypt Thirteenth Dynasty

Succeeded by Khendjer