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Pepi II - an Unusually Long Reign
Associated to Place: AncientWorlds > Egypt > Lower: White Wall > Mennefer > Saqqara > articles -- by * Mirjam Nebet (118 Articles), General Article
Pepi II is known as the longest reigning pharaoh in the history of Egypt; perhaps as long as 94 years, which might sound a bit drastic.

Pepi II
South of the pyramids of Merenre and Djedkare-Isesi is the Pyramid of Neferkare Pepi II, 6th Dynasty. He is known for his long reign, he accended the throne when he was only 6 years old and was acknowledged as a ruler already at this time. It is from this period that the story of the pygmy originates. It tells of how Harkuf, a noble and a caravan leader, made several expeditions into the lands south of the 1st cataract to collect elephant tusks, ebony and other precious things. Once he also brought back a pygmy, which caused they young Pepi to issue orders that Harkuf was to the court at once. This was the most precious of all things he had brought back.

The reign of Pepi II was counted to 94 years if the scribe who noted it didn´t confuse the numbers 64 and 94, which is very similar in hieratic script. Egyptologists are uncertain of which is correct of these. This long reign is thought by some to be responsible for the decline of the state of Egypt. Pepi II married several times, as most of the kings did. Some of the wifes were his half-sister and cousin Neith, and his niece Ipwet, daughter of his brother Merenre. Around his mortuary complex were three smaller pyramids for the queens, each with its own pyramid, chapel, mortuary temple and even satellite pyramids.

The whole mortuary complex, including the pyramid, valley temple and causeway, was surrounded by a thick enclosure wall. The ancient name of the pyramid complex is 'Pepi is Established and Living'. It was built in five steps which were filled in and covered with a smooth casing. At the northern side of the pyramid was a chapel with the entrance into the pyramid, a sloping corridor covered in granite. A knife or spatula of gold and fragments of alabaster and diorite vessels were found here. The corridor first lead to an outer room, then continued without sloping to the inner rooms. These were an antechamber, the burial chamber and storerooms. Both the antechamber and the burial chamber had saddled roofs of heavy limestone beams. In both rooms the Pyramid Texts decorated the walls while the ceiling was covered with stars. At the farthest end of the burial chamber, the sarcophagus made of black granite had the king´s titles. There was also a false door. The whole complex, including the Valley Temple and Causeway was surrounded by an unusually thick enclosure wall.

The Valley Temple and the Causeway
. The causeway was long and winding, and the Valley Temple had a wide facade towards the quay with stairs at the sides leading down to the quay and its ramps. There was a doorway with red granite lining, leading into a small room with eight rectangular columns holding up the roof. The depictions on the walls showed the king being received by the gods. Behind were two identical halls, with magazines on both sides. These halls, or rooms led out to the causeway which led up to the mortuary temple between two thick pylons. There was an entrance hall leading into a court with colums made of quartzite all around. Also here were magazines and storerooms at the sides.

The depictions on the walls of the court are almost a copy of the ones at Sahure´s mortuary complex, dyn 5. There is also a long, transverse hall which is decorated with images of the Heb Sed Jubilee (The king´s 30th year of reign). Behind this hall were a chamber with five niches for cult statues, a vestibule and an offering chapel. Also here were storerooms.
Sources:
Who´s Who in Ancient Egypt - Michael Rice
The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt - Aidan Dodson
Chronicles of the Pharaohs - Peter A. Clayton
Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt - John Baines & Jaromir Malek
Three very good links also used as sources:
Saqqara Online
Egyptsites
Touregypt

Palace of the Empress of the Known Universe
~ Table of Contents ~
Early Claim
Thessalonike The Tragic Queen
Icelandic History
The Althingi
Byzantium before Constantine: The Greco-Roman City, 658 BCE - 330 CE
Odin's lament
A FATEFUL CHARIOT RACE: The STORY of PELOPS and OENOMAUS
The Thanatos from Ephesus
The Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara
The Unas Pyramid and Surroundings.
Mastabas in the Vicinity of Unas Pyramid
Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep - Royal Manicurists and Prophets of Re.
Horemheb and His Contemporaries
Pepi I and His Consorts
The Last Royal Tombs of the Old Kingdom
Northern Saqqara - The Pyramids of Teti and Queens
Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Mereruka, His Wife & Son
Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Kagemni
Benu of Iunu - The Prototype Phoenix
The Ennead of Iunu I: Where Gods Were Born
The Ennead of Iunu II: The Foundation for Religious Life
History of Devon
Northern Saqqara III: The Tomb of Ankhmahor
Northern Saqqara IV: The Tomb of Akhethotep & Ptahotep
Northern Saqqara V: The Mastaba of Ti
Northern Saqqara VI: Early Dynastic & 3rd Dynastic Tombs
Northern Saqqara VII: The Serapeum
Northern Saqqara VII: Other Animal Burials
Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt I
Lady of Philae, Lady of Abaton
Styles of House in Ancient Egypt II
Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt III
Aset in Festival
Calendar of Festivals of Aset
Posted May 23, 2006 - 10:24 , Last Edited: May 23, 2006 - 10:34











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