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Sixth Dynasty of Egypt

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Tomb Relief of Iny
Periods and dynasties of ancient Egypt
All years are BC
Early
Pre-dynastic period
First Dynasty I c. 3150–2890
Second Dynasty II 2890–2686
Old Kingdom
Third Dynasty III 2686–2613
Fourth Dynasty IV 2613–2498
Fifth Dynasty V 2498–2345
Sixth Dynasty VI 2345–2181
First Intermediate
Seventh Dynasty VII spurious
Eighth Dynasty VIII 2181–2160
Ninth Dynasty IX 2160–2130
Tenth Dynasty X 2130–2040
Early Eleventh Dynasty XI 2134–2061
Middle Kingdom
Late Eleventh Dynasty XI 2061–1991
Twelfth Dynasty XII 1991–1803
Thirteenth Dynasty XIII 1803–1649
Second Intermediate
Fourteenth Dynasty XIV 1705–1690
Fifteenth Dynasty (Hyksos) XV 1674–1535
Sixteenth Dynasty XVI 1660–1600
Abydos Dynasty 1650–1600
Seventeenth Dynasty XVII 1580–1549
New Kingdom
Eighteenth Dynasty XVIII 1549–1292
Nineteenth Dynasty XIX 1292–1189
Twentieth Dynasty XX 1189–1077
Third Intermediate
Twenty-first Dynasty XXI 1069–945
Twenty-second Dynasty XXII 945–720
Twenty-third Dynasty XXIII 837–728
Twenty-fourth Dynasty XXIV 732–720
Twenty-fifth Dynasty (Nubian) XXV 732–653
Late Period
Twenty-sixth Dynasty XXVI 672–525
XXVII 525–404
Twenty-eighth Dynasty XXVIII 404–398
Twenty-ninth Dynasty XXIX 398–380
Thirtieth Dynasty XXX 380–343
XXXI 343–332
Hellenistic Egypt
Thirty-second Dynasty XXXII 332–305
Thirty-third Dynasty XXXIII 305–30
Roman Egypt
XXXIV 30 BC – 313 AD
Byzantine Egypt
XXXV 379 AD – 641 AD

The Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty VI) is often combined with Dynasties III, IV and V under the group title the Old Kingdom.

Pharaohs

Known pharaohs of the Sixth Dynasty are as follows (the absolute dates given are suggestions rather than facts, as the error margin amounts to tens of years)[citation needed] The pharaohs of this dynasty ruled for approximately 164 years. The Horus names and names of the Queens are taken from Dodson and Hilton.[1]

Dynasty VI pharaohs
Name of King Horus (Throne) Name Date Pyramid Queen(s)
Teti Seheteptawy 2345 – 2333 BC Pyramid of Teti at Saqqara Khent(kaus III)
Iput I
Khuit
Userkare 2333 – 2331 BC
Pepi I Nefersahor/Merenre 2331 – 2287 BC Pyramid of Pepi I in South Saqqara Ankhesenpepi I
Ankhesenpepi II
Nubwenet
Meritites IV
Inenek-Inti
Mehaa
Nedjeftet
Merenre I Merenre 2287 – 2278 BC Pyramid of Merenre in South Saqqara Ankhesenpepi II
Pepi II Neferkare 2278 – 2184 BC Pyramid of Pepi II in South Saqqara Neith
Iput II
Ankhesenpepi III
Ankhesenpepi IV
Udjebten
Merenre II Merenre 2184 BC
Netjerkare Siptah 2184 – 2181 BC

Dynasty VI is considered by many authorities as the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom, although The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt [2] includes Dynasties VII and VIII as part of the Old Kingdom. Manetho writes that these kings ruled from Memphis, since their pyramids were built at Saqqara, very close one to another.[3]

Teti

Dynasty VI was founded by Teti, who had married Iput, commonly believed to be the daughter of the Dynasty V pharaoh Unas. Manetho claimed that Teti was eventually murdered by his own bodyguard, but no contemporary sources confirm this.[4]

Pepi I

During this dynasty, expeditions were sent to Wadi Maghara in the Sinai Peninsula to mine for turquoise and copper, as well as to the mines at Hatnub and Wadi Hammamat. The pharaoh Djedkara sent trade expeditions south to Punt and north to Byblos, and Pepi I sent expeditions not only to these locations, but also as far as Ebla in modern-day Syria.

Pepi II

The most notable member of this dynasty was Pepi II, who is credited with a reign of 94 years,[5] one of the longest of any monarch in history.

Nitiqret

Also known by the Greek name Nitocris, this woman is believed by some authorities to have been not only the first female pharaoh but the first queen in the world, although it is currently accepted that her name is actually a mistranslation of the king Neitiqerty Siptah.

The rise of the nobility

With the growing number of biographical inscriptions in non-royal tombs,[6] our knowledge of the contemporary history broadens.[7] For example, we hear of an unsuccessful plot against Pepy I.[8] We also read a letter written by the young king Pepy II, excited that one of his expeditions will return with a dancing pygmy from the land of Yam, located to the south of Nubia.[9]

These non-royal tomb inscriptions are but one example of the growing power of the nobility, which further weakened the absolute rule of the king. As a result, it is believed that on the death of the long-lived Pepy II his vassals were entrenched enough to resist the authority of his many successors, which may have contributed to the rapid decline of the Old Kingdom.

References

  1. ^ Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. The American University in Cairo Press, London 2004
  2. ^ Ian Shaw ed., The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2000
  3. ^ Sir Alan Gardiner, Egypt of the Pharaohs, Oxford University Press 1964, p. 91
  4. ^ Naguib Kanawati, Conspiracies in the Egyptian Palace: Unis to Pepy I, Routledge 2003, p.157
  5. ^ Ian Shaw, The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Oxford University Press 2000, p.116
  6. ^ J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part One, Chicago 1906, §§282-390
  7. ^ Ian Shaw, The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Oxford University Press 2000, p.115
  8. ^ J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part One, Chicago 1906, §310
  9. ^ J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part One, Chicago 1906, §§350-354
Preceded by Dynasty of Egypt
c. 2345 – 2181 BC 		Succeeded by
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