Hakor

Hakor
Achoris, Hakoris, Hagar
Upper half of statue of Hakor. In Cairo Museum
Pharaoh
Reign	392/1–379/8 BCE(29th Dynasty)
Predecessor	Nepherites I (392/1 BCE); Psammuthes (390/89 BCE)
Successor	Psammuthes (391/0 BCE); Nepherites II (379/8 BCE)
Royal titulary
Children	Nepherites II
Father	Nepherites I?

Hakor or Hagar, also known by the hellenized forms Achoris or Hakoris, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 29th Dynasty. His reign marks the apex of this feeble and short-lived dynasty, having ruled for 13 years – more than half of its entire duration.

Hakor's accession and relationships with his predecessor Nepherites I were long debated. After Nepherites' death a dynastic struggle did seem to have occurred, and the throne was claimed by two or maybe three pretenders: Hakor, Psammuthes, and possibly a phantom figure called Muthis who was only mentioned in Eusebius' Epithome of Manetho. As a result, Hakor was alternately considered Nepherites' legitimate successor or an unrelated usurper.

In 1986 John D. Ray suggested that Hakor was Nepherites' heir, who ruled undisturbed until his Year 2 when he was deposed by Psammuthes. After another year, Hakor managed to retake his legitimate throne by overthrowing the usurper, and continued to date his reign since his first coronation date, simply pretending that this gap never occurred. The third pretender, Muthis, could be inserted within this struggle, but his role – assuming that he really did exist – is unknown. Ray's hypothesis is accepted by other Egyptologists such as Alan B. Lloyd and Toby Wilkinson.

Shortly after his death, Hakor was called an usurper by the founder of the subsequent dynasty, Nectanebo I. However, it has been suggested that Achoris and Nectanebo might have been relatives in some way, possibly both related to Nepherites I but rivals to each other.

Once re-established, Hakor made considerable exertions to affirm his legitimacy, putting emphasis on his – real or fictional – descent from Nepherites. His building activity was remarkable and he also extensively restored many monuments of his royal predecessors.

In Karnak, Hakor finished the chapel for the sacred barque of Amun-Ra near the first pylon which was started by Psammuthes or possibly by Nepherites I; he also possibly began a temple complex in northern Saqqara which was later further developed under Nectanebo II. His building activity is well attested in various places in Upper Egypt (Luxor, Medinet Habu, El-Kab, El-Tod, Medamud, Elephantine), in the Temple of Hibis of Kharga Oasis, as well as other locations in Middle Egypt.