The First Intermediate Period

The First Intermediate Period

After the fall of the Old Kingdom there was a dark period, now known as the “First Intermediate Period”, during which Egypt was ruled by a number of local princes, some assuming the royal titles, but none being sufficiently powerful to control the whole country.

                       

Civil war started between these princes, every one of them trying to proclaim himself as king. The Asiatic Beduins might have profited by this situation and invaded the North-East of the Delta.

The First Intermediate Period covers the dynasties from the VIIth (7^th) to about the middle part of the XIth ( 11^th )Dynasty.

The Seventh and the Eighth Dynasties were very short. Manetho mentioned that the Seventh Dynasty included 70 kings who reigned for 70 days. The Eighth Dynasty lasted for about 30 years. The rulers of these two dynasties were so weak that they were unable to erect any monumental works which might have survived to tell us something of their time.

The Nineth and Tenth Dynasties originated in Heracleopolis (Ihnasya el Medina, near Beni-Suef) where its local prince Kheti I proclaimed himself king of Upper and Lower Egypt. The kings of these two dynasties were greatly supported by the princes of Asyut and were able to build for themselves tombs in which they fortunately left records of the successful career of their family. They restored order in their nomes, as can be clear from the following:

“When night came, he who slept on the road gave me praise, for he was like a man in his house; the fear of my soldiers was his protection."

The Heracleopolitan rule was at first accepted, at least theoretically, by the local princes of Thebes (Luxor). The latter, although independent, lived in peace with the royal house at Heracleopolis, but later, they gained the leading place in the first eight nomes of Upper Egypt. They ended the control of the Heracleopolitans and organized an independent kingdom under their own rule. This marks the end of the Tenth Dynasty and the beginning of the Eleventh Dynasty.

The First Part of the Eleventh Dynasty

In the first part of the Eleventh Dynasty (which ends at about 2060 B.C.) Egypt was under the rule of two royal families: the Kheti family in the Delta and Middle Egypt till Abydos; and the Intef and Mentuhotep family from Abydos to Aswan. Civil war took place between these two kingdoms until Mentuhotep II of the South conquered the Heracleopolitans and reigned over the reunited Kingdom. This marks the end of the First Intermediate Period and the beginning of the Middle Kingdom.

Egyptian Literature during the FIP

The Egyptian language is rich in metaphors and figures of speech. Many religious texts, hymns, naratives, poems and proverbs are known from the Old Kingdom. Some sentences of the instructions of Ptah-hotep, the vizir of King Isesi of the Fifth Dynasty may be quoted as an example:

“Do not speak of something that you do not know; do not look at that which is before him but look at which is before you, ...” etc.

But the full development of the literature appears only to have been reached in the First Intermediate Period and in the Twelfth Dynasty. It is the writings of this period that were read in the schools for five hundred years later. They are interesting since they depict the misery which the world brings upon people and the distress of a nation that has suffered from a complete collapse: “it is best for mankind not to be born”.

The most important texts of this pessimistic literature are the “Complaint of the eloquent peasant” and the “Admonitions of a prophet”. The “Tale of the eloquent peasant” was composed solely in order to place in the mouth of a marvellous peasant a series of speeches in which he pleads his case against an official who had wronged him, with such eloquence that he is at last brought into the presence of the pharaoh himself, that the monarch may enjoy the beauty of his words. 

The “Admonitions of a prophet” were written by a sage called Ipu-wer who depicts the misery already prevailing, and foresees what is still to come, and urges his hearers to fight against the enemies and reminds them that the worship of the gods must be restored.

The Sixth Dynasty (2423-2270 B.C.)

                                                  

The Sixth Dynasty (2423-2270 B.C.)

The kings of the Fifth Dynasty bestowed numerous gifts and endowed lands upon the priests and the local governors. This increased potential of the provincial governors encouraged them to shake off gradually the rule of the kings and, after the reign of Unas, they succeeded in overthrowing the Fifth Dynasty.

Teti  

Egypt's 6th Dynasty marks the decent into the darkness of the First Intermediate Period in Egypt's history. Teti was the first king and the founder of the 6th Dynasty His reign settled some of the accession problems following the death of Unas. His Horus name was Sehetep-tawy, which means, "He who pacifies the Two Lands".

He probably ruled Egypt for twelve years. The Turin King's List gives him less then one year's rule, which most scholars find very unlikely.  Manetho suggests thirty, to thirty-three years, but there is no evidence of his jubilee festival, so this also seems unlikely. 

                     

His wife, Queen Iput I, was probably the daughter of King Unas who was the last king of the 5th Dynasty. The queen was the mother of Teti's heir, King Pepi I. She is buried in her own pyramid near Teti's at Saqqara.  Other wives included Khuit and Weret-Imtes. His daughter Seshseshet was married to the vizier Mereruka, which probably empowered Teti's political stability.

Almost all the major court officials of King Unas remained in power during Teti's reign, including his other vizier, Kagemni. Little is known about Teti's reign, though there is evidence that quarry work was performed on his behalf at Hatnub near Abydos, and that he maintained commercial and diplomatic relations with Byblos. He also may have maintained relations with Punt and Nubia.

We have evidence of his exempting the temple at Abydos from taxes, and he was the first ruler to be particularly associated with the cult of Hathor at Dendera.

Teti granted more lands to Abydos and his name was inscribed in Hatnub. He built his pyramid in Saqqara.  A statue of him made of black and pink granite is exhibited at the Egyptian museum.

 The king was probably murdered by his guards for mysterious reasons, according to Manetho.  However, there is no other evidence of this violent death. , though it might help to explain the possible short rule of a King Userkare, possibly between Teti and his son, Pepi I. Userkare means the "Ka of Ra is powerful", and therefore has a strong relevance to the 5th Dynasty.  Therefore, Userkare may have been a surviving rival of Teti from the 5th Dynasty.

Pepi I  

 

Pepi I was the second ruler of Egypt's 6th Dynasty. He is the most powerful king of this dynasty. Pepi I was his birth name. His throne name was Mery-re, meaning "Beloved of Re". He probably ascended the throne at an early age, and appears to have ruled for 40 - 50 years.

It is possible that Pepi I did not follow his father to the throne.  Kings Lists include the name of King Userkara between that of Teti and Pepi I, and it may be that this king usurped the throne for a short time.

He was probably the son of Teti and his queen, Iput I. The wives of Pepi I were Ankhnesmerire I and II, who were the daughters of an important official or governor at Abydos named Khui. Pepi I made his brother-in-law, we believe a son of Khui named Djau, vizier. A woman named Were-Imtes may have been his first wife but some Egyptologists have suggested that she might not have been his wife at all. It may have been Were-Imtes who plotted a conspiracy against her husband from the harem, but she was found out and punished. This happened in the twenty-first cattle census, or about year 42 of the king's rule. An accomplice in this plot might have been Rewer, a vizier of Pepi I who's name has been erased from his tomb. Others suggest that the conspiracy was not by one of Pepi's queens, but was instead a plot by perhaps the mother of King Userkare.

                                       Ankhnesmerire II holds the infant Pepi II             

 Apparently, Pepi I married Ankhnesmerire I late in his rule, perhaps even after the harem conspiracy, and may have married her younger sister after the first sister's death. His sons, Merenre (by Ankhnesmerire I) and Pepi II (by Ankhnesmerire II) would rule Egypt through the end of the 6th Dynasty.  He also had a daughter by Ankhnesmerire I called Neith, who would later marry her half brother Pepi II. Pepi I may have had a number of other wives, including a Nebuunet (Nebwenet) and Inenek-Inti, who's small pyramids are near his at South Saqqara. Recently, in June 2000, another pyramid that has been discovered by the French team near Pepi I's appears to be that of Ankhnesmerire II.

At least four statues of the king have survived, including the earliest known life size metal statue. This statue came from the temple of Hierakonpolis  in Upper Egypt and is made of copper.  Found with it was also a copper statue of his young son and future king, Merenre. Other statues include a small green statue of the king probably making offerings to gods, and a small alabaster statue of Pepi I holding the royal crossed flail and scepter (crook).

The reign of Pepi I saw the rising influence and wealth of elite and nobles outside the royal court, a condition that perhaps led to the decline into the First Intermediate Period. These nobles built fine tombs for themselves. However, in spite of the partial independence of the local governors, it is evident that he possessed enough authority to hold them well in hand.

The copper statue of King Pepi I and Merenre

(6^th Dynasty) Cairo Museum           

Pepi I initiated a number of trading and other expeditions, often for fine stone to be used in his many building projects.  One inscription found at the alabaster quarries at Hatnub is dated to year 50 of his reign.  It refers to the 25th cattle count, which was a biennial event. He was also active at the Wadi Maghara turquoise and copper quarries in the Sinai, the greywacke and siltstone quarries of Wadi Hammamat, where his first Sed Festival is mentioned.  He also maintained diplomatic and commercial relations with Byblos and Ebla.

The foreign policy of Pepi I was more vigorous than that of any other pharaoh of earlier times. He conquered the Nubians and employed them in his army. He may have also sent expeditions to the mines of Sinai and as far away as Palestine. The expedition into Palestine was led by the leader of his army, Weni and involved landing troops from the sea. His autobiography provides the single inscription documenting the five campaigns led by him under Pepi I to the highland of Palestine, the Land of the Sand Dwellers as the Egyptians called the regions east of Egypt. This marks the northern most advance of the kings of the Old Kingdom.

Pepi I probably did considerable building but little of it remains. Some of his building projects were probably incorporated into later projects, but he did leave behind many inscriptions. Building projects of Pepi I include the remains of a chapel (Ht-ka) at Bubastis, as well as projects at Elephantine and Abydos.  He may have carried out work at Dendara too.  He built his pyramid at South Saqqara and the Pyramid Text inscribed on the pyramid walls were the first to be found by Egyptologists, though not the first recorded in a pyramid. This pyramid was called Mn-nfr, meaning "(Pepi is) established and good" (providing the name for the capital Memphis).

Pepi is further attested to by decrees found at Dahshur (now in Berlin) and Coptos. He was mentioned in biographies of Weni in his tomb at Abydos, Djaw from his tomb at Abydos, Ibi in his tomb at Deir el-Gabrawi, Mery-ankh-ptah-mery-re in his tomb at Giza, Qar in his tomb at Edfu and the biography on a tomb at Saqqara by an unknown person.

Merienrea  

  

Merenre was the third ruler of the 6th Dynasty. As the oldest living son of Pepi I, he succeeded his father at a young age, and probably died unexpectedly young, perhaps between his fifth and ninth year of rule.  He was succeeded by his younger half brother, Pepi II.

 Merenre was the king's throne name, which means "Beloved of Re". His birth name was Nemty-em-sa-f, which means, "Nemty is his Protection". His Horus name was Ankh-khau.

 His mother was Ankhnesmerire I who, along with her younger sister by the same name, married Pepi I in the later part of his rule.  Merenre built his pyramid in Saqqara. He had a daughter named Iput II whose pyramid is also in the south of Saqqqara

The copper statue of Merenre

Weni, who had worked under Pepi I, continued to make expeditions during the reign of Merenre, and the governor of Aswan, Harkhuf, also led expeditions into Africa.  Around, his ninth regnal year, Merenre himself visited Aswan to receive a group of southern chieftains. It is interesting to note that this was a time when new people, who archaeologists refer to as the Nubian C Group, were migrating from the south into northern Nubia because of the growing relationship between Egypt and Nubia during this period. Merenre attempted to improve contact with the first cataract region.  

At the same time the Lower Nubian rulers seem also to have profited greatly by sending their fighting men to Egypt for hire. By the end of the Old Kingdom, the Egyptian armies were mainly composed of Nubian mercenaries.

During the Old Kingdom, Egyptian texts speak of a land in Upper Nubia called "Yam." Besides troops from "Wawat, Irtjet, and Setju" (Lower Nubia), troops from Yam, too, were hired for service in the Egyptian army. The main source to provide information about Yam is a biography of the Aswan governor, Harkhuf, preserved in his tomb at Aswan. Harkhuf tells us that, on behalf of Merenre and Pepi II, he led four expeditions to Yam, each of which took eight months.

                                                          Sphinx of Merenre         

It is believed that during his reign, Merenre not only continued his father's policies in northern (lower) Nubia, but actually sent officials to maintain Egyptian rule as far south as the third cataract. The conquest of Nubia resulted from the control of the caravan routes and the Western Oasis that relied on trade.

Merenre, like his predecessors, maintained diplomatic and commercial relations with Byblos. According to inscriptions and tomb biographies, he had alabaster quarried from Hatnub and greywacke and siltstone from Wadi Hammamat.

A copper statue of Merenre as a young boy was found with a much larger copper statue of his father, Pepi I. These are believed to be the oldest copper statues ever found, but some are now questioning whether the statue of the boy is actually that of Merenre, or rather a young Pepi II. There is also a very small sphinx of Merenre in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Merenre is further attested to by an ivory box in the form of a Hippopotamus, now in Paris, Louvre Museum. Further archaeological evidence of Merenre's reign include: rock inscriptions near Aswan, inscriptions on an ivory mother monkey that was probably a gift to an official, decrees of the king found at the pyramid temple of Menkawre and in biographies of Uni (Weni) in his tomb at Abydos, Djaw from his tomb also at Abydos, the tomb of Harkhuf at Elephantine, the tomb of Ibi at Deir el-Gabrawi, the Tomb of Qar at Edfu, and an unknown persons tomb at Saqqara..  He is also mentioned in an inscription in the tomb of Maru at Giza (though this inscription is now in Brussels). Recently another inscription has also been found by a Polish team that mentions Merenre on a rock wall at Deir el-Bahari on the West Bank at Luxor.  

Merenre built his pyramid at South Saqqara, though apparently this pyramid was not completed.  The mummy of Merenre found in his pyramid is the oldest known royal mummy. It is now in the Egyptian Museum. In 1997, excavations at Hierakonopolis reveal a large predyanstic cemetery full of older mummies, in this case non-royal.

Pepi II            

   

Pepi II was the last ruler of Egypt's 6th Dynasty, and in fact the last significant ruler of the Old Kingdom.  His reign of possibly 94 (some Egyptologists believe 64) years was the longest in ancient Egyptian history.  He seems to have come to the throne at about the age of six, and would therefore have lived until the age of one hundred.  The latter part of his reign was probably ineffectual perhaps due to his advanced age. 

 The pharaoh's birth name was Pepi, as was his father's.  His throne name was Nefer-ka-re, which means "Beautiful is the Soul of Re" His mother was Ankhnesmerire II, who probably acted as Pepi II's regent during his youth. There is a well known statue of her holding Pepi II as a young boy.

Calcite statue of Ankhnesmerire II holding Pepi II as a young boy

(Brooklyn Museum)

Pepi II continued foreign relations in a very similar manner to both his predecessors of the 5th and 6th Dynasties and even developed new links with southern Africa. He maintained diplomatic and commercial relations with Byblos in ancient Syria/Palestine. However, we also learn of an incident where Pepi II had to send Pepy-nakht (Heqa-ib) to bring back the body of an official who was killed on a mission in the area of Byblos.

He sent several trips and campaigns into Nubia led by Harkhuf (Khu-ef-hor), and his successor, Pepy-nakht. In fact, these powerful local governors managed to control Nubia long after the death of Pepi II form their base in Elephantine. During one of these expeditions Khu-ef-hor brought a dwarf from one of the pigmy tribes of Central Africa to the king. This was mentioned in Harkhuf's funerary autobiography referring to the dwarf as "a pygmy of the god's dances from the land of the horizon-dwellers (Yam)".

Pepi II also continued long established mining activities. According to an inscription, turquoise and copper continued to be mined at Wadi Maghara in Sinai. Alasbaster was quarried at Hatnub and Greywacke and siltsone from Wadi Hammamat.

 A scene depicting the submission of Libyan chiefs during his reign is a close copy of representations in the mortuary temples of Sahura, Niuserra and Pepi I. It is probably more symbolic than stating a real act.

Calcite lid of a vessel.

A temple at Abydos may have been a ka-chapel built by Pepi II. His pyramid and mortuary complex are located in South Saqqara. The inner walls of his pyramid were inscribed with the Pyramid Texts. Most of his wife's smaller pyramids have been discovered nearby.

Ivory headrest inscribed with his full titles

Pepi II is further attested to by a Calcite statuette of the young king and his mother, now in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, a decree of the king found at the mortuary temple of Menkawre, a decree found at Abydos, and three decrees at Koptos. One inscription, now in theEgyptian Museum at Cairo, records his Sed festival. The king was further mentioned in the biography of Djau (now in the Egyptian Museum) from his tomb in Abydos and is mentioned in the tomb of Ibi at Deir el-Gabrawi.

Smaller items attesting to Pepi II include faience plaque from various places mentioning both his first and second Sed festival, a calcite vessels attributed to his reign, an Ivory headrest inscribed with his full titles and several objects found at Byblos.

The Fifth Dynasty (2563-2423 B.C.)

The Fifth Dynasty (2563-2423 B.C.)

During the second half of the Fourth Dynasty priests of Rea at Heliopolis succeeded in organizing their political influence. This influence is evident in the names of the kings following Khufu, namely Djedefrea, Khafreaa, and Menkaurea, which are composed with the name Rea. They became so friendly to the royal family that Queen Khentkawes married one of them as mentioned before. The kings of the Fifth Dynasty, who are the descendants of Queen Khentkawes and the high priest of Rea at Heliopolis, added the title “Son of Rea” to the four other titles already attached to the royal name. This might have been due to the fact that their father was the high priest of Rea. By the royal residence in Memphis each king of this dynasty erected a magnificent temple to the sun containing as main feature a very tall obelisk upon a base, the symbol of Rea.

Userkaf 

Userkaf was the first ruler of the 5th Dynasty.  He is probably the son of Khentkaues I, who is buried at Giza. Khentkaues I was probably Menkaure's daughter and a half sister of Shepseskaf.

The archaeological resources on Userkaf are not very clear: some mention Neferhetep as his wife ans sometimes as mother, others mention Khentkawes I as his wife and sometimes as mother.

Userkaf was the kings birth name, meaning "His Soul is Powerful. His Horus name was Iry-maat, meaning "He who puts Maat into Practice". His reign lasted probably only seven years, as attested in the Turin King list and on the Palermo Stone. Userkaf built his pyramid at Saqqara. As mentioned on the Palermo Stone he presented lands to the temples of Rea, Horus and Hathor.

There were no major changes in the country or its administration during the 5^th dynasty.  Several high officials of the 4th Dynasty continued in their positions after Userkaf took the throne.

 He was the first king to establish Egypt's first contact with the Aegean world.  An inscribed stone vessel from his mortuary temple was found on Kythera. Apparently later kings of this dynasty would continue the Aegean relationship.

 Userkaf built the first of the 5th Dynasties solar temples at Abusir. It was named Nekhen-Re, meaning "Stonghold of Re". Eventually, every ruler of this dynasty would build a solar temple, of which only two have survived. Solar temples were dedicated to the sun god Re and consist mainly of a platform of mudbrick and limestone with a smaller podium on its west end where a short obelisk (benben) stood.  In front of the obelisk was a sun altar. There was a causeway leading from the solar temple to a valley temple where a statue of Userkaf wearing the Red Crown was discovered.

He is also credited with enlarging the temple of Monthu at Tod.  Blocks from a chapel built during his reign near the temple of Montu were found. Archaeological evidence also attest to the arrival of 70 foreign women during his reign and some cult activity that seems to indicate he had an active interest in the Delta. Userkaf is mentioned in the tombs of Sekhemkare and Nisutpunetjer at Giza. Userkaf was succeeded by his son Sahure.

Sahurea       

Sahure was the second ruler of ancient Egypt's 5th Dynasty. His birth name means "He who is Close to Re". His Horus name was Nebka. The Turin King List gives him a reign of twelve years.

                  

His pyramid complex was the first built at Abusir and marks the decline of pyramid building, both in the size and quality, though many of the reliefs are very well done.  It provides us most of the information we know of this king. He was the son of queen Khentkaues I and Userkaf. It is probable that Khentkaues I was the character of Redjedet in the Papyrus Westcar, who according to the magician Djedi, was destined to give birth to the children of Ra and the first kings of the 5th Dynasty.

Most foreign relations during the reign of Sahure were economic, rather then combative. In one scene, we find great ships with Egyptians and Asiatics on board.  They are returning from the port of Byblos in Lebanon with huge cedar trees. Evidence of 5th Dynasty king's cartouches were found in Lebanon on stone vessels. Other scenes in his temple depict Syrian bears. We also have the first documented expedition to the land of Punt, which apparently yielded a quantity of myrrh, along with malachite and electrum, and because of this, Sahure is often credited with establishing an Egyptian navy. The Palermo Stone records that he sent an expedition to Punt (Somaliland) which brought back 8000 measures of myrrh, 6000 units of weight of gold and 2600 staves of ebony.

There are also scenes on his mortuary temple indicating some military expeditions into Libya which yielded various livestock and showed the king smiting the local chieftains.

He built his pyramid at Abusir. His temples contain limestone columns with capitals in the form of lotus buds or palm leaves. He apparently built a sun temple, as did most of the 5th Dynasty kings. Its name was Sekhet-re, meaning "the Field of Re", but so far its location is unknown.It is probably in Abusir. During his reign, expeditions were sent to the turquoise quarries in Sinai at Wadi Maghara and Wadi Kharit, along with the diorite quarries in Nubia.

Sahure's pyramid at Abusir

Sahure was further attested to by a statue now located in New York's Museum of Modern Art, in a biography found in the tombs of Perisen at Saqqara and on a false door of Niankhsakhment at Saqqara, and is also mentioned in the tombs of Sekhemkare and Nisutpunetjer at their tombs in Giza.  Sahure was succeeded by his brother, Neferirkare, the first king known to have used a separate prenomen and nomen .

Neferirkarea   (Kakai)        

One of his officials named Ty, was the overseer of the pyramid complexes and sun temples under both Neferirkara and other kings. He was probably the son of Userkaf, the first king of the 5th Dynasty.

His throne name was Nefer-ir-ka-re (Beautiful is the Soul of Re) while his birth name was Kakai.  He was the third king of the Old Kingdom 5th dynasty. He was the first king to have employed both a prenomen and nomen (he had two names and two cartouches), a custom that later kings would follow.

Neferirkare built his pyramid complex at Abusir but only a few inscribed stones belonging to them have been found. His pyramid complex remained unfinished, and its valley temple and causeway were later incorporated by Niuserra into his own pyramid complex. He must also have built a Sun Temple. However, no remains of this temple have so far been discovered.

H He made gifts of lands to the gods, specially to the Great Ennead of Heliopolis.

A hieratic papyrus was found in his pyramid complex. They were written in ink and are the earliest known documents in hieratic script, a cursive form of hieroglyphics. The hieratic papyrus found at his pyramid complex consist of 300 papyrus fragments.

Neferirkare's hieratic papyrus reveals a world of detailed and very professional administration. Elaborate tables register monthly duties: for guarding the temple, for fetching the daily income (or 'offerings') and for performing ceremonies including those on the statues, and especially for the important Feast of Soker. Similar tables list the temple equipment, item by item and grouped by materials, with details of damage noted at a monthly inspection. Other records of inspection relate to doors and rooms in the temple building. The presentation of monthly income as commodities of bread and beer, meat and fowl, corn and fruit was also recorded in this papyrus.

                     

The Great Ennead    

The Great Ennead is a group of nine gods which were worshipped at Heliopolis. The Egyptians thought that it was synthesised as follows:

The Sun, whose local name was Atum had created himself at Heliopolis. He had engendered without a female principle the god Shu and the goddess Tefnut (the Dry and the Wet), the distinction of which put an end to the Chaotic state of the world. Shu and Tefnut had, in turn, engendered Geb, the earth god and Nut, the sky-goddess. These two had as children: Osiris, Seth, Isis and Nephtys, the individuals of the Osirian Legend. These nine gods constituted the so-called “Great Ennead”.

                                

The Osirian Legend

It may be summarized as follows:

Osiris had been a very clever and pious terrestial king whom his brother Seth put to death by a conspiracy. His wife, Isis found his body, Anubis embalmed it and then Isis fluttered her wings over him and restored life to him. Osiris then became the god of the Dead, the Lord of the Hereafter and thus assumed the role in which he figures throughout historical times. His son, Horus, however, having reached man’s age, took again by force the throne of his father and founded a line of terrestial gods, from which the Pharaonic Dynasties issued.

                                     

Neferefrea 

There are some real problems concerning the kings list after Neferirkare. Some references mention a king named, Shepseskare before or after Neferefre's rule. Neferefre was a prominent son of Neferirkare. We are fairly certain of this from a block found near Abusir depicting Neferirkare, his wife Khentkaus II and a young son who we interpret to be Neferefre, though on the block his name is spelled somewhat differently.

It appears that after Neferirkare's death, his consort Khentkaus II acted as regent for a young king for a time and some believe that she may have even ruled Egypt alone for a short period. Yet the body we believe to be Neferefre, parts of which were found in his pyramid at Abusir, has been analyzed and a determination made that the young man died between the age of 20-23. Since we believe he only ruled for no more then three years and possibly only two, it seems strange that he would need a real regent acting on his behalf. If Neferefre did rule just after Neferirkare, then some of the evidence simply doesn't fit.

In the block, the young son is referred to as Neferre, which means "Re is beautiful", but he probably later changed his name to Neferefre which means, "Re is his beauty" He is possibly also referred to as Reneferef or Raneferef, and his nomen was probably Isi.

Seals of Neferefre

He built a solar temple named Hetep-Re, which has never been discovered. , He died, apparently suddenly, before his pyramid and mortuary complex at Abusir, known as the "Unfinished Pyramid", was completed.

Niuserrea  

Niuserre (or Niuserra, meaning "Possessed of Re's Power") was the sixth king of the 5th Dynasty. His throne name was Ini or Isi. His Horus name was probably Set-ib-tawy. We are not very sure how long he ruled Egypt because the Turin King list is damaged where this king is listed. He probably ruled for at least 10 years. A reference to a Sed festival in his solar temple at Abu Gurab (named shesepu-ib-re) may, however, give him a reign of at least 30 years.

 Niuserre most likely succeeded his older brother, Neferefre, as Egypt's ruler. His mother and father were probably Neferirkare and Queen Khentkaus II, and from a fragment of a statue in his valley temple, we believe that he was married to Reput-Nebu.

A dual statue showing a young, and old Niuserre

He was active in Sinai, though an inscription found there of him smiting his enemies may be largely symbolic. He probably had copper and turquoise mined at Wadi Magharah in Sinai. He may have also participated in military campaigns against Libyans. There is also evidence that he probably traded with Punt for malachite, myrrh, and electrum, as did Sahure before him.

He constructed a pyramid, mortuary temple and valley temple at Abusir, as well as his solar temple to the north of Abusir at Abu Gurab. His solar temple is one of the biggest and most complete in Egypt, as well as the only one completely constructed with stone. It contains many fine reliefs, including depictions of his Sed Festival and the world being created by the solar god. Further scenes depict representations of the provinces of Egypt.  

View of Niuserre's Solar Temple

Some high officials' tombs dating back to Niuserre's reign like that of Ty at Saqqara and Ptahshepses at Abusir, seem to have been the largest and best decorated private tombs in the Old Kingdom.

 Niuserre is also attested by a Faience plague found at the Satis temple on Elephantine, and other objects found at Byblos. There are also indications of his quarrying activities north of Abu Simbel at Gebel el-Asr Gneiss Quarries, where there was found a fragment of a 5th Dynasty stele bearing his name and cartouche.

Seals of Niuerre

Djedkare

Djedkare was the eighth ruler of Egypt's 5th Dynasty. He was probably the son of Menkauhor, his predecessor. It is possible that his principle queen was Meresankh IV.

According to the Turin King List he ruled for 28 years. Manetho records 44 years for this king, but the mummy found in his pyramid at South Saqqara and believed to be Djedkare is thought to be that of about a 50 year old man. 

Seals of Djedkare

Djed-ka-re was the king's throne name, meaning "Soul of Re Endures". His birth name was Isesi). He distanced himself somewhat from the earlier rulers of this dynasty by not building a sun temple and having himself buried at Saqqara rather than Abusir.

 Djedkare's name has been found in Sinai at Maghara, demonstrating a continued Egyptian interest in this rich region. Two expeditions are recorded there. We also find him mentioned at the quarries of Aswan, and at Abydos and in Nubia. In Nubia, we find his expedition to Punt mentioned in a graffito found at the site of Tomas. He apparently also maintained commercial and diplomatic contacts with Byblos.

He is further attested to in the biographies of Itush at and also Gemni at Saqqara. Among the high officials of his reign, we know Ptahhotep, one of his viziers.  

His reign is marked by some important changes. For example, the solar cult, although not abandoned, loses some of its importance and predominance, and the power of the central government is weakened to the advantage of the provincial administration. Another important change that occurred during Djedkare's reign is the return to Saqqara as a burial place.

Unas      

Unas was the last king of the 5th Dynasty. Unas had a long rule probably lasting for 30 years. He built his pyramid and funerary complex at Saqqara at the southwest corner of the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Unas was his Birth Name, but he is also referred to Wenis. His Horus name was Wadj-tawy which means "Horus, the flourishing one of the Two Lands". He was probably married to two queens named Khenut and Nebit. They were buried in mastaba tombs near Unas' pyramid complex.

We find scenes from his causeway that links his mortuary temple and valley temple depicting the moving of granite columns from the quarries at Aswan to his mortuary temple, as well as scenes of emaciated people.  These latter scenes may show the effects of a famine that might have been the cause of the political decline that ended the Old Kingdom. There are also scenes of Asiatic traders arriving in Egypt by boat, perhaps from Byblos, as well as scenes of markets, hunting in the desert and a small vignette of desert life. Unas probably pursued a policy of diplomatic contact both with Byblos and Nubia. At Elephantine, an inscription also shows a giraffe and other exotic animals that were apparently bought to Egypt during his reign.

Scenes of Emaciated People possibly suffering from Famine

Scenes of Exotic Animials

Part of the Pyramid Texts of Unas

Unas' pyramid is the smallest of the royal pyramids build during the Old Kingdom, however it was the first inscribed with the Pyramid Texts.  These texts representing Egypt's first religious compsition were also extant within the pyramids of the following kings of the Sixth Dynasty. They consist of some magical formulae and prayers to the different gods, whose purpose was to facilitate the passage of the king’s soul through the mysterious regions of the Hereafter. They meant to aid the king's soul on the journey to the next world.

 In the Pyramid Texts, King Unas is identified after his death with the gods Ra and Osiris, and referred to as Osiris Unas. According to a special part of the Pyramid Texts known as the Cannibal Hymn, Unas is described as "the Slayer and Eater of Gods". Maspero discovered parts of Unas' mummy in 1880, which are now in the Cairo Museum.

 After Unas there was a short period of political instability prior to Teti, the first ruler of the 6th Dynasty, who ascended to the throne. Teti's wife, Iput, was possibly a daughter of Unas, and his vizier Kagemni probably also worked under Unas. Furthermore, a pink granite gateway in Unas' mortuary temple bears the inscription of the names and titles of Teti, indicating that part of the temple that was completed after Unas's death. This evidence suggests that there may not have been a true break between the 5th and 6th Dynasties.