Anth.309: Ppt. lecture-14 (Part-2): Old Kingdom historical background, monuments, and various...

ANT 309:

Egypt in the Age of the Pyramids

(Predyn.–Second Intermediate Period: 5,000-1550 BC)

Lecture 14:Dyns.5-6: Historical+ background.

© Notes & images compiled by Gregory Mumford 2016

DYNASTY 5 rulers

ca. 2500 -- 2350 BC

1. Userkaf 2,498 - 2,491 B.C. approximate dates

2. Sahure‘ 2,491 - 2,477 B.C. “

3. Nefer-ir-kare‘ 2,477 - 2,467 B.C. “

4. Shepses-ka-re ‘ 2,467 - 2,460 B.C. “

5. Ra-nefer-ef 2,460 - 2,453 B.C. “

6. Ni-user-re‘ 2,453 - 2,422 B.C. “

7. Men-kau-hor 2,422 - 2,414 B.C. “

8. Djed-ka-re‘ 2,414 - 2,375 B.C. “

9. Unas (Wenis) 2,375 - 2,345 B.C. “

DYNASTY 5 (2,498 - 2,345 BCE):

• Westcar Papyrus compiled in Dyn.12

preserved in a 2IP [Dyns.14-17] text

refers to dynastic change from Dyns.4-5

• Tale involving a magician (Lector Priest)

called Djedi:

• Djedi placed at

Khufu's court (Dyn. 4)

• He foretells

Khufu’s line will end

after his grandson.

• He relates a noble woman

(Rewed-djedet) will bear

3 sons who will rule Egypt:

1. Userkaf

2. Sahure

3. Neferirkare

• This indeed reflects the sequence

known at the advent of Dyn.5.

DYNASTY 5:

1. KING

USER-KAF

Dyn.5: no. 1 Userkaf.

USERKAF

• Serekh/Horus-name:

Iry-maat = “He who puts Maat into practice”

symbolizes establishment of harmony

• Birth-name:

Userkaf = “Powerful is his Ka”

• Throne-name:

Ra-nekhen = “Fortress of Re”

Reign length:

• Manetho: 28 years (Usercheres)

• Turin Canon: 7-8 years

Lineage:

• May = grandson of Djedefre+Q.Hetepheres II

• Son of princess Nefer-hetep-es

• Father's identity unknown

(unlikely a Priest of Ra [Westcar Papyrus])

USERKAF

Solidifying his power:

• Married princess Khentkawes

(daughter of Menkaure),

continuing royal bloodline from Dyn.4.

Peace and continuity:

• Many high officials span Dyns.4-5

support from courtiers.

(ie., no purge follows Dynastic change).

E.g., Vizier Ptahshepses held high

administrative positions from

late Dyn.4 to early Dyn.5.

Domestic affairs:

• Building: Elephantine, Abydos, Abu Sir,

and Abu Ghurab.

• Royal tomb moved from Giza to Saqqara

Giza

Abydos

Elephantine

Abu GhurabAbu Sir

USERKAF

Sun-Temples:

• Sun-Temple of Userkaf (first of 5+)

• Focal point for Dyn.5 rulers

• Sun-temples & estates established

in association with royal mortuary cults

• Only Userkaf & Niuserre’s sun-temples

survive (references to others).

Userkaf's Sun-Temple:

a. Low podium of mudbrick & limestone,

Upper second podium,

Upper obelisk-type structure.

= sacred Benben-stone of Heliopolitan

solar cult

b. Sun-altar

c. East-West causeway

d. Valley Temple

e. Solar boat of mud brick (Boat of Re)

Typical

Sun-temple

Dyn.5: Userkaf solar temple at Abu Sir

USERKAF:

International Relations.

• Less evidence for international

activity.

Sinai: (?)

• No rock-texts

of Userkaf

Nubia:

• Military expedition

into Nubia.

Greece: (?)

• Userkaf's cartouche

occurs on stone

vessel from Kythera

(Cerigo Island).

• This item = ex-situ

• Later arrival?

?

Nubia

Kythera?

USERKAF:

Royal burial:

• Built tomb at Saqqara,

returning to traditional

pyramid form used

by most rulers of Dyn.4

• Pyramid located at

NE corner of Djoser's

Step Pyramid complex.

• Unusual feature:

mortuary temple

lies on the southern

side of the pyramid

(virtually all Dyns.4-6

mortuary temples lie

on the east side).

North Saqqara

Dyn.5: Userkaf pyramid & main Southern mortuary temple (beside Step Pyramid)

Dyn.5: Userkaf pyramid

Substructure with burial

chambers and storerooms

North

Portcullis

Dyn.5: Userkaf pyramid complex:

Frags. of decoration marsh scene

Ka-spirit statue fragment of Userkaf

Dyn.5: Userkaf pyramid complex:

- Pyramid with North entryway (perhaps a North chapel? at base of pyramid)

- East mortuary chapel with main mortuary temple on South beside ka-pyramid

- Queen’s pyramid placed to the south (outside the king’s pyramid enclosure)

Causeway

DYNASTY 5:

2. KING SA-HU-RE

Dyn.5: no. 2 Sahure.

SA-HU-RE‘

• Sahure succeeds his brother

(Userkaf) according to P. Westcar.

Throne-name:

Sahure: = “He who is close to Re”

Birth-name:

Sekhet-re.

Reign length:

• Manetho: 12-13 years (Sephres)

• Evidence: May reign longer.

Domestic affairs:

• Royal projects associated with Sahure at

Abu Sir, Abydos, & near Aswan (at Sehel)

Sehel: expeditions mined diorite for

construction projects in the north.

Abu Sir

Abydos

Sehel

Dorak(?)

Byblos

W. Kharig

W. Maghara

Libya

PuntNubia

SAHURE:

International Relations:

• Sahure's reign characterized

by widespread expeditions

Libya:

• Pyramid temple portrays

campaigns against Libyans

Nubia:

• Increasing activity in Lower Nubia:

small fortified town at Kor, near Buhen

Dorak(?)

Byblos

W. Kharig

W. Maghara

Libya

PuntNubia

SAHURE:

Punt:

• Coastal region in East Sudan:

- Myrrh, - Incense,

- Electrum - Gold

- Ivory - Ebony

- Resins - Gums

- Leopard skins - Giraffe tails

- Baboons - etc.

Dyn.5 (Pyramid causeway of Sahure): Starving Bedouin; perhaps in region pyramidion stone mined

Old Kingdom: Sahure and neighbouring Bedouin

Dorak(?)

Byblos

W. Kharig

W. Maghara

Libya

PuntNubia

SAHURE:


Sinai: Turquoise mining.

• 2 rock-texts in Maghara

• 1 rock-text at W. Kharig

Syria-Lebanon:

• Increasing contact with Byblos

(items with Sahure’s name).

• Scenes from Sahure's mortuary

temple portray maritime

expeditions to & from Syria:

e.g., bringing bears, pottery, & male

female Asiatics to Egypt.

Anatolia(?):

• Sahure's name on gold sheathing

from *Dorak(!) (NW Anatolia).

• Note: Dorak treasues recently

admitted as being “fakes”.

NO

Old and Middle Kingdom usage.

Sahure

Senwosret I

Sahure: Libya, Nubia, and elsewhere.

Dyn.5, Sahure: trade with Syria: Bears, Wine, People, etc.

SAHURE: Royal burial.

• Placed pyramid at Abu Sir

• Reverted to tradition of

placing mortuary temple

against pyramid's East side.

• Introduces new column:

date-palm shaped instead

of simple rectangular column

• Mortuary temple scenes:

a. conquest,

b. hunting,

c. maritime expeditions abroad

NEW: scene of myrrh trees

being brought from PUNT

Valley Temple

SahureLater Dyn.5 pyramids

Dyn.5: Sahure pyramid complex at Abu Sir (S. of Saqqara)

Sahure’s pyramid:

founding a new cemetery

Dyn.5: Sahure pyramid-Burial chamber within pyramid

at ground level.

5 cult statue niches: may have held

5 aspects of the king: UE, LE, Osiris, +

Dyn.5:

Sahure’s

pyramid

mortuary

Temple

- Basalt

paving

- Block with

evidence

for stairs

to a second

floor/roof.

Stairway

Drainage

for excess

libations

(liquid waste)

Dyn.5: Sahure

New palm-form

column type.

Drain channel

to discard the

excess libations

Ka-spirit statue

for royal cult

Dyn.5: Sahure mortuary temple

Hunting scenes

(afterlife entertainment

and repressing

chaos)

Dyn.5 Sahure mortuary temple: Scenes of

fertility deities bringing life, food, etc. for Sahure

Dyn.5:

Sahure

Scenes

of POWs,

trade, &

domin-

ation of

foreign

lands.

Dyn.5: Sahure being suckled by Nekhbet

Sahure & nome-deity of Koptos.

Deity

Nekhbet

Ceiling block

from Sahure

causeway:

decorated

with stars

Dyn.5 Abu Sir:

Sahure pyramid

Causeway and

Valley Temple

Dyn.5: Sahure Plan and reconstruction of the

Valley Temple

DYNASTY 5:

3. KING

NEFER-IR-KA-RE

Dyn.5: no. 3 Nefer-ir-kare.

NEFER-IR-KARE'

• Much less known about his reign.

Throne-name:

“Beautiful is the Soul of Re.”

Note:

• Adopts second cartouche for

his birth-name (Kakai; later Set-ib-re),

which most rulers adopt subsequently.

Reign length:

• Manetho: 20 years (Nephercheres)

• Evidence: 11+ years.

Geneaology:

• May be brother of Sahure (P. Westcar)

• His origin remains uncertain.

• Neferirkare probably = usurper

(perhaps an uncle of young crown prince)

Neferirkare

Sahure


NEFERIRKARE:

Domestic affairs.

• Known mainly from tomb at Abu Sir.

• Bureaucracy & priesthood continue

to grow in number during his reign.

• King’s authority increasingly weaker,

despite proclamation of king's divinity.


• Attested on royal votives at Byblos.

Byblos

Abu Sir

Neferirkare

NEFERIRKARE:

Royal Burial:

• Neferirkare placed tomb at Abu Sir,

• Pyramid remained unfinished.

• Mortuary temple contains the

early archive of papyri documents

with some of the earliest surviving

hieratic script (i.e., a cursive form of

hieroglyphs for everyday usage).

• These papyri = documents

related to a settlement of priests,

who operated his royal mortuary cult

(Djedkare Pepy II: Dyns.5-6).

• Papyri contain:

a. Accounting lists for mortuary cult

b. Daily work registers for mort. cult

c. Lists of equipment.

Neferirkare

Dyn.5: Neferirkare’s pyramid and Eastern mortuary temple (centre – right side)

Dyn.5 Neferirkare:Pyramid tomb N-entry

Mortuary temple

completed quickly in

mud brick

Dyn.5 Neferirkare

royal cult-statue

of the king wearing

UE White Crown

(from statue niche)

Mortuary

cult ritual

vessels:

Wooden core

+ inlaid ext.

Dyn.5: Neferirkare mortuary

cult priesthood housing with

part of papyrus archive:

• Provisioning of cult and

priesthood

• Administrative records

• Repairs to cultic equipment

• Etc.

DYNASTY 5:

3a. KING

NEFER-IR-KA-RE:

Qn. Khentkawes II


QUEEN KHENT-KAWES (II)

Introduction:

• Qn. Khentkawes II’s

identity = debated

in relation to Qn.

Khentkawes I at Giza

(late Dyn.4).

• Qn. Khentkawes II,

appears to be

definitely associated

with King Neferirkare‘

-Her subsidiary pyramid

is located immediately

south and beside the

pyramid of Neferirkare.

Nefer-ir-kare

Khentkawes II

Dyn.5: Queen Khentkawes II’s pyramid & temple (beside Neferirkare’s tomb):

Dyn.5: Queen Khentkawes II’s pyramid & temple (South of Neferirkare’s tomb):

DYNASTY 5:

4. KING

SHEPSES-KA-RE

Dyn.5: no. 4 Shepses-ka-re

SHEPSES-KA-RE‘

• He likely succeeded Neferirkare.

• Some scholars place him after

Raneferef (Neferefre).

Throne-name:

• “Noble is the Soul of Re”

Birth-name:

• Netjer-ouser (2nd cartouche).

Reign length:

Manetho: 7 years (Sisires)

Evidence: a few months

Extreme scarcity of

items & monuments.

Domestic affairs:

• Decree of El-Bersha.


• Not attested in South Sinai or at Byblos.

Abu Sir

SHEPSES-KA-RE:

Royal Burial:

• Some scholars still debate the

location of his tomb (tomb = ?).

• Others ascribed to him the base of an

unfinished pyramid at Abu Sir

(NW of Sahure's pyramid).

• 1978-79 survey: More evidence

for this base = Shepseskare‘.

Neferirkare

Sahure

Shepseskare?

(2) Sahure

(3) Neferirkare(1) Userkaf

(4) Shepseskaf?

Userkaf

Sun-temple

105 x

105 m.

DYNASTY 5:

5. KING

RA-NEFER-EF

(Neferef-re [?])

Dyn.5 no.5?: RA-NEFER-EF / Neferefre

• Eldest son of Neferirkare.

• Probably ascended throne …

after brief reign by Shepseskare‘

• M. Verner places him before

Shepseskare.

Throne-name:

• Raneferef “Beautiful is Re”

Birth-name:

• Isi later: Hetepre “Re is satisfied”

Reign length:

Manetho: May be king Cheres(?).

Evidence: Reigned at least 1 year.

Domestic affairs:

• Construction at Abu Sir.


• Absent from South Sinai & Byblos.

Abu Sir

RANEFEREF / Neferef-re:

Royal Burial:

• Recent work

a. pyramid base

b. mortuary temple

c. other features:

- Wooden boats

- Statues of prisoners

- Sculpture of king

- Inscribed plaques

- Archive of papyrus

documents from a

storeroom in his

mortuary temple.

• Began building a pyramid

SE of Neferirkare, but died

leaving a square mastaba.

• His successor completed

this mastaba &

mortuary temple.

Ra-neferef / Neferef-re

Dyn.5:

Unfinished

pyramid

“mastaba”

of King

Ra-neferef

(Neferef-re)

Dyn.5: Unfinished pyramid of Raneferef

Dyn.5: Raneferef mortuary temple

Dyn.5: Raneferef small-scale royal

sculpture from pyramid temple.

Dyn.5: Raneferef: dec. furnishings

Dyn.5 Raneferef

mortuary temple:

Wooden statues of POWs:

a. Asiatic

b. Nubian

c. Libyan

= Theme of the king

dominating over foes

(often by causeway)

Dyns.5-6: pyramid causeways in gen.Statues of bound prisoners placed along

exterior of causeway, symbolizing king’s

domination over foes / chaos.

Other ideas: Causeway symbolizing Nile with

subjugated enemies on either side.

Dyn.5 Raneferef pyramid

mortuary cult artifacts:

Papyri, vessels, tools, etc.

7 “sacred

oils” in

burial &

offering

rituals

pesesh-kef knife: PT 37: “make

firm the jawbones of the dead”

DYNASTY 5:

6. KING

NI-USER-RE

Dyn.5 no.6: NI-USER-RE‘:

• Succeeded Raneferef

• Probably eldest son of Neferirkare

• Ascends throne after contention

Manetho: 44 years (Rathures).

Evidence: 11+ years

Speculate: 25-31 yrs (Sed festival)

Throne-name:

• “Possessed of Re's Power”

Birth-name:

• Ini (later Chesep-ib-re).

Domestic construction:

• Aswan & Abu Sir.

• Stone sun-temple at Abu Ghurab


• 2 rock-cut texts at W. Maghara

• Votive offerings at Byblos.

Byblos

Abu Sir Maghara

Elephantine

Abu Ghurob

Dynasty 5:

E.g., Niuserre

Solar temple

built for

virtually all

rulers of

Dynasty 5

Obelisk with

pyramidal top:

Benben-stone,

a sacred solar

symbol.

Solar boat

Speculative alignments between solar

cult centre at Heliopolis & Giza -- Abu Sir.

NIUSERRE:

Royal Burial.

• Niuserre's pyramid complex

built at Abu Sir.

• He usurped the causeway

of Neferirkare

Neferirkare

Niuserre Sahure

Dyn.5: Niuserre pyramid & mortuary temple: he usurped Neferirkare’s causeway

Niuserre pyramid

Dyn.5 Niuserre pyramid substructure:

- Burial chamber cut into bedrock

- 3 portcullis gates in entry passage

- Northern entry (norm in Old Kingdom)

Dyn.5 Niuserre pyramid temple:

- Blocks depicting king being suckled

by goddess Sekhmet

- King enthroned and being attended

by deities, etc.

Dyn.5 Niuserre pyramid complex usurps causeway of Neferirkare

Niuserre pyramid

Neferirkare pyramid

Dyn.5: Niuserre Valley Temple

DYNASTY 5:

7. KING

MEN-KAU-HOR

MEN-KAU-HOR:

• He succeeded Niuserre

• Manetho: 9 years.

Throne-name:

• “Eternal are the souls of Re”

Birth-name:

• Ikaou-Hor (later Akhet-Hor)

“Horizon of Horus”

Domestic affairs:

•Virtually nothing remains/unknown

• Began construction on a

sun-temple & pyramid.

• Pyramid's name preserved

in texts from Abu Sir:

“Menkauhor is divine of places”


-One rock-cut text at Maghara

Royal Burial:

• Heavily destroyed tomb at Saqqara

Abu SirMaghara

Dyn.5 Menkauhor’s? pyramid at Saqqara (heavily destroyed by Ptolemaic wall)

65 x 70 m sq.

DYNASTY 5:

8. KING

DJED-KA-RE

(Isesi)

N. Saqqara

S. Saqqara

Abydos

Elephantine

Abu Simbel: diorite

Dyn.5 no.8: Djed-ka-re‘ - Isesi

DJED-KA-RE‘:

Reign length:

Manetho: 40/44 years

Turin Canon: 28 years.

Evidence: 31+ yrs (Sed).

Domestic Affairs:

• Activity throughout Egypt & Nubia

E.g., diorite quarry near Abu Simbel.

• OFFICIALS gain more power

Egypt becoming decentralized

= feudal-like system with

provincial power centres.

• Some viziers build tombs at Abydos,

away from capital & royal necropolis.

E.g., Rashepses (1st governor of UE)

E.g., Ptahhotep (North Saqqara)

• Nomarchs building large tombs in their

provincial domains: E.g., Elephantine

Local god, Khentyamentiu

syncretized with Osiris

Osiris-khentyamentiu.

Old Kingdom

maintaining?

ED royal

mortuary

cult

?

EVOLUTION OF ABYDOS CULT CENTREDJED-KA-RE‘-Isesi:

• Solar religion declining!

• Cult of Osiris (king of the dead)

growing in influence.

• Osiris symbolized the eternal

life+death cycle in nature.

• Private mortuary cults

becoming popular

amongst commoners:

Commoners adopting &

adapting religious privileges

that = originally

reserved for

royalty & nobles

DJEDKARE‘-ISESI:


Sinai:

• 3 texts at Maghara

(at least 2 expeditions in 10 yrs).

Palestine:

• Campaigns against Asiatics

(tomb of Inty at Deshasheh).

Lebanon:

• Votive items at Byblos

NW Anatolia:

• Gold cylinder seal with names of

Menkaure & Djedkare (Dyns.4-5).

• Poor archaeological context

(later introduction?).

Punt:

• Graffito of Merenre at Tomas

(L. Nubia) notes expedition to Punt.

NW Anatolia

Byblos

Palestine

Maghara

Abu Simbel

Punt

?

DJEDKARE‘-ISESI:

Royal Burial.

• Burial now at South Saqqara

• Pyramid complex & mortuary temple

mostly destroyed.

• Basalt casing plundered

• Basalt coffin pulverized.

• Sufficient frags. from mortuary temple

reconstruct some decoration,

statues of animals,

& foreign captives.

• His queen's pyramid & mortuary temple

also display well-decorated interiors.

• No sun-temple known for Djedkare

He likely ended this practice.

Dyn.5: Djedefre pyramid and ka-spirit pyramid

Room with 5 niches; false door stela room

Queen’s pyramid with ka-spirit pyramid

Room with three niches; false-door rm.(?)

Hedjetnebu

DYNASTY 5:

9. KING

UNAS (Weni)

Dyn.5 no.9: Unis (Wenis)

UNAS:

• May = son of Djedkare-Isesi

• Birth-name: Unas

• Throne-name: ?

Reign length:

Manetho: 33 years

Turin Canon: 30 years

• = End of “classic” pyramid age,

• Egypt experiencing gradual

political & economic decline (Dyn.6).

• Unas leaves no direct heir

some turmoil over succession.

• Definite continuity between Dyns.5-6

administrative officials serving both

Kings Unas & Teti.

Domestic affairs:

• Royal construction at Elephantine,

North Saqqara, & elsewhere.

Elephantine

North Saqqara

Other

Royal

projects

UNAS:

Domestic affairs (continued):

• Decline in pyramid construction

& other aspects of Egyptian society.

International relations.

Syria and Lebanon:

• Votive items at Byblos,

Cyprus:

• Seal of Unas (later trade?).

Nubia:

• Hostility to Egypt increases (C Group)

• Texts note a meeting with Nubian

chieftains, suggesting necessity

for restoring peace.

Greece:

• Unas’ name on seal from Rhodes

from a much later context (re-issue?)

Nubia

Byblos

CyprusRhodes?

??

UNAS (Wenis):

Royal Tomb:

• Built tomb south

of Djoser Pyr.

• Now adopts

rubble core fill.

• Pyramid named:

“Unas is perfect

of places”

• Note: Major innovation

= adornment of interior

passages & chambers

with Pyramid Texts.

• Pyramid Texts: essentially

funerary spells to ensure

king's safe passage to

the Afterlife.

Dyn.5: Unas pyramid with Tura limestone casing

Dyn.5: Unas pyramid burial chambers

Pyramid Texts in burial chamber

in Antechamber

Dyn.5: Unas pyramid burial

chambers with Pyramid Texts

Late Dyn.5 - 8: PYRAMID TEXTS:-Series of incantations to facilitate king's

resurrection & well-being in the After-life.

-Reserved for the king and some queens:

E.g., Unas’ Pyramid contains 228 spells

from 759 spells (in pyramids: Dyns.5-8).

-No one pyramid has a full collection of spells

-Surviving spells draw upon a much larger

and earlier corpus of written materials.

-Each ruler selected a different combination

of spells for the burial chamber, vestibule,

and entry passage.

-Spells start in burial chamber & progress

outwards to the king's ascent to afterlife.

-Main theme = king's resurrection & ascent.

1. King’s awakening in the tomb,

2. ascent to the sky,

3. admission to divine realm.

-Texts involve rituals of purification,

offerings of food and drink, and spells

against harmful elements (e.g., snakes).

Dyn.5: Unas pyramid and mortuary temple

Facing east toward Nile Valley: causeway

Dyn.5 Unas

Causeway:

- Paving,

walls, and

ceiling.

Decorated:

- Warfare.

- Bedouin

starving.

- Transport

of stone

columns

- Etc.

Dyn.5 Unas pyramid causeway

Dyn.5 Unas pyramid:

Valley Temple with harbour

installation: -Wall-lined basin

-Ramp/slipways

-Nile heights vary

DYNASTY 6: rulers

ca. 2345 - 2181 BC

1. Teti 2345 – 2181 BC

2. Userkare 2323 – 2321 BC

3. Pepi I 2321 – 2287 BC

4. Merenre (I) 2287 – 2278 BC

5. Pepi II 2278 – 2184 BC

6. Merenre (II) (?)

7. Qn Nitocris (Nitiqret) 2184 – 2181 BC

vs. King Netjerkare Siptah

DYNASTY 6:

1. KING TETI

Dyn.6 no.1: TETI.

TETI:

Manetho: 30 yrs (Atoti; Othoes; Othius)

Turin Canon: x ? years & seven months

Evidence: 6th+ biennial census (12+ years)

Horus-name:

• Sehetep-tawy: “He who pacifies the two lands”

• May reflect turmoil between death of Unas

and Teti’s ascension to throne

(BUT otherwise = signs of continuity & peace).

• This Horus-name is popular for later rulers

who assumed power after a period of weakness.

• Teti married Iput, a daughter of Unas,

creating a link with the preceding dynasty

i.e., legitimization of claim to throne via marriage tie,

and securing future heir’s claim via blood tie.

TETI:

Domestic Affairs:

• Alliances: marries eldest daughter

(Sesheshet) to powerful high official

(Mereruka).

• Forges other ties with strong officials.

Patronage:

• Teti promoted Mereruka vizier

= highest post below king

(Kagemni also vizier under Teti).

• Increasing power & prosperity of

nobility attested via their tombs at

Saqqara.

Other achievements:

• Built Ka-temple at Bubastis (E. Delta)

• Grants tax exemptions to Abydos temple

• Appears prominently in cult of Hathor

at Dendera.

Saqqara

AbydosDendera

Bubastis

TETI.


Levant:

• Teti's name appears on items

at Byblos.

• Tombs of Inti (Deshasha)

& Khaemhesit (Saqqara)

show Egyptian attacks against

Asiatic strongholds (Levant).

Nubia:

• Dyn.6+ new culture settles in

Lower Nubia = C-Group

• Late Dyn.5: Egy. settlements &

direct exploitation cease in L. Nubia:

E.g., Diorite quarrying ends at Toshka

E.g., Cu-smelting settlement ends at

Buhen.

ElephantineToshkaBuhen

Byblos

? EB IV

TETI:

Relations with Nubia:

• C-Group culture emerges in Nubia

• Egypt adopts a new policy:

• Local governors at Aswan

now act as expedition leaders,

travelling through Lower Nubia

to conduct trade with peoples

to the south (e.g., *Yam).

• Textual allusions Teti

may have sent expeditions

to Punt & Lower Nubia,

reaching as far south as

Tomas in Lower Nubia

(where quarrying occurred).

• Later in Dyn.6 evidence for

a Nubian chieftain uniting 3

separate areas in Lower Nubia:

Wawat, Irtjet, & Satju.

Elephantine

Satju C-Group

Wawat

Irtjet?

Lower

NubiaBuhen South

abandoned

Egypt

Dyn. 6: King TETI: Manetho: Teti = reportedly assassinated by bodyguards.

Teti pyramid

Teti

cemetery

Old Kingdom elite tombs: re: Teti Dyn.6

Punishment exhibited in tombs:

- Some tomb owners, and even their

families, have their names and figures

officially erased from their tombs, with

the tomb often left unused for burial.

- Apparently, the official removal of the

name & figure of a tomb owner reflects

official punishment for a serious crime:

presumably at the level of treason.

TETI ASSASSINATION EVIDENCE:

- The later attestation that King Teti’s

bodyguard assassinated him may find

support in the removal of the names

and figures of several ‘bodyguards’

from tombs in the Teti cemetery.

- The name and figures of Teti’s Vizier,

Hesi, is also apparently removed

(implicated in the assassination?).

Old Kingdom elite tombs: re: Teti Dyn.6

Punishment exhibited in tombs:

- Some tomb owners, and even their

families, have their names and figures

officially erased from their tombs, with

the tomb often left unused for burial.

- Apparently, the official removal of the

name & figure of a tomb owner reflects

official punishment for a serious crime:

presumably at the level of treason.

TETI ASSASSINATION EVIDENCE:

- The later attestation that King Teti’s

bodyguard assassinated him may find

support in the removal of the names

and figures of several ‘bodyguards’

from tombs in the Teti cemetery.

- The name and figures of Teti’s Vizier,

Hesi, is also apparently removed

(implicated in the assassination?).

King Teti

TETI:

Manetho:

• Teti reportedly assassinated by bodyguards.

Royal Burial:

• Built pyramid at Saqqara (Pyramid Texts)

• Built pyramid tombs for queens.

(Unas had mastaba burials for his queens).

• Intact skeletal remains of Queen Iput in

wooden coffin, set in limestone sarcophagus:

necklace; gold bracelet; 5 crude canopic jars;

model calcite, copper & pottery vessels;

copper tools covered in gold sheathing.

• Mortuary cult lasts into Middle Kingdom.

Tety

pyramid

Dyn.6: Pyamid of Teti at Saqqara.

- Subsidiary ka-spirit pyramid

- Queens’ pyramids: esp. Qn. Iuput

Dyn.6: Teti

Star ceiling

Dyn.6 Teti pyramid complex including a statue of Teti wearing the White Crown

King

Teti

Teti Saqqara pyramid with pyramid of Qn. Iput I:

Iput complex has 3 niches and false-door stela.

North

DYNASTY 6:

2. KING

USER-KA-RE

(usurper)

Dyn.6 no.2: USERKARE.

USERKARE (Weserkare)

Manetho: no mention

Turin Canon: 7 years

Abydos list: Only citation

Saqqara list: Only citation

Evidence: 1+(?) yrs

Domestic affairs:

• Possible familial links to Dyn.5(?)

• Text mentioning labourers in

province of Qau el-Kebir.

• Name appears on two cylinder seals.


• Name absent outside Egypt.

Royal Burial:

• No known tomb.

DYNASTY 6:

3. KING PEPY I

(Meryre)

Dyn.6 no.3: PEPY I.

PEPY I

• Son of Teti & Queen Iput.

Horus-name: Mery-tawy

• “He who is loved by the two lands”

Throne-name: Nefer-sa-Hor

• “Horus is perfect of protection”

Manetho: 53 years (Phius)

Turin Canon: 20/50? years

Evidence: 40-50 years

• Hatnub quarry: 25th biennial census

Political alliances & patronage:

• To strengthen weakening authority,

a. yr.42 marries daughter of Khui M.1

b. marries 2nd daughter of Khui P.2

Khui = powerful official in Abydos.

c. appoints Khui’s son, Djau, vizier.

• However, his measures enabled

Abydene region to prosper, grow politically,

and more independent by late Dyn.6.

Saqqara/

Memphis

Abydos

PEPY I:

•High officials + nobility

accumulated sufficient

wealth & independence

built large tombs in

their provincial homes.

• Pepy I promoted greater

royal links in UE via:

patronage, royal building

projects, & dedications

in major S. temples:

a. Dendera

b. Abydos

c. Elephantine

d. Hierakonpolis

• Pepy I dedicated life-size copper-statue

of himself to temple of Hierakonpolis.

• He erected monuments at Bubastis

E.g., Ka-temple.

Bubastis

AbydosDendera

Hierakonpolis

Elephantine

PEPY I.

• Pepy I later adopts

new throne name:

Meri-re

“One who loves Re”

• May reflect theological

& political reform.

• Biennial year 21 (42),

Pepy I issued edict

granting a tax exemption

to the mortuary cult around

Sneferu's temple (Dahshur).

• This represented a sound

short-term political move,

but reduced the long-term wealth

available to the royal court.

Dahshur

Example from Sneferu temple

Pepy I:

Charter for his mother’s chapel:

“... Coptus: Chapel of Qn.-mother Iput.

My majesty has commanded

the exemption of this chapel

and what belongs to it

in serfs and large and small cattle.

There is no claim whatever against it.

As to any commissioner who shall travel

south on any mission,

my majesty does not permit him to charge

any travel expenses to the chapel.

Nor does my majesty permit

to supply the royal retinue.

For my majesty has commanded

the exemption of this chapel.

My majesty does not permit to place

any impost levied for the residence

upon this chapel.”

IT IS PIOUS, but it …

i.e., = reducing state income!

Coptos

D.5: Decree

PEPY I:

Harem conspiracy: (investigated by official Weni)

• Weni relates harem conspiracy against Pepy I.

• Weni & another Senior Warden of Nekhen

listen to & record in secret and alone:

“... a secret charge in the royal harem

against Queen Wertet-yamtes.”

• The conspiracy likely intended to replace

Pepy with this concubine’s son.

Weni’s titles:

a. Custodian of the storehouse

& overseer of the royal tenants,

b. Overseer of the Robing Room,

c. Companion,

d. Inspector of priests of Pepy's pyramid town,

e. Senior Warden of Nekhen (Hierakonpolis).

• Weni boasts about his position in court & the

king's trust in him, relating that he would hear

“cases alone with the chief judge and vizier,

concerning all kinds of secrets.”

Hierakonpolis

(= Nekhen)

Saqqara

(Pyramid town)

See N. Kanawati’s book:

Conspiracies in the Palace

PEPY I.


• Weni leads army of “tens of thousands”,

gathered from all of UE and LE.

• It included troops from districts in L. Nubia

(Irtjet; Medja; Yam[!]; Wawat; Kanu)

and SE Libya: Tjemeh-lands.

• Despite his rank of Overseer of Tenants,

he boasts the king put him in charge of

1. Counts

2. Royal seal-bearers

3. Sole companions of the palace

4. Chieftains & mayors of UE & LE towns

5. Companions

6. Overseer of ‘w (“mercenaries”/“interpreters”)

7. Chief priests of UE & LE

8. Chief district officials

9. Troops of UE & LE

10.Nubians of foreign lands

Libya

Lower

Nubia

Upper

Egypt

Lower

Egypt

YAM

PEPY I.

• Weni led armies 5 times against the

Asiatic sand-dwellers:

1. ravaged & flattened their land

2. sacked strongholds

3. cut down figs & vines

4. set on fire mansions

5. slain troops in 10s of 1000s

6. took many prisoners

One campaign:

• He recounts hearing about sand-

dweller raiders at “Gazelle’s-Nose”

(NE Desert or Sinai-Palestine).

He describes

1. Crossing water in ships,

2. Landing behind a mountain range,

north of the sand-dwellers,

3. Catching them by surprise

4. Slaying all the marauders.

International relations:

• Pepy I has items at Byblos & Ebla.

Ebla

Byblos

Maghara

Nubia

EBLA

PEPY I.Pyramid Town:

• Built pyramid town at Memphis

beside Ptah Temple,

naming it Mennefer-Pepy.

• In Dyn.18, Men-nefer

name for Memphis.

Royal burial:

• South Saqqara.

• Pyramid Texts.

• Badly destroyed.

queens

Ka pyramid

Pepy I pyramid ruins

Dyn.6 Pepy I pyramid and mortuary temple

Pepy I’s Pyramid Texts

Dyn.6: Pepy I pyr.-burial chamber

with inscribed sarcophagus.

Dyn.6: Pepy I pyramid mortuary temple with false-door stela (focal point of rites)

False-door stela

Tomb curses:

Pepy I pyramid complex jamb-lintel:

“As for anyone who shall lay a finger on this pyramid and this

temple which belong to me and to my double …, he will be

judged by the Ennead and he will be nowhere & his house will

be nowhere; he will be one proscribed, one who eats himself.”

Dyn.6 Pepy I:

6-7 queens’

pyramids at

SW corner

Dyn.6 Pepy I’s Queen Inenek-Inti

Queen Ankhesenpepy II: first time a

queen’s tomb has Pyramid Texts:

NEW(!): Seventh

pyramid of Queen

“Ankhesenpepy II”

(temp. Pepy I - II)

DYNASTY 6:

4. KING

MER-EN-RE (I)

Dynasty 6 no.4: MERENRE I.

• Son of Pepy I (via Qn. Ankh-en-es-meri-re I).

• He emphasized ties with Upper Egypt,

adopting throne-name, Nemty-em-sa-ef:

(UE deity) “Nemty-is-his-protection”.

• Nemty / Anti: = war-god whose cult covers

UE nomes 12-18 (centre = Deir el-Gabrawi).

• Later Merenre stresses links with Re:

name = “Beloved of Re.”

Co-regency?

• Merenre may have held brief co-regency with

Pepy I.

• A coregency would ensure continuity of

the royal line in a weakening central authority.

Manetho: 7 yrs (Methusuphis).

Turin Canon: 44? Yrs.

Evidence: 5-9 yrs.

Deir el-Gabrawi

MERENRE I.

Domestic affairs:

• Merenre dedicated items at

cult centres throughout Egypt:

Hatnub; W. Hammamat;

Hierakonpolis; Elephantine.

• Hierakonpolis contained a

life-size copper statue

(equated with Merenre I).

• He commissioned the cutting

of a canal at Aswan to aid traffic

through the First Cataract.

• He sent expeditions to quarry stone

for his pyramid: Hatnub; Aswan; L. Nubia.

Weni:

• Weni records his promotion to a Count and

governor of Upper Egypt.

• He describes directing quarrying, transportation

and erection of monuments for Merenre I.

Hatnub

W. Hammamat

Hierakonpolis

Elephantine

Lower

Nubia

MERENRE I.

Weni:

"His Majesty sent me to Ibhat

to bring the sarcophagus

'chest of the living' together

with its lid, and the costly august

pyramidion for the pyramid

'Merenre-appears-in-splendour,‘

my mistress."

"His Majesty sent me to Yebu

to bring a granite false door and

its libation stone and granite lintels,

and to bring granite portals and

libation stones for the upper

chamber of the pyramid ‘Merenre-

appears-in-splendour,’ my mistress.

I travelled north with them to the

pyramid 'Merenre-appears-in-

splendour' in six barges and three

tow-boats of eight ribs in a single

expedition."

Tomb

MERENRE I.

Weni adds that Merenre

"... sent him to Hatnub

to bring a great altar

of alabaster of Hatnub.

I brought this altar

down for him in 17 days.

After it was quarried

at Hatnub,

I had it go downstream

in this barge I had built for it,

a barge of acacia wood of

60 cubits in length and

30 cubits in width.

Assembled in 17 days,

in the third month of summer,

when there was no water

on the sandbanks,

it landed at the pyramid

‘Merenre-appears-in-splendour’

in safety.” (barge = 15 x 30 m).

Hatnub

Saqqara

MERENRE I:

Royal projects directed by Weni:

• “His Majesty sent me

to dig five canals in Upper Egypt,

and to build five barges

and four tow-boats of

acacia-wood of Wawat (L.Nubia).”

“Then the foreign chiefs of

Irtjet, Wawat, Yam,& Medja

cut the timber for them.

I did it all in one year.”

“Floated, they were loaded with

very large granite blocks

for the pyramid

‘Merenre-appears-in-splendour.’

Indeed, I made a saving

for the palace

with all these five canals.”

Merenre I

Maghara

Byblos

Saqqara

MERENRE IInternational Relations:

Sinai:

• Rock-cut text at Maghara.

Lebanon:

• Merenre I's name occurs on

votive items at Byblos.

Nubia:

• Quarrying stone in E. Desert. E. Desert

MERENRE I

Royal Burial:

• Pyramid = 1.5 miles south

of Djoser's Step Pyramid,

in S. Saqqara.

• Fragments of limestone

with Pyramid Texts.

• Merenre I died

before his pyramid

& its complex could

be completed.

• Pyramid yielded body

of young man in a

sarcophagus,

(may be Merenre?).

• However, context suggests

a later intrusive burial.

Dyn.6 Merenre I

Burial chamber:

1. Pyramid texts

2. Sarcophagus

3. Canopic box

Dyn.6: Merenre pyramid burial rm.

Dyn.6: Merenre pyramid complex:Remnants of furnishings include calcite jar & ivory box with his name.

Dyn.6: Pyramid complex of Merenre

- Calcite monkey-jars for unguents

and other valuable/ritual contents.

- Sphinx-shaped seal of the king.

Monkey = fertility symbol

with texts mentioning the

king’s sed-festival:

The jars = appropriate

gifts associated with

rebirth in the afterlife.

Dyn.6:Dyn.6: pyramid

complex of Merenre

Statuette of the king

in standard kneeling

posture offering two

vases to the gods.

The king wears a

nemes-headdress

(i.e., a striped cloth).

A hole lies in the

forehead where a

metal protective

cobra figure would

normally be placed.

The king wears his

common shendyet-

kilt.

The kings title and

cartouche lie in front

of his knees.

DYNASTY 6:

5. KING PEPI II

(Nefer-ka-re)

Dyn.6 no.5: PEPY II

• Reportedly assumed throne

at age six.

• Reigned until 100 years old.

Manetho: 94 yr reign (Phiops).

Turin Canon: 90+x yrs (Pepy II)

Evidence: yr 33 biennial census

= 66+ years.

Throne-name:

• Neferkare = “Re is perfect of Ka” or

“The Ka of Re is perfect”

Regent/Co-regent:

• Pepy II's mother, Ankh-es-en-meri-re II,

held much power at advent of his reign,

(when he = too young to rule alone).

• She exerted much influence over Pepy

later in his reign.

PEPY II:Domestic affairs:

• He commissioned projects

throughout Egypt, obtaining

diverse materials to adorn

temples, palaces, & pyramid

• He presented estates to many nobles.

• He granted many tax exemptions to

temples.

• This loss of revenue prob. contributed

to the late OK decline in wealth

associated with the royal court.

• The royal necropolis reveals definite

impoverishment in tombs, whereas

provincial centres display more wealth &

better quality burials than those of lower

courtiers surrounding Pepy II's tomb.

PEPY II.

• Central administration becomes

increasingly less powerful

in contrast to provincial rulers,

whose influence & wealth grows.

• Provincial posts = now hereditary,

forging local, powerful provincial

ruling families as opposing

power centres to the royal family

& Memphite administrative centre.

• Increasingly important provincial

centres: Edfu, Abydos, Cusae, Akhmim,

& Elephantine, now have wealthy

burials for provincial rulers.

• Elite no longer buried near king's

pyramid.

• Provincial elite have own family

cemeteries.

• Hence, a definite decline occurs in king's

authority.

Saqqara

Cusae

Akhmim

Abydos

EdfuElephantine

Decentralization

PEPY II:


Lebanon:

• Votive offerings at Byblos

Sinai:

• Rock-cut text (Maghara).

Punt:

• Bringing back items

from Punt:

a. Pygmy

b. Other “gifts” of Punt

Note: Expedition leader to

Punt, Harkhuf

Byblos

Maghara

Nubia

Punt

PEPY II:

Nubia:

• Harkhuf, nomarch of Elephantine,

quotes a letter from Pepy II

(about 10 years old):

“You have said in this dispatch of

yours that you have brought

a pygmy of the god’s dances

from the land of the horizon-dwellers

(i.e., foreigners E & SE of Egypt),

like the pygmy whom the

god's seal-bearer, Bawered,

brought from Punt

in the time of King Isesi. … "

HarkhufHarkhuf’s tomb

Letter

Letter

PEPY II:

NUBIA / PUNT:

Harkhuf (continued …).

“Come north to the residence at once!

Hurry and bring with you the pygmy …

for the dances of the god,

to gladden the heart,

to delight the heart of King

Neferkare (Pepy II) who lives forever!

When he goes down with you

into the ship,

get worthy men around him on deck,

lest he fall into the water!

When he lies down at night,

get worthy men to lie around him

in his tent.

Inspect ten times at night!

My majesty desires to see this pygmy

more than the gifts of the mine-land

(i.e., Sinai) and of Punt!”

Dynasty 6 no.5: PEPY II.

Red Sea massacre:

• Pepynakht refers to an expedition

to the Red Sea, against Asiatics,

to retrieve the body of a commander,

who had been killed

along with his troops

on an earlier expedition,

while constructing ships to sail to Punt.

Nubia: Military campaigns:

• Pepynakht (governor of Elephantine)

notes two military campaigns

against Lower Nubia: slaying numerous

enemies; retrieving captives & livestock.

Nubian massacre:

• Sabni relates mission to Lower Nubia

to retrieve his father’s body.

• Expedition included:

Troops, 100 donkeys, gifts of ointment,

honey, clothing, oil, & sacks of items

for the inhabitants of the region.

Saqqara

Lower

Nubia

Red Sea

Massacre

Elephantine

*?

*?

Lower Nubia

Massacre

Pepy II.Royal Burial:

• South Saqqara

• Built of small stones

set in mud mortar

• Tura limestone casing

• Note: unique feature

= square stone girdle

& Tura lm. casing

surrounding entire base

of the pyramid.

augmenting stability,

incorporating some

decorated blocks

from earlier chapel.

North chapel: processions of officials

with offerings; King seated before a table;

animals being slaughtered to provide for cult.

Entry: Pyramid Texts; fragmentary stone

vases with names of Pepy and others

Dyn.6: Pepy II pyramid complex

Dyn.6 Pepy II burial chamber & sarcophagus

Dyn.6 Pepy II pyramid fittings: calcite jar and headrest bearing his name & titles

Dyn.6 Pepy II mortuary temple scenes:

King smiting foes; king presented before deities


King spearing a hippo (Horus vs. Seth motif?)


King in gentlemanly pose, receiving deities etc.

Pepy II statuette of Pepy as

a child (found near 5 niches)

Queen Mother

Ankhesenpepy II

holding Pepy II as

a child-king

King Pepy II

embraced

by Horus

(falcon-deity)

Queen Iput II (Pepy II)

Ex-situ POW

statuettes:

Perhaps in

courtyard?

Perhaps

along exterior

of causeway?

Function?

- Magical?

- Symbolic?

Dyn.6: Pepy II pyramid Valley Temple

DYNASTY 6+:

6. KING

MER-EN-RE (II)

Dyn.6+ no.6: MERENRE II.

MERENRE II:

• Merenre II is mentioned in the

Abydos king list and later by

Manetho.

• Manetho: 1 year (Menth-es-uphis).

• Throne-name: Nemty-em-sa-ef

= “Nemty is his protection”

• Likely a son of Pepy II,

via Qn. Neith,

• Perhaps married to “Qn. Nitocris” (?)

• “Qn. Nitocris” succeeded him as

ruler of Upper & Lower Egypt.

• Later account by Herodotus (ca. 450 BC)

describes him as being assassinated by

widespread plot & discontented subjects.

• Burial place remains unknown!

DYNASTY 6+:

7. NITIQRET

(“Nitocris”)= King Netjerkare Siptah

Dyn.6+ no.7: “Queen NITOCRIS”.

versus King Netjerkare Siptah:

• Represents last ruler of Dyn. 6.

• Noted in Turin Canon, Herodotus, &

Manetho (? = Abydos List: Netjerkare).

Turin Canon: Netiqerty Siptah.

• Places Nitocris after Merenre II

(to whom “she” may be married).

• Calls “her” “King of U & L Egypt,”

• “1st Qn” with full political power in Egypt

Manetho: Nitocris described as

a. braver than all the men of her time.

b. noblest & loveliest woman of her time,

with a fair complexion.

c. Incorrectly ascribed with building the

3rd pyramid of Giza & reigning 12 yrs.

Ptolemaic period:

• Nitocris = associated with Rhodopis,

& credited with building 3rd pyr of Giza.

Qn. Nitocris / Netjerkare Siptah:• Herodotus relates a tale

concerning Nitocris:

• “... The priests read to me

from a written record

the names of 330 monarchs,

in the same number of generations,

all of them Egyptians except 18,

who were Ethiopians, and one other

who was an Egyptian woman.”

Note: Ethiopians = Kushites (Sudan)

• “This last had the same name

--Nitocris-- as the queen of Babylon.

The story was that she ensnared

to their deaths hundreds of Egyptians

in revenge for the king her brother,

whom his subjects had murdered

and forced her to succeed.“

Qn. Nitocris / Netjerkare Siptah:

• “This she did by constructing an

immense underground chamber,

in which, under the pretext of opening

it by an inaugural ceremony,

she invited to a banquet

all the Egyptians whom she knew

to be chiefly responsible for her

brother's death;

then, when the banquet was in

full swing, she let the river in on them

through a concealed conduit-pipe.”

• “… after this fearful revenge, she

flung herself into a room of ashes,

to escape her punishment.”

• Unfortunately, no archaeological

evidence provides details of Nitocris‘

reign, or the next ruler “Neferka” (a

son of Pepy II & Qn. Ankhesenpepy).

Qn. Nitocris / Netjerkare Siptah:

• Netjerkare Siptah,

who is listed in the Abydos King List,

is probably the same as

Netiqerty Siptah,

who is listed in the Turin Canon.

• “Nitocris” is likely the Greek version of

Netiqerty.

• Since Siptah is otherwise always a

masculine name, it is most likely that

the later Greek tradition of a female

ruler Nitocris is pure fiction, reflecting

an original male ruler about whom

virtually no information survives.

i.e., There appears to have been

no such person as the legendary

“Queen Nitocris”

But this still = debated variously Netjerkare Siptah

DYNASTIES 4-6:

SUMMARY

OF MAJOR KINGS

Major Old Kingdom kings/rulers:Dynasty 4: ca. 2600 - 2500 (dates rounded off)

1. Sneferu - Built 3 pyramids: Meidum, Bent pyramid, Red pyramid

- First “true” pyramid: i.e., filled-in steps (solar symbol)

- “Std.” complex: pyramid, E temple, causeway, valley temple

- Placed birth-name in a cartouche

- Created new farming estates to furnish his mortuary cult

- Campaigned in Lower Nubia: POWs and booty

- Retained a good reputation: later venerated & deified

2. Khufu - Built the Great Pyramid with various unique features:

e.g., “air shafts”; ascending passage; 3 chambers base-top

- Some pharaonic tales relate his love of magic & knowledge

- Much later tales relate he was a tyrant: e.g., via Herodotus

- Some archaeological evidence reveals apparent minimizing

of elite funerary furnishings in his reign: e.g., reserve heads.

8. Khentkawes I - Possibly one of the earliest queens to hold political power,

being depicted with uraeus and other forms of “kingship”

- had a step pyramid burial at Giza

- reigned in late Dynasty 4

Major Old Kingdom kings/rulers:Dynasty 5: ca. 2,500 – 2,350 BC (dates rounded off)

1. Userkaf - Founded Dynasty 5

- Built the first in what becomes a series of Solar temples at

Abu Sir during most of Dynasty 5

- The culmination of the solar cult in the Old Kingdom

2. Sahure - Particularly known for his widespread dispatch of expeditions:

Libya, Nubia, Punt (E. Sudan), Sinai, Byblos (Syria), and

possibly Anatolia (Turkey), = decorated in his pyramid temple.

- Depictions of maritime trade in his pyramid temple

- Adopts a new palmiform column in his pyramid temple

6. Niuserre - Builds the best preserved of the Abu Sir solar temples

9. Unas - End of Dynasty 5

- Well-known for introducing the first use of Pyramid Texts in

his pyramid burial chamber and adjacent rooms.

- Late Dyn.5 marks a distinct decline in pyramid construction,

which continues into Dynasty 6 (and later)

Major Old Kingdom kings/rulers:Dynasty 6: ca. 2,350 – 2,180 BC (dates rounded off)

1. Teti - Founds Dyn.6, marrying Unas’ daughter to legitimize his rule

- Marks the beginning of distinct weakening of the royal court

- Forging alliances with powerful officials to stabilize the court

- Direct Egyptian exploitation of Nubia ceases by late Dyn.5,

and Dyn.6 requires trade with Nubia to obtain African products

- Reportedly assassinated by his bodyguards in a palace revolt

3. Pepy I - Harem conspiracy and trial reported in Weni’s autobiography:

a. Weni investigates Queen Wertet-yamtes etc.

- Pepy I sends Weni and a massive army against Asiatic Bedu

- Pepy I’s pyramid has a very high number of queens’ pyramids

- Queens now have Pyramid Texts: e.g., Ankhesenpepy II

5. Pepy II - Longest lived monarch recorded in Earth’s history: 100+ yrs

- Egyptian royal court declining rapidly in wealth and power

- Provinces becoming wealthier: e.g., Harkhuf at Elephantine

- Reported massacres of Egyptian expeditions: Red Sea; Nubia

- Pepy II’s pyramid adopts a stone girdle:

a. Perhaps a strengthening wall

b. Perhaps symbolic and linked to sed-festival, etc.

Anth.309: Ppt. lecture-14 (Part-2): Old Kingdom historical background, monuments, and various...

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