HISTORY 26

Lecture Nine:

The End of the Old Kingdomand the

First Intermediate Period

The Pyramids at Giza(c. 2589 - 2503 BC)

Menkaura (Mycerinus, HorusKakhet, 2532 - 2503 BC)

The Old KingdomDynasties 5 and 6 (2494 -

2181 BC)5th Dynasty (2494 -

2345)

UserkafSahuraNeferirkaraShepseskaraRaneferefNyuserraMenkauhorDjedkaraUnas

6th Dynasty (2345 - 2181)

TetiUserkara (a usurper)Pepy I (Meryra)MerenraPepy II (Neferkara)Nitiqret

Ancient Egypt

Abusir and North Saqqara

Nyuserra (Iny, Horus Setibtawy, 2445 - 2421 BC)

Unas (Horus Wadj-tawy,2375 - 2345 BC)

Unas (Horus Wadj-tawy,2375 - 2345 BC)

Pyramid Texts– Spells for the

afterlife– Osiris Unas

Osiris, God of the Dead

Set Isis and Nephthys

Old Kingdom Administration Developed out of

the organization of the royal house– Tjaty, ‘vizier’– ‘King’s son’ and

‘Royal sandal-bearer’

Hints of complexity– ‘State granary

official’, ‘State treasurer’, and ‘Overseer of the great courts’

Nomes and Nomarchs(Greek, nomos; Egyptian,

sepat)

The Old KingdomDynasties 6 - 8 (2345 - 2160

BC)6th Dynasty (2345 -

2181)

TetiUserkara (a usurper)Pepy I (Meryra)MerenraPepy II (Neferkara)Nitiqret

7th and 8th Dynasties (2181 - 2160)

Numerous kings called Neferkara, presumably in imitation of Pepy II

The Decline of the Old Kingdom

The plot against Pepy I Marriage politics in the royal court

– Ankhnes-meryra (‘King Meryra [Pepy I] lives for her’)

– Khui of Abydos The boy-kings, Merenra and Pepy

II– Growth in the power and influence of

local administrators

The First Intermediate Period

Dynasties 9 and 10 (2160 - 2055 BC)9th and 10th Dynasties:

Herakleopolitan (2160 - 2025)

Khety (Meryibra)Khety (Nebkaura)Khety (Wahkara)Merykara

11th Dynasty: Thebes only (2125 - 2055)

[Mentuhotep I]Intef I (Sehertawy)Intef II (Wahankh)Intef III

(Nakhtnebtepnefer)

Ancient Egypt