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Fifth Dynasty of Egypt

The pyramid of Unas at Saqqara
The pyramid of Unas at Saqqara
Capital Memphis
Common languages Egyptian language
Religion
ancient Egyptian religion
Government Absolute monarchy
Pharaoh  
• 7–8 years (first)
Userkaf
• 13 years
Sahure
• c. 10 years
Neferirkare Kakai
Historical era Old Kingdom of Egypt
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Fourth Dynasty of Egypt
Sixth Dynasty of Egypt

The Fifth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty V) is often combined with Dynasties III, IV and VI under the group title the Old Kingdom. The Fifth Dynasty pharaohs reigned for approximately 150 years, from the early 25th century BC until the mid 24th century BC.

Chronology

The Fifth Dynasty of Egypt is a group of nine kings ruling Egypt for approximately 150 years in the 25th and 24th centuries BC. The relative succession of kings is not entirely secured as there are contradictions between historical sources and archaeological evidence regarding the reign of the shadowy Shepseskare.

Rulers

Known rulers in the Fifth Dynasty are listed below. Manetho assigns 248 years of rule to the Fifth Dynasty; however, the pharaohs of this dynasty more probably ruled for approximately 150 years. This estimate varies between both scholar and source. The Horus names and most names of the queens are taken from Dodson and Hilton.

Dynasty V pharaohs
Name of King Horus (throne) Name Images Estimated reign duration Pyramid Queen(s)
Userkaf Irimaat By ovedc - Egyptian Museum (Cairo) - 046 (cropped).jpg 7 years Pyramid in Saqqara Khentkaus I ?
Neferhetepes
Sahure Nebkhau SahureAndNomeGod-CloseUpOfSahure MetropolitanMuseum.png 13 years, 5 months and 12 days Pyramid in Abusir Meretnebty
Neferirkare Kakai Neferirkare Neferirkare Kakai 2.png 20 years Pyramid in Abusir Khentkaus II
Neferefre Neferkhau Neferefre 2.jpg 2 to 3 years Unfinished Pyramid of Neferefre in Abusir Khentkaus III ?
Shepseskare Shepseskare Shepseskare Cylinder Seal.png Likely a few months Possibly in Abusir
Nyuserre Ini Nyuserre Niuserre Double Statue.jpg 24 to 35 years Pyramid in Abusir Reptynub
Menkauhor Kaiu Menkauhor Menkauhor CG 40.jpg 8 or 9 years "Headless Pyramid" in Saqqara Meresankh IV?
Djedkare Isesi Djedkare Berlin 122009 036 b.jpg 33 to more than 44 years Pyramid in Saqqara Setibhor
Unas Wadjtawy Ounas-chambre2.jpg 15 to 30 years Pyramid in Saqqara Nebet
Khenut

Manetho writes that the Dynasty V kings ruled from Elephantine, but archeologists have found evidence clearly showing that their palaces were still located at Ineb-hedj ("White Walls").

As before, expeditions were sent to Wadi Maghareh and Wadi Kharit in the Sinai to mine for turquoise and copper, and to quarries northwest of Abu Simbel for gneiss. Trade expeditions were sent south to Punt to obtain malachite, myrrh, and electrum, and archeological finds at Byblos attest to diplomatic expeditions sent to that Phoenician city. Finds bearing the names of several Dynasty V kings at the site of Dorak, near the Sea of Marmara, may be evidence of trade but remain a mystery.

Userkaf

How Pharaoh Userkaf founded this dynasty is not known for certain. The Westcar Papyrus, which was written during the Middle Kingdom, tells a story of how king Khufu of Dynasty IV was given a prophecy that triplets born to the wife of the priest of Ra in Sakhbu would overthrow him and his heirs, and how he attempted to put these children – named Userkaf, Sahure, and Neferirkare – to death; however in recent years, scholars have recognized this story to be at best a legend and admit their ignorance over how the transition from one dynasty to another transpired.

During this dynasty, Egyptian religion made several important changes. The earliest known copies of funerary prayers inscribed on royal tombs (known as the Pyramid Texts) appear. The cult of the god Ra gains added importance, and kings from Userkaf through Menkauhor Kaiu built temples dedicated to Ra at or near Abusir. Then late in this dynasty, the cult of the deity Osiris assumes importance, most notably in the inscriptions found in the tomb of Unas.

Djedkare Isesi

Amongst non-royal Egyptians of this time, Ptahhotep, vizier to Djedkare Isesi, won fame for his wisdom; The Maxims of Ptahhotep was ascribed to him by its later copyists. Non-royal tombs were also decorated with inscriptions, like the royal ones, but instead of prayers or incantations, biographies of the deceased were written on the walls.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dinastía V de Egipto para niños

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