NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Pepi II

Pepi II was a ruler of the Sixth dynasty in Egypt's Old Kingdom. His throne name, Neferkare (Nefer-ka-Re), means "Beautiful is the Ka of Re". He was the son of Pepy I and Ankhnesmerire II. He succeeded to the throne after his brother Merenre, at the age of six, and is generally thought to have ruled for 94 years (from 2221 BC to 2118 BC), the longest reign of any monarch in history. His reign marked a sharp decline of the Old Kingdom. While the power of the nomarchs grew, the power of pharaoh dissolved. With no central power, local nobles began raiding each other's territories. Hieroglyphs on an Egyptian funerary stela Hieroglyphs at the Memphis museum with Ramses II statue on the back. ... copied from http://fi. ... copied from http://fi. ... copied from http://fi. ... copied from http://fi. ... The Sixth Dynasty of Egypt is considered by many authorities as the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, although The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (ed. ... 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 civilisation in the Nile Valley (the... In Egyptian mythology, the human soul is made up of five parts: the Ka, the Ba, the Akh, the Sheut, and the Ren. ... The Eye of Ra, also called the Eye of Horus This article is about the Egyptian god. ... Pepi I Meryre (reigned 2332 - 2283 BC) was the third king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ... Merenre Antyemsaf I (2283 - 2278 BC) was the fourth king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ... 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 civilisation in the Nile Valley (the... A nomarch in ancient Egypt was a provincial governor, the regional authority over one of the 40 or so nomes (Egyptian: sepat) into which the country was divided. ...

Early Years of His Reign

His mother Ankhnesmerire II most likely ruled as regent in the early years of his reign. An alabaster statuette in the Brooklyn Museum depicts a young Pepi II, in full kingly regalia, sitting on the on the lap of his mother. Despite his long reign, this piece is one of only three 3D representations (i.e. statuary) in existence of this particular king. She may have been helped in turn by her brother Djau, who was a vizier under the previous king. Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway, 2005 The Brooklyn Museum, located at 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, New York, is the second largest art museum in the City and one of the largest in the United States. ... A Vizier (ÙˆØ²ÙŠØ±, sometimes also spelled Vizir, Wasir, Wazir, Wesir - grammatical voyel changes are common in many oriental languages) is an oriental, originally Persian, term for a high-ranking religious and political advisor, often to a king or sultan. ...

A glimpse of the personality of the early child king can be found in a letter he wrote to Harkhuf, a governor of Aswan and the head of one of the expeditions he sent into Nubia. Sent to trade and collect ivory, ebony and other precious items, he captured a pygmy. News of this reached the royal court, and an excited young king sent word back to Harkhuf that he would be greatly rewarded if the pygmy were brought back alive, likely to serve as an entertainer for the court. This letter was preserved as a lengthy inscription on Harkhuf's tomb. Harkhuf was a governor of Upper Egypt in the 23rd century BC, who travelled extensively throughout Nubia (todays Sudan). ... Aswan (أسوان Aswān) (24 05 N 32 56 E, population 200,000) is a city in the south of Egypt, the capital of the governorate of the same name. ... Today Nubia is the region in the south of Egypt, along the Nile and in northern Sudan, but in ancient times it was an independent kingdom. ... Generally speaking, pygmy (from Greek pygmaios, fist sized, a kind of dwarf in Greek mythology) can refer to any human or animal of unusually small size, for example, the pygmy hippopotamus. ...

Wives

Over his long life Pepi II had several wives, though to include Neith (A), Iput II, Ankhenespepy III, Ankhenespepy IV, and Udjebten. Following a long tradition of royal incestuous marriage, Nieth was Pepi II's half-sister (daughter of Ankhnesmerire I) and Iput was his niece (a daughter of his brother Merenre). Of these queens, Neith, Iput, and Udjebten each had their own minor pyramids and mortuary templates as part of the king's own pyramid complex in Saqqara. Incest is the sexual activity or marriage between very close family members (and sometimes friends in some societies). ... Merenre Antyemsaf I (2283 - 2278 BC) was the fourth king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ... Saqqara is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the worlds oldest standing step pyramid. ...

Foreign Relations

It is thought that Pepi II carried on in the tradition of his predecessors and continued with existing foreign relations, and possibly expanding further trade links into southern Africa. Copper and turquoise mining were undertaken at Wadi Maghara, and alabaster was quarried from Hatnub, both in the Sinai. There is at least one trade expedition to Punt recorded. Diplomatic records also exist of missions to Byblos in ancient Palestine. General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance copper, metallic Atomic mass 63. ... Turquoise (or turquois) is opaque, blue-to-green hydrated copper aluminium phosphate mineral according to the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8Â·5H2O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been enjoyed as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique... Alabaster (sometimes called satin spar) is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals: gypsum (a hydrous sulfate of calcium) and the calcite (a carbonate of calcium). ... Sinai Peninsula, Gulf of Suez (west), Gulf of Aqaba (east) from Space Shuttle STS-40 The Sinai Peninsula (in Arabic, Shibh Jazirat Sina) is a triangle-shaped peninsula lying between the Mediterranean Sea (to the north) and Red Sea (to the south). ... Punt can mean the following: a kind of boat; see punt (boat) an ancient nation from Africa; see Land of Punt an action in American football; see punt (football) the indentation on the bottom of a wine bottle the Irish-language word for Pound (currency). ...

Pepi II is thought to have taken a policy of pacification in Nubia, with Harkhuf making at least two further expeditions into the area. Over time it appears as though relations grew strained, for while Harkhuf managed to return safely from each of his expeditions, one of his successors was not so lucky.

There was also military forays into adjacent lands, but it is noted that there was an increasing reliance upon Libyan and Nubian mercenaries. Further possible evidence of a relative lack of success in these ventures comes from the fact that a scene from the king's pyramid, depicting him as a Sphinx trampling his enemies — including a Libyan chieftain and his family — is wholly derivative from the mortuary complex of previous pharaoh Sahure, which calls into question the veracity of the events supposedly being depicted. For the Star Wars planet, see Nubia (Star Wars). ... Mercenary (disambiguation). ... The Great Sphinx of Giza, with the Pyramid of Khafre in the background. ... Sahure was the second king of ancient Egypts 5th Dynasty. ...

It is also known that near the end of his reign, some foreign relations were completely broken off, a further sign of the disintegration of central rule.

The Decline of the Old Kingdom

The decline of the Old Kingdom arguably began before the time of Pepi II, with nomarchs (regional representatives of the king) becoming more and more powerful and exerting greater influence. Pepi I for example, married two sisters who were the daughters of a nomarch. That king later made their brother a vizier. Their influence was extensive, both sisters bearing sons who were chosen as part of the royal succession: Merenre and Pepi II. A nomarch in ancient Egypt was a provincial governor, the regional authority over one of the 40 or so nomes (Egyptian: sepat) into which the country was divided. ... Pepi I Meryre (reigned 2332 - 2283 BC) was the third king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ... A Vizier (ÙˆØ²ÙŠØ±, sometimes also spelled Vizir, Wasir, Wazir, Wesir - grammatical voyel changes are common in many oriental languages) is an oriental, originally Persian, term for a high-ranking religious and political advisor, often to a king or sultan. ... Merenre Antyemsaf I (2283 - 2278 BC) was the fourth king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ...

Increasing wealth and power appears to have been handed over to high officials during Pepi II's reign. Large and expensive tombs appear at many of the major nomes of Egypt, building by the reigning nomarchs, the priestly class and other administrators. Nomarchs were traditionally free from taxation and their positions became hereditary. Their increasing wealth and independence led to a corresponding shift in power away from the central royal court to the regional nomarchs. Subnational divisions called nomes (nomoi): Nome (Greece) Nome (Ancient Egypt) See also: nomad. ... A nomarch in ancient Egypt was a provincial governor, the regional authority over one of the 40 or so nomes (Egyptian: sepat) into which the country was divided. ...

Later in his reign it is known that Pepi divided the role of vizier into two: one for Upper Egypt and one for Lower, a further decentralization of power away from the royal capital of Memphis. Further, the seat of vizier of Upper Egypt was moved several times. The southern vizier was stationed at Thebes. Memphis was the ancient capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt from its foundation until around 1300 BC. The ruins are 19 km (12 mi. ... For the ancient capital of Boeotia, see Thebes, Greece. ...

It is also thought that Pepi II's extraordinarily long reign may have been a contributing factor to the general breakdown of centralized royal rule. While there are some doubts that he reigned as long as 94 years (some scholars believe this to be a misreading of long-lost original texts by early historians such as Manetho, and ascribe a seemingly more realistic 64 years, which seems more feasible if in fact he was succeeded by a son rather than a grandson), most believe that his reign was unusually long. This almost certainly produced a succession crisis and also led to a stagnation of the central administration. A better documented example of this type of problem can be found in the long reign of much later Nineteenth Dynasty pharaoh Ramesses II and his successors. Manetho or Manethon of Sebennytos, (ca. ... History of Ancient Egypt, Nineteenth Dynasty The Nineteenth Dynasty was founded by the soldier Ramesses I, to whom Pharoah Horemheb willed the throne. ... Ramesses II, Abu Simbel Ramesses II (also known as Ramesses the Great and alternatively transcribed as Ramses and Rameses) was an Egyptian pharaoh. ...

Pyramid Complex

Pepi II's pyramid complex (originally known as Pepi's Life is Enduring) is located in Saqqara, close to many other Old Kingdom pharaohs. His pyramid is a modest affair compared to the great pyramid builders of the Fourth Dynasty, but was comparable to earlier pharaohs from his own dynasty. It was originally 78.5 metres high, but erosion and relatively poor construction has reduced it 52 metres. Saqqara is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the worlds oldest standing step pyramid. ... 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 civilisation in the Nile Valley (the... Geometric shape created by connecting a polygonal base to an apex A pyramid is a geometric shape formed by connecting a polygonal base and a point, called the apex, by triangular faces. ... The Fourth dynasty of Egypt was the second of the four dynasties considered forming the Old Kingdom. ...

The pyramid was the center of a sizable funerary complex, complete with a separate mortuary complex, a small, eastern satellite pyramid. This was flanked by two of his wives' pyramids to the north and north-west (Neith (A) and Iput II respectively), and one to the south-east (Udjebten), each with their own mortuary complexes. Perhaps reflecting the decline at the end of his rule, the fourth wife, Ankhenespepy IV was not given her own pyramid but was instead buried in a store room of the Iput's mortuary chapel. Similarly, Prince Ptahshepses, who likely died near the end of Pepy II's reign, was buried in the funerary complex of a previous pharaoh, Unas, within a "recycled" sarcophagus dating to the Fourth Dynasty. Unas (also Wenis, Oenas, Unis, or Ounas) was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, the last king of the Fifth dynasty. ... The Fourth dynasty of Egypt was the second of the four dynasties considered forming the Old Kingdom. ...

The ceiling of the burial chamber is decorated with stars, and the walls are lined with passages from the Pyramid texts. An empty black sarcophagus bearing the names and titles of Pepi II was discovered inside. The Pyramid Texts are a collection of ancient Egyptian religious texts from the time of the Old Kingdom, mostly inscriptions on the walls of pyramids. ... Stone sarcophagus of Pharaoh Merenptah A sarcophagus is a stone container for a coffin or body. ...

Following in the tradition of the final pharaoh of the Fifth Dynasty, Unas and of his more immediate predecessors Teti, Pepi I and Merenre, the interior of Pepi II's pyramid is decorated with what has become known as the pyramid texts, magical spells designed to protect the dead. Well over 800 individual texts (known as "utterances") are known to exist, and Pepi II's contains 675 such utterances, the most in any one place. The Fifth Dynasty of Egypt is considered part of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. ... Unas (also Wenis, Oenas, Unis, or Ounas) was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, the last king of the Fifth dynasty. ... Teti was the first Pharaoh of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ... Pepi I Meryre (reigned 2332 - 2283 BC) was the third king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ... Merenre Nemtyemsaf I (2283 - 2278 BC) was the fourth king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ... The Pyramid Texts are a collection of ancient Egyptian religious texts from the time of the Old Kingdom, mostly inscriptions on the walls of pyramids. ...

It is thought that this pyramid complex was completed no later than the thirtieth year of Pepi II's reign. No notable funerary constructions of note happened again for at least 30, and possibly as long as 60 years, due indirectly to the king's incredibly long reign. This meant there was a significant generational break for the trained stonecutters, masons, and engineers who had no major state project to work on and to pass along their practical skills. This may help explain why no major pyramid projects were undertaken by the subsequent regional kings of Herakleopolis during the First Intermediate Period. Herakleopolis Magna is the Greek name of the capital of the Twentieth nome of ancient Egypt. ... The First Intermediate Period is the name conventionally given by Egyptologists to that period in Ancient Egyptian history between the end of the Old Kingdom and the advent of the Middle Kingdom. ...

Excavation

The complex was first investigated by John Shae Perring, but it was Gaston Maspero who entered it first in 1881. Gustav Jequier investigated in detail between 1926 and 1932. John Shae Perring (1813 - 1869) was a British engineer, anthropologist and Egyptologist. ... Gaston Camille Charles Maspero (June 23, 1846 - June 30, 1916), French Egyptologist, was born in Paris, his parents being of Lombard origin. ... 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ...

Successors

There are no official contemporary records or inscriptions of Pepi's immediate successors, and for this reason in many books Pepi II is typically credited as being the last verifiable pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty and of the Old Kingdom.

However, according the Manetho and the Turin King List, he was succeeded by his son Merenre II, who reigned for just over a year. He in turn may have been succeeded by Nitocris, who was likely Merenre II's sister as well as wife. If she did in fact rule, she would be the first female ruler of Egypt. According to the story as told by Manetho, Merenre II was assassinated, and Nitocris saw to it that his murderers were punished prior to committing suicide. There is now considerable doubt in the academic community as to whether she in fact existed, given the paucity of physical evidence in such things as the various Kings Lists attesting to her rule. The Turin King List also known as the Turin Royal Canon, is a unique papyrus, written in hieratic, currently in the Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) at Turin, to which it owes its modern name. ... Nitocris, also known as Nitiqret, was the last Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. ... The Turin King List also known as the Turin Royal Canon, is a unique papyrus, written in hieratic, currently in the Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum) at Turin, to which it owes its modern name. ...

This was the end of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, a prelude to the roughly 200-year span of Egyptian history known as the First Intermediate Period. The First Intermediate Period is the name conventionally given by Egyptologists to that period in Ancient Egyptian history between the end of the Old Kingdom and the advent of the Middle Kingdom. ...

See also

Pharaoh (Hebrew ×¤Ö¼Ö·×¨Ö°×¢Ö¹×” (without niqqud: ×¤×¨×¢×”), Standard Hebrew ParÊ¿o, Tiberian Hebrew ParÊ¿Åh, Arabic ÙØ±Ø¹ÙˆÙ†) is a title used to refer to the kings (of godly status) in ancient Egypt. ... This article contains a list of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, from the Early Dynastic Period before 3000 BC through to the end of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, when Egypt became a province of Rome under Augustus Caesar in 30 BC. It should be noted that there are two women rulers... The Sixth Dynasty of Egypt is considered by many authorities as the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, although The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (ed. ...

External links

References

Merenre Nemtyemsaf I (2283 - 2278 BC) was the fourth king of the Sixth dynasty of Egypt. ... Pharaoh (Hebrew ×¤Ö¼Ö·×¨Ö°×¢Ö¹×” (without niqqud: ×¤×¨×¢×”), Standard Hebrew ParÊ¿o, Tiberian Hebrew ParÊ¿Åh, Arabic ÙØ±Ø¹ÙˆÙ†) is a title used to refer to the kings (of godly status) in ancient Egypt. ... The Sixth Dynasty of Egypt is considered by many authorities as the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, although The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (ed. ... Menrenre Antyemsaf II was possibly briefly Pharaoh of Egypt. ... Nitocris, also known as Nitiqret, was the last Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. ...

Categories: Pharaohs Download high resolution version (500x878, 30 KB)The original image was created by Ihcoyc who said: An ankh. ... The following is a list of Ancient Egyptian people. ... Download high resolution version (500x878, 30 KB)The original image was created by Ihcoyc who said: An ankh. ... 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 civilisation in the Nile Valley (the... Front and Back Sides of the Narmer Palette Narmer was an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled in the 32nd century BC. The successor of Serket, he is considered by some to be the founder of the First dynasty. ... This article is under dispute for accuracy. ... Netjerikhet Djoser (Turin King List Dsr-it; Manetho Tosarthros) is the best-known pharaoh of the Third dynasty of Egypt, for commissioning his vizier Imhotep to build his Step Pyramid at Saqqara. ... Sneferu, also spelt as Snefru or Snofru (in Greek known as Soris), was the founder of the Fourth dynasty of Egypt, reigning from around 2613 BC to 2589 BC. The father of Egypts most famous pyramid builder, Khufu, Sneferu was actually more prolific than his heir, being responsible first... The name Khufu can refer to: Khufu (pharaoh), an Egyptian pharaoh Khufu (cipher), a block cipher. ... Khafra (Greek Chephren) was an Egyptian pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty, with his capital at Memphis. ... Menkaura (Greek Mycerinus) was a pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty of Egypt (ca. ... The Middle Kingdom is: a old name for China a period in the History of Ancient Egypt, the Middle Kingdom of Egypt This is a disambiguation page â€” a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... nomen or birth name Nebhotepre Mentuhotep II was a Pharaoh of the 11th dynasty, the son of Intef III of Egypt and a minor queen called Iah. ... nomen or birth name Nebtawyre Mentuhotep IV was the last king of the 11th Dynasty. ... nomen or birth name Senusret III was a pharaoh of Egypt. ... nomen or birth name Amenemhat III (ca. ... nomen or birth name Sobekneferu (sometimes written as Nefrusobek) was the Egyptian queen of the Twelfth dynasty who ruled without a king. ... The New Kingdom is the period in Egyptian history between the 16th century BCE and the 11th century BCE, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of Egypt. ... A statue of Hatshepsut commissioned without the false beard. ... nomen or birth name Granite statue of Pharaoh Thutmose III Thutmose III (also written as Tuthmosis III; called Manahpi(r)ya in the Amarna letters) (d. ... Amenhotep III, Ägyptisches Museum, Berlin The northern Colossus of Memnon Amenhotep III (called Nibmu(`w)areya in the Amarna letters) was an Egyptian pharaoh of the XVIIIth dynasty. ... Bust of Pharaoh Akhenaten. ... The mask of Tutankhamuns mummy, now a popular icon for all things ancient Egypt. ... nomen or birth name Menpehtyre Ramesses I was the founding Pharaoh of Egypts 19th dynasty. ... Ramesses II, Abu Simbel Ramesses II (also known as Ramesses the Great and alternatively transcribed as Ramses and Rameses) was an Egyptian pharaoh. ... Psammetichus, or Psamtik I, was the first of three kings of the Saite, or Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt (664 - 610 BC). ... nomen or birth name Shoshenq I (or Sheshonk I â€“ for discussion of the spelling, see Shoshenq; Egyptian Å¡Å¡nq], was a Meshwesh Libyan king of Egypt and founder of the Twenty-second Dynasty. ... Piye (whose name once was transliterated as Piankhi) (d. ... Taharqa (also spelled Tirhakah, Taharka, Manethos Tarakos) was king of Egypt, and a member of the Nubian or 25th dynasty, whose reign is usually dated 690 BC to 664 BC. He was also the son of Piye, the Nubian king of Napata who previously conquered Egypt. ... Ptolemy I Soter (367 BCâ€“283 BC) was the ruler of Egypt (323 BC - 283 BC) and founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. ... Egyptian statue of Cleopatra VII Cleopatra VII Philopator (ÎšÎ»ÎµÎ¿Ï€Î¬Ï„ÏÎ± Î¸ÎµÎ¬ Ï†Î¹Î»Î¿Ï€Î¬Ï„Ï‰Ï, December, 70 BC or January, 69 BCâ€“August 12?, 30 BC) was queen of ancient Egypt. ... Tetisheri was the matriarch of the Egyptian royal family of the late 17th Dynasty and early 18th Dynasty. ... Queen Ahmose-Nefertari of Egypt was the sister-wife of Egypts Pharaoh King Ahmose I. She had two children-Amenhotep I and Aahhotep II, who wed each other and had the Princess Aahmes. ... Queen Ahmose was the mother of Hatshepsut of Egypt. ... Tiy (c. ... Nefertiti was the wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep IV (later Akhenaten), and mother-in-law of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun. ... Ankhesenpaaten, a. ... A picture of Nefertari taken in her Abou Simbel temple. ... Bust of Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (Latin: MÂ·ANTONIVSÂ·MÂ·FÂ·MÂ·NÂ¹) (ca. ... Headline text Imhotep, the one who comes in peace Imhotep (sometimes spelt Immutef, È¦mhotep, or Ii-em-Hotep, Egyptian ii-m-á¸¥tp) was a vizier, wizard, and the first architect and physician known by name to written history. ... Weni was a court official of the 6th dynasty of Ancient Egypt. ... Ahmose, son of Ebana served in the Egyptian military under the pharaohs; Tao II Seqenenre, Ahmose, Amenhotep I, and Thutmose I. His autobiography has survived intact on the wall of his tomb and has proven a valuable source of information on the late 17th Dynasty and the early 18th Dynasty. ... Ineni was an Ancient Egyptian architect and government official of the 18th Dynasty, responsible for major constructions under the pharaohs Amenhotep I, Thutmose I, Thutmose II, Hatshepsut, and Thutmose III. Ineni came from an aristocratic family and likely began his career as an architect under Amenhotep I. Amenhotep I commissioned... Senemut was an 18th dynasty Ancient Egyptian architect and government official. ... An excavation assistant beside the 2. ... Maya was a the Treasurer during the reign of Pharaoh Tutankhamun of the Eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt. ... Yuny was an official through the reign of Ramesses II, in the 19th Dynasty, serving as chief scribe of the court, the overseer of priests, and royal steward. ... Manetho or Manethon of Sebennytos, (ca. ... Potheinus (early 1st Century BC - 48 or 47 BC) was regent for Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Ancient Egypt. ...

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