Neferirkare Kakai in hieroglyphs

Neferirkare Kakai was Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. His prenomen, Neferirkare means "Beautiful is the Soul of Re." From the large size of his mortuary complex at Abusir, he was probably an important king, but since the Palermo stone breaks off during his rule, little is actually known about his reign. The Pyramid of Neferirkare Kakai (burial place) of the king was initially designed as a 6-step pyramid 52m high, but later it was extended to the form of a typical pyramid and it reached a height of 72m. The mortuary complex is unfinished, and only part of the lower mortuary temple was completed before, it is supposed, the abandonment of the project. Neferirkare was probably the brother of pharaoh Sahure and son of pharaoh Userkaf, the founder of the dynasty. Since the annals in the Palermo stone terminate around around Neferirkare’s rule, some scholars have suggested that they might have been compiled during his reign. However, evidence from the other side of the stela implies that the document covered the reigns of later Old Kingdom kings. Hence, it is possible that this Annal was composed during the time of Nyuserre Ini who had a long reign and was the third successor to Neferirkare after the short-lived the ephemeral Shepseskare Isi and the short-lived Neferefre. It has been suggested that Hieroglyph (French Wiki article) be merged into this article or section. ... copied from http://fi. ... copied from http://fi. ... Pharaoh (Arabic فرعون ) (Hebrew פַּרְעֹה ); is a title used to refer to the kings (of godly status) in ancient Egypt. ... Known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for the Fifth Dynasty. ... The Pyramids of Nyuserre Ini and Neferirkare Kakai at Abusir, viewed from the south-east Abusir or Abu Sir is the name given to an Egyptian archaeological locality - specifically, an extensive necropolis of the Old Kingdom period, together with later additions - in the vicinity of the modern capital Cairo. ... The Palermo Stone is an ancient Egyptian stone of black [basalt] engraved toward the end of the 5th dynasty (twenty-fifth century BC) and is probably the earliest Egyptian historical text. ... The second pyramid to be built at the necropolis site of Abu Sir, south of the Giza plateau, the pyramid of Neferirkare is the tallest of all pyramids constructed in Ancient Egypt during its Fifth Dynasty. ... Geometric shape created by connecting a polygonal base to an apex For other versions including architectural Pyramids, see Pyramid (disambiguation). ... Sahure was the second king of ancient Egypts 5th Dynasty. ... Userkaf was the founder of the Fifth dynasty. ... Annals are a form of historical writing which record events year by year. ... The Palermo Stone is an ancient Egyptian stone of black [basalt] engraved toward the end of the 5th dynasty (twenty-fifth century BC) and is probably the earliest Egyptian historical text. ... praenomen or throne name nomen or birth name Nyuserre Ini, also spelt as Neuserre Izi or Niuserre Izi (in Greek known as Rathoris), was Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty, reigning from ca. ... praenomen or throne name nomen or birth name A Mysterious king Shepseskare Isi, also spelt Shepseskare, (in Greek known as Sisiris), was Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty, and is thought to have reigned from around 2426 BC – 2419 BC. He is the most ephemeral ruler of this Dynasty... nomen or birth name Neferefre (in Greek possibly identified with Cheris), was Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. ...

An important cache of Old Kingdom administrative papyri was discovered from Neferirkare's mortuary temple between 1893 and 1907 which date primarily to the reigns of Djedkare Isesi and Unas. One of the documents is an actual letter by king Djedkare to the Temple Priests provisioning Neferirkare's funerary temple. Manetho's Epitome assigns Neferirkare a reign of 20 Years while the main portion of the damaged Palermo Stone records the Year of his 5th Cattle Count before his following years were lost in the damaged portion of the document. 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... praenomen or throne name nomen or birth name Djedkare Isesi, (in Greek known as Tankeris), was Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. ... Unas (also Wenis, Oenas, Unis, or Ounas) was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, the last king of the Fifth dynasty. ... Manetho, also known as Manethon of Sebennytos, was an Egyptian historian and priest from Sebennytos who lived during the Ptolematic era, circa 3rd century BC. Manetho recorded Aegyptiaca (History of Egypt). ... The Palermo Stone is an ancient Egyptian stone of black [basalt] engraved toward the end of the 5th dynasty (twenty-fifth century BC) and is probably the earliest Egyptian historical text. ...

Neferirkare's reign in the 5th Dynasty was unusual for the significant number of recorded personal details which describe him as a kind and gentle ruler. When Rawer, an old nobleman, accidentally touched the king with his walking stick--a sin which could have caused this official's banishment from court since the Pharaoh was viewed as a living God in Old Kingdom mythology--Neferirkare quickly pardoned Rawer and declared Rawer's touch to be "an honour." Similarly, he also gave permission to the Priest Ptahshepses to kiss his feet. Finally, when the Vizier Weshptah suffered a stroke while attending court, the king summoned the palace's chief doctors to treat his dying Vizier. When Weshptah died, Neferirkare was reportedly inconsolable and retired to his personal quarters to mourn his friend. The king then ordered the purification of Weshptah's body in his presence and ordered an ebony coffin made for the deceased Vizier. Weshptah was buried with special endowments and rituals courtesy of Neferirkare. These records of the king's actions are inscribed in Wesptah's Tomb itself and emphasize his humanity towards others. The Old Kingdom is the name commonly given to that period in the 3rd millennium BC when Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilization complexity and achievement - this was the first of three so-called Kingdom periods, which mark the high points of civilization in the Nile Valley (the...

External links

• Neferirkare Kakai