Speaker 1: Chapter two of History of Egypt. This is a LibriVox recording.
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Speaker 1: by Rick VENA History of Egypt by F. C. H. Wendel,
Speaker 1: Chapter two The Old Empire from the union of the
Speaker 1: Upper and Lower countries to the close of the sixth
Speaker 1: Dynasty about thirty two hundred through twenty four hundred BC.
Speaker 1: Section one the First Dynasty Mayna thirty two hundred BC.
Speaker 1: The great king who first united Upper and Lower Egypt
Speaker 1: into one country, lived not later than thirty two hundred
Speaker 1: b C. How many years earlier he lived, we have
Speaker 1: no means of saying. He may have lived five hundred
Speaker 1: or even a thousand years earlier, But until we can
Speaker 1: assign him an accurately correct date, it is best to
Speaker 1: retain the one here given. Naturally, he occupies a high
Speaker 1: place in Egyptian tradition, being regarded as the first human
Speaker 1: king of the country. His birthplace was the small town
Speaker 1: of Tenny, Greek, this near Abydos. This town was, not, however,
Speaker 1: favorably located for the capital of a great empire. Somna
Speaker 1: left it and moved the seat of the government to
Speaker 1: the city of Memphis, which lay on the Nile, a
Speaker 1: little to the south of the apex of the Delta.
Speaker 1: This city was the home of the god Ta, who
Speaker 1: thus became the official head of the Egyptian pantheon. The
Speaker 1: site of this city was on the left bank of
Speaker 1: the Nile, a little above the modern city of Cairo,
Speaker 1: at the modern village of Mitraheen. A few mounds of
Speaker 1: rubbish and some scattered ruins still mark the place where
Speaker 1: once stood one of the greatest and richest cities of
Speaker 1: all antiquity. The Egyptian name of the city was Menapher,
Speaker 1: the good or beautiful abode, from which the Greek name
Speaker 1: Memphis by which we designate the city was derived. Every
Speaker 1: city of ancient Egypt had two names, a common or
Speaker 1: profane name and a sacred name, derived either from the
Speaker 1: name of its god or from some mythological event located
Speaker 1: at it. The sacred name of Menapher was Hetka Ta,
Speaker 1: the abode of the spirit of Ta. It was defended
Speaker 1: by a citadel called Ambuhitch the White Wall. The city
Speaker 1: itself was probably far older than the time of Mena,
Speaker 1: but in transferring the capital to it. The king naturally
Speaker 1: greatly enlarged it and came to be considered first its
Speaker 1: benefactor and later on its founder. What we know of
Speaker 1: this king has come to us through the Greek historians
Speaker 1: and Manetho. All that is usually a scribed to the
Speaker 1: founders of empire is ascribed to him. The legends related
Speaker 1: of him are mostly absurd. He is said to have
Speaker 1: founded the Temple of ta At Memphis, which was the
Speaker 1: first Egyptian temple, to have first organized the temple ritual,
Speaker 1: and to have introduced the cult of the APIs Bull,
Speaker 1: all of which stories are alike incredible. As above noted,
Speaker 1: Memphis and its cult existed long before Mena's time. He
Speaker 1: is also said to have invented the alphabet. The most
Speaker 1: absurd story is that told by Diadorus, who relates that
Speaker 1: the king had once upon a time, when pursued by
Speaker 1: his own hounds, fled into Lake Maurus, and had been
Speaker 1: brought to shore by a crocodile, and, ingratitude for this rescue,
Speaker 1: he had built Crocodilopolis on the lake shore, had instituted
Speaker 1: the crocodile cult, and given over the lake to these Saurians.
Speaker 1: Then he had built a pyramid here for his tomb,
Speaker 1: and had founded the celebrated labyrinth. In reality, the lake
Speaker 1: did not yet exist in these early times, having been
Speaker 1: built by Amenhetep the Third, almost two thousand years later Crocodilopolis.
Speaker 1: The pyramid and the labyrinth were built by this same pharaoh. Footnote.
Speaker 1: The word pharaoh, which was taken over into the modern
Speaker 1: languages from the Bible, is derived from the Egyptian word pereea.
Speaker 1: The great house, a common designation of the king and footnote.
Speaker 1: Almost as absurd is the legend that he was an
Speaker 1: effeminate king devoted to the pleasures of the table, and
Speaker 1: had first taught his subjects to take a reclining posture
Speaker 1: while eating. In the first place, founders of empire are
Speaker 1: not made of such stuff, and in the second place,
Speaker 1: the custom in Egypt was not to recline, but to
Speaker 1: sit at table. The king is also represented as a
Speaker 1: patron of poets. More trustworthy is what Manetho tells us
Speaker 1: of this king. He was a mighty warrior who campaigned
Speaker 1: in Libya and was killed by a hippopotamus. This agrees
Speaker 1: well with what we would expect of a founder of empire.
Speaker 1: He was a warlike ruler and was killed while hunting.
Speaker 1: According to Manetho, he ruled about sixty years. Teta, whom
Speaker 1: the Greek writers called Atathus the First, succeeded Mena. According
Speaker 1: to the extract from Manetho made by Africanus, he ruled
Speaker 1: fifty seven years. According to that made by Eusebius, he
Speaker 1: reigned only twenty seven. Manetho relates that he built a
Speaker 1: citadel of Memphis and wrote a work on anatomy. This
Speaker 1: latter notice is to some extent confirmed by a passage
Speaker 1: of the medical papyrus Ebers, in which a hair restorer
Speaker 1: is said to have been invented by Shesh, the mother
Speaker 1: of our ruler. A two headed crane is said to
Speaker 1: have appeared in his reign, a phenomenon that presaged a
Speaker 1: long period of prosperity of Atte Atathus the second, whom
Speaker 1: Manetho called Cancnnies. Nothing is known beyond the fact that
Speaker 1: he ruled thirty two years. In the reign of Attah
Speaker 1: the Oenephaes of Manetho, who ruled twenty three years, a
Speaker 1: great famine prevailed in Egypt. He is said to have
Speaker 1: erected a pyramid at Cochome near Sakara. Hesepti the usa
Speaker 1: Faides of Manetho, who ruled twenty years, is quite a
Speaker 1: literary character among these kings. A remedy for leprosy, which
Speaker 1: was afterward copied in a medical papyrus preserved in Berlin,
Speaker 1: and in the papyrus Ebers, is said to date from
Speaker 1: his reign. Numerous copies of the sixty fourth chapter of
Speaker 1: the Book of the Dead assert that this chapter was
Speaker 1: discovered in his reign and not in that of Myceerenos,
Speaker 1: while all copies agree that the one hundred and thirtieth
Speaker 1: chapter dates from this reign. Merbapin the Miebidos of Manetho
Speaker 1: reigned nineteen years. He must have been quite an important ruler,
Speaker 1: for the list of kings discovered at Sakara begins with
Speaker 1: his name. Sementa. The Semempsis of Manetho ruled eighteen years.
Speaker 1: It is related that many miracles took place in his
Speaker 1: reign and that a great plague almost depopulated the land
Speaker 1: of Kebhu. The Bienchies of Manetho we know only that
Speaker 1: he ruled twenty six years. Section two. The second dynasty Nedderbaou,
Speaker 1: the ret Ja'ou of the list of kings found at Abydos.
Speaker 1: The Boethos of Manetho reigned thirty eight years. Manetho relates
Speaker 1: that during his reign an earthquake at Bubastis swallowed up
Speaker 1: many people. Kakahu, the Kaichos of Manetho, reigned twenty nine years.
Speaker 1: According to Manetho, he introduced the cult of the APIs
Speaker 1: bull at Memphis, that of the Meneves Bull at Heliopolis,
Speaker 1: and that of the ram at Mendes. This legend is
Speaker 1: incredible and unhistorical. These cults were all as old as
Speaker 1: the cities in which they were practiced, and antedated the
Speaker 1: union of the two countries by many centuries. Bah and Neter,
Speaker 1: whom Manetho calls Benathrus, reigned forty seven years. He seems
Speaker 1: to have been an important lawgiver. If we can credit
Speaker 1: the account of Manetho, it was this pharaoh who first
Speaker 1: legalized the succession in the female line. This was of
Speaker 1: great importance throughout the course of Egyptian history, for according
Speaker 1: to this law, a woman could sit on the Egyptian throne,
Speaker 1: and many a dynasty based its right to the throne
Speaker 1: on the law of female succession of watchness. The Thlas
Speaker 1: of Manetho, we know only that he reigned seventeen years. Scent,
Speaker 1: called Sethhanus by Manetho, who ruled forty one years, is
Speaker 1: said to have revised a medical treatise written in the
Speaker 1: reign of Hessepti Perabsen, possibly the Chayras of Manetho reigned
Speaker 1: seventeen years. Nephrikara, the Nefercheres of Manetho, is said to
Speaker 1: have ruled twenty five years under him. Manetho says the
Speaker 1: Nile ran honey for eleven days. Maspero, following Mariette, places
Speaker 1: in this dynasty some monuments which are certainly older than
Speaker 1: the times of the Fourth dynasty. They are few in number,
Speaker 1: but show certain striking peculiarities which prove that they belong together.
Speaker 1: But we cannot fully verify this very plausible hypothesis until
Speaker 1: we have more of these monuments. For the present, it
Speaker 1: is certainly better not to ascribe them to any particular period,
Speaker 1: but to say merely that they are older than the
Speaker 1: times of the Fourth dynasty. The same may be said
Speaker 1: of the great Sphinx of Giza, the age of which
Speaker 1: is unknown. Section three the third dynasty. How the second
Speaker 1: dynasty came to an end and the third ascended the
Speaker 1: throne we do not know. In fact, our knowledge of
Speaker 1: the first three dynasties is limited to the names of
Speaker 1: the rulers and a few legends. Nephrkasokar was the first
Speaker 1: king of this dynasty. Manetho calls him Nacherofas and ascribes
Speaker 1: to him a reign of twenty eight years. The same
Speaker 1: historian relates that in this reign the Libyans revolted, but
Speaker 1: as the battle was about to begin, they became frightened
Speaker 1: at seeing the moon apparently greatly enlarged, and fled from
Speaker 1: the field. Tosorthos ruled twenty nine years. Manetho relates that
Speaker 1: he was a great builder and had perfected the system
Speaker 1: of writing. He was also a great physician, and for
Speaker 1: this reason had been identified with Asclepius by the Greeks.
Speaker 1: Of the other rulers of this dynasty we know only
Speaker 1: the Nameshoni, the last of these kings, the curferess of Manetho,
Speaker 1: who ruled twenty six years, was the immediate predecessor of
Speaker 1: kings Nephru, the founder of the fourth dynasty. Section four.
Speaker 1: The fourth dynasty the Pyramid Builders about twenty eight thirty
Speaker 1: through twenty seven hundred b C. Snphru twenty eight thirty
Speaker 1: through twenty eight o six b C. The founder of
Speaker 1: the fourth dynasty, ascended the throne about twenty eight thirty
Speaker 1: b C. The change of dynasty seems to have been
Speaker 1: peaceably accomplished. Papyrus Priests, the only text that refers to it, remarks, quote,
Speaker 1: then King Hoon he died, and King Snphru became a
Speaker 1: beneficent ruler over the entire land end quote. He is
Speaker 1: the first king from whose reign monuments have come down
Speaker 1: to us. He and his successors built for their tombs
Speaker 1: great pyramids, forming a line miles in length from Giza
Speaker 1: on the north to Meidoum on the south. King s Nephru,
Speaker 1: in all probability, is buried in the pyramid of Meidoum,
Speaker 1: about which lie the tombs of many of his courtiers.
Speaker 1: The Egyptian name of the pyramid was Cheh, its builder
Speaker 1: was Henka. Of historical events of this reign we know
Speaker 1: but little. A legendary papyrus preserved in Saint Petersburg tells
Speaker 1: of an incursion of the Asiatic Bedouins known as Amu.
Speaker 1: To guard against these inroads, a line of forts was
Speaker 1: established stretching across the Egyptian part of the Isthmus of Suez.
Speaker 1: This string of forts is frequently mentioned in the texts,
Speaker 1: and its official name anbu Heku Wall of the Princes,
Speaker 1: gave rise to the mistaken impression that the Egyptians had
Speaker 1: built a wall across their eastern frontier. One of these forts,
Speaker 1: named after King Snphru Aa s Nephru, is mentioned in
Speaker 1: the memoirs of a noble who lived over a thousand
Speaker 1: years later. But King s Nephrew is not content with
Speaker 1: repelling the inroads of the Asiatics. He was bent on
Speaker 1: enlarging his empire. On the Sinai Peninsula, there were located
Speaker 1: rich copper and malachite mines, which the Egyptians worked in
Speaker 1: very early times. Whether Snphru was the first king who
Speaker 1: opened these mines, or whether they had been opened to
Speaker 1: the Egyptians by some previous king, we do not undertake
Speaker 1: to say. But it is a fact that he is
Speaker 1: the first king of whom monuments have been found on
Speaker 1: the peninsula. Inscriptions at both of the great mining camps
Speaker 1: at butt El Kadem and Wadi Maghara tell of the
Speaker 1: king's campaigns against the Bedouins of the region, who were
Speaker 1: called Mentius satt and who seem to have seriously resented
Speaker 1: the encroachment of the Egyptians. They were, of course beaten,
Speaker 1: but could never be wholly subdued, and gave much trouble
Speaker 1: in later reigns. S Nephru died after a prosperous reign
Speaker 1: of twenty four years Chufu twenty eight o six through
Speaker 1: twenty seven eighty two b c. When s Nephru died,
Speaker 1: he left to his oldest son and successor a great
Speaker 1: and flourishing kingdom. This king is the Cheops of Herodotus.
Speaker 1: He is the builder of the largest of the three
Speaker 1: great pyramids of Giza, the measurements of which are sai
Speaker 1: of square base originally seven hundred sixty four feet at
Speaker 1: present seven hundred forty six feet perpendicular height originally four
Speaker 1: hundred eighty feet now four hundred fifty feet in height
Speaker 1: of slope originally six hundred eleven feet at present five
Speaker 1: hundred sixty eight feet. Inside of this great mass of
Speaker 1: solid masonry, there is the chamber in which the sarcophagus
Speaker 1: of the king was deposited. This chamber is approached by
Speaker 1: a series of narrow passages, which were after the sarcophagus
Speaker 1: was in place, blocked up in a very ingenious manner.
Speaker 1: The Egyptian name of this pyramid was Chouot. I may
Speaker 1: here mention some general facts which hold goods good For
Speaker 1: all the pyramids of Giza, each one had connected with
Speaker 1: it a funereal temple dedicated to the memory of the
Speaker 1: king buried in the pyramid. All of the pyramids were
Speaker 1: built as planned, a fact that the recent measurements of W.
Speaker 1: Flinders Petrie have demonstrated beyond a doubt. Thus the old
Speaker 1: theory that every king, when he ascended the throne, began
Speaker 1: a pyramid of moderate proportions and gradually enlarged it as
Speaker 1: he found he had the time is exploded. The reader
Speaker 1: will find a full expose of these facts in mister
Speaker 1: Petrie's admirable book The Pyramids and Temples of Giza. About
Speaker 1: each pyramid lay a number of smaller pyramids, probably the
Speaker 1: tombs of the members of the royal families, as well
Speaker 1: as the tombs of the nobles that had lived at
Speaker 1: the court. This king was a great builder. The temple
Speaker 1: of the lady of the pyramids, Isis, and the foundation
Speaker 1: of the temple of Hathor at Denderah are attributed to him.
Speaker 1: Two cities, Menate Chufu, the modern Minya north of Hermopolis,
Speaker 1: and Chufu Keebet bear his name. Like his predecessor, he
Speaker 1: was compelled to make a campaign against the Mentius satt
Speaker 1: on the Sinai Peninsula, who it seems had again begun
Speaker 1: to molest the Egyptian miners. The classical accounts of this
Speaker 1: king are all unreliable. Herodotus gives him a reign of
Speaker 1: fifty years, and Manetho says he reigned sixty three, while
Speaker 1: we know from the Turin Papyrus that he ruled only
Speaker 1: twenty four years. The classical historians would also have him
Speaker 1: appear as a great tyrant who closed the temples in
Speaker 1: order that the Egyptians might all labor continuously at his pyramid,
Speaker 1: and who, when money failed him, prostituted his own daughter
Speaker 1: in order to raise funds. The chief responsibility for these
Speaker 1: stories rests on Herodotus. Manetho attempts to reconcile history and
Speaker 1: legend by relating that the king, whom he calls Sophis
Speaker 1: had repented in his old age and had written a
Speaker 1: book that was regarded as sacred. Radidef twenty seven eighty
Speaker 1: two through twenty seven fifty nine b C, the son
Speaker 1: and successor of Chufu, who ruled twenty three years, did
Speaker 1: not build the pyramid. Why he departed from the custom
Speaker 1: begun by his two predecessors we cannot say. Perhaps the
Speaker 1: forces and resources of the kingdom were otherwise employed. We know, however,
Speaker 1: absolutely nothing of this comparatively long reign. Chafra twenty seven
Speaker 1: fifty eight through twenty seven fifty BC, the chefren of Herodotus,
Speaker 1: is the builder of the second Great Pyramid of Giza,
Speaker 1: the Egyptian name of which is O'er the Great One.
Speaker 1: This s pyramid is somewhat smaller than that of Chafra's father, Chufu,
Speaker 1: but it is still of respectable size. Its dimensions are
Speaker 1: length of side of square base originally seven hundred seven
Speaker 1: feet now six hundred ndred ninety feet, perpendicular height originally
Speaker 1: four hundred fifty four and one quarters feet now four
Speaker 1: hundred forty seven feet inclined height originally five hundred seventy
Speaker 1: two feet at present five hundred sixty three feet. Like
Speaker 1: all the other pyramids of Giza, this one is built
Speaker 1: of blocks of limestone taken from the quarries of Tura
Speaker 1: Egyptian name Roeu, in the hills on the east bank
Speaker 1: of the Nile opposite Memphis. All the pyramids were built
Speaker 1: so that their sides resembled the great steps, and then
Speaker 1: these steps were filled in with granite blocks, so placed
Speaker 1: that they formed a smooth, continuous, inclined surface. Part of
Speaker 1: this coating of granite is still left on the upper
Speaker 1: part of this pyramid. Before this pyramid, a little to
Speaker 1: the south of the Great Sphinx, there stands a large
Speaker 1: temple built of granite and alabaster, which was most probably
Speaker 1: erected at Chafra's order. The fact that it stands in
Speaker 1: front of his pyramid proves conclusively that it was built
Speaker 1: after that structure. In a well in the interior of
Speaker 1: this temple were found the fragments of nine exquisitely wrought
Speaker 1: diorite statues of the king. Seven of these are at
Speaker 1: present in the museum of Bulach, one of them being
Speaker 1: almost unharmed. How these statues got in the well we
Speaker 1: do not know. The temple itself is also a mystery.
Speaker 1: It may have been Schafra's funereal temple, but it may
Speaker 1: just as well have been erected to the sphinx, the
Speaker 1: image of Reharmachus, or to any other deity of him. Also,
Speaker 1: the classical historians relate that he was a great tyrant
Speaker 1: who systematically oppressed his subjects in order to be able
Speaker 1: to complete his great pyramid, but there is absolutely no
Speaker 1: foundation for these stories. He died after a reign of
Speaker 1: only eight years Mencare twenty seven forty nine through twenty
Speaker 1: seven twenty four b c. The Mysarinos of Herodotus succeeded Chafra.
Speaker 1: Herodotus tells us this pharaoh was celebrated for his great
Speaker 1: piety and righteousness, and the Egyptian monuments bear this out.
Speaker 1: They tell us that he sent out his son hord
Speaker 1: Death to inspect the temples of the land, and that
Speaker 1: while on this tour of inspection, the prince had discovered
Speaker 1: the sixty fourth chapter of the Book of the Dead
Speaker 1: at Hermopolis Schemunu. Some copies of the thirtieth chapter of
Speaker 1: the same compilation state that it also was found in
Speaker 1: this reign. Several later texts mention this prince. The celebrated
Speaker 1: Minstrel's song quotes one of his sayings and a letter
Speaker 1: written in the time of Rameses. The second speaks of
Speaker 1: the difficulty of understanding his writings. The story related by
Speaker 1: some Greek authors that the oracle of Bhutto had predicted
Speaker 1: to him that he would die young, and that he
Speaker 1: had consequently spent day and night in dissipation in order
Speaker 1: to double his life is utterly untrustworthy. His tomb is
Speaker 1: the third and smallest of the pyramids of Giza. Its
Speaker 1: dimensions are side of square base three hundred fifty four
Speaker 1: and a half feet perpendicular height originally two hundred eighteen
Speaker 1: feet now two hundred three feet, height of incline originally
Speaker 1: two hundred seventy eight feet now two hundred sixty one feet.
Speaker 1: The order to erect this structure and the account of
Speaker 1: the work are given in an unfortunately extremely mutilated inscription
Speaker 1: in one of the tombs of Giza. The name of
Speaker 1: the pyramid was Hairy. Although a systematic attempt to destroy
Speaker 1: this pyramid was made in eleven ninety six a d.
Speaker 1: It is the best preserved of all the pyramids of Giza.
Speaker 1: In the chamber viz. Found the stone, sarcophagus and fragments
Speaker 1: of the wooden mummy case of this king. The former
Speaker 1: was lost in a shipwreck. The latter are preserved in
Speaker 1: the British Museum. How long this pharaoh ruled we cannot say,
Speaker 1: as the Turin papyrus has a break at his name.
Speaker 1: We must, therefore, for the present take the years given
Speaker 1: by the most trustworthy of the classical writers, Manetho, who
Speaker 1: states the king ruled twenty five years Shepseskov twenty seven
Speaker 1: twenty three through twenty seven o one b c. Of
Speaker 1: this king we know very little. An interesting description was
Speaker 1: found in the tomb of his favorite, Tashepsis. This man
Speaker 1: was born in the reign of Minkaure and was educated
Speaker 1: together with the royal princes. His career as an official
Speaker 1: falls almost entirely within Shepseskov's reign. This king gave his
Speaker 1: favorite his daughter Mayache in marriage, and heaped honors upon him.
Speaker 1: It is a characteristic fact that neither in this biography,
Speaker 1: nor in any other inscription of this time, do we
Speaker 1: meet with any mention of warlike expeditions. The monuments, however,
Speaker 1: make frequent mention of the king's trips through the country
Speaker 1: of festivals and of buildings erected by the pharaoh. Herodotus
Speaker 1: tells us that the successor of Mysarinos, whom he calls Aceychus,
Speaker 1: built a pyramid of brick and enlarged the southern peristyle
Speaker 1: of the t Temple of Memphis. Deodorus, who calls him Sassichus,
Speaker 1: mentions him as one of the five great lawgivers of Egypt.
Speaker 1: One of his alleged laws is mentioned by Herodotus allowing
Speaker 1: a debtor to pawn his father's mummy. In case the
Speaker 1: mummy were not redeemed, he would lose for himself and
Speaker 1: family the right of burial. Deodorus also states that this
Speaker 1: pharaoh regulated the ritual and invented the geometry and the
Speaker 1: art of observing the stars. Of these stories, it is
Speaker 1: safe to accept only what relates to the building operations
Speaker 1: of the king. According to Manetho, he ruled twenty two years.
Speaker 1: Two kings, Seberches and Tempthis, are mentioned by Manetho as
Speaker 1: belonging to this dynasty, but their names have not yet
Speaker 1: been found on the Monuments Section five. The Fifth dynasty
Speaker 1: twenty seven hundred through twenty five sixty BC. The change
Speaker 1: of dynasty seems to have impeaceably accomplished, for we find
Speaker 1: that men who had held office under the preceding dynasty
Speaker 1: were retained by the kings of the new house. Possibly
Speaker 1: the direct male line had died out and the new
Speaker 1: line came to the throne by the right of female succession.
Speaker 1: Userkov twenty seven hundred through twenty six ninety three BC.
Speaker 1: The first king of this dynasty was the immediate successor
Speaker 1: of Shepseskov, as is proved by the inscription of Setchem Kare,
Speaker 1: who held official positions under kings Chafra Minkare, Shepseskaf, Userkaf
Speaker 1: and Sahure. All we know of this pharaoh is that
Speaker 1: he ruled seven years and was buried in a pyramid
Speaker 1: called Abbasu. Sahure twenty six ninety two through twenty six
Speaker 1: eighty b C. Had to repel in roads of the
Speaker 1: Mentiu Satt, who had again begun to molest the Egyptian
Speaker 1: miners on the Sinai Peninsula. He founded the city of
Speaker 1: Persahure north of Esne, and built a temple to the
Speaker 1: goddess Sochet, the wife of Ta in Memphis. His pyramid,
Speaker 1: Cheba lies north of Abusir. Sahure ruled twelve years Neferarkare
Speaker 1: twenty six seventy nine through twenty six seventy two b C.
Speaker 1: The successor of Sahure is called Kakah in the list
Speaker 1: of Abydos. He died after a reign of seven years
Speaker 1: and was buried in a pyramid called Bah of Shepseskare
Speaker 1: twenty seven sixty one through twenty seven fifty nine b C.
Speaker 1: We know only that he reigned twelve years. Of ates
Speaker 1: we know nothing. Nepherbare reigned probably ten years. Akauhor is
Speaker 1: another ruler of whom we know absolutely nothing, an whose
Speaker 1: pronomon was Userenra was the first king to adopt a
Speaker 1: throne name. Hitherto, the kings had kept the names they
Speaker 1: had borne as princes, but now the kings took a
Speaker 1: new name on ascending the throne. This name was always
Speaker 1: compounded with the name of the god Ra, and was
Speaker 1: the official name of the ruler by which he was
Speaker 1: designated in all state documents. The name of Ra was
Speaker 1: chosen in all probability because this god was considered as
Speaker 1: the first divine king of Egypt. The king, however, retained
Speaker 1: his old name, placing before it the title sa Ra,
Speaker 1: son of Ra. Thus An's name now was King of
Speaker 1: Upper and Lower Egypt, User and Ra the son of ra. An.
Speaker 1: Not content with these two names, the pharaohs took three
Speaker 1: other names on ascending the throne, answering to the three titles, Horace,
Speaker 1: Lord of both lands, and Horace nupti, that is, Horace
Speaker 1: the conqueror of set. In olden times, the kings used
Speaker 1: one and the same name with these three titles, thus
Speaker 1: the full name of Amenemhat. The first was the Horuce
Speaker 1: nem Messut renewer of births, Lord of both lands nem Messut,
Speaker 1: Horace Noubti nem Messut, King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Speaker 1: sehotep Abra, the son of Ra Amenemhat. In later times,
Speaker 1: the pharaohs took a separate name with each title, thus
Speaker 1: the full name of Rameses. The second was Horace the
Speaker 1: strong steer, beloved of Mat, Lord of both lands, he
Speaker 1: that protecteth Egypt and subdued with the barbarians. Horace Nubti
Speaker 1: rich in years, great in victories, King of Upper and
Speaker 1: Lower Egypt, ra User mat setep en Ra that is Ra,
Speaker 1: strong in truth, chosen of Ra, the son of Ra Ramessu,
Speaker 1: mar Amon, Rameses beloved of Amon. Frequently other titles are added,
Speaker 1: and the titulature becomes a hymn on the king on
Speaker 1: ward on the Sinai peninsula with the Mentiu saateate. He
Speaker 1: died after a reign of ten years. Menkauhor ruled eight years.
Speaker 1: All we know of him is that he too worked
Speaker 1: the copper and malachite minds of the Sinai Dead. Karah
Speaker 1: Asa ruled twenty eight years. In the fourth year of
Speaker 1: his reign, he sent an expedition to Wadi Maghara on
Speaker 1: the Sinai. He is the first pharaoh whose name we
Speaker 1: meet with in the quarries of the Wadi Hammamat, although
Speaker 1: undoubtedly already King Chafra worked them. Unas was the last
Speaker 1: king of this dynasty with his name. The Turin Papyrus
Speaker 1: concludes a division and sums up the number of years
Speaker 1: since Mena in all six hundred and fifty. It thus
Speaker 1: would seem that his death marked an epoch in Egyptian history,
Speaker 1: But our information about this period is so meager that
Speaker 1: we cannot say what great event can have taken place
Speaker 1: at this time. Unas had been appointed co regent by
Speaker 1: his father, as he does not seem to have undertaken
Speaker 1: any warlike expeditions. He was, however, a great builder, erecting
Speaker 1: a temple to the goddess Hathor near Memphis. In the
Speaker 1: Fayoum there was a city called Unas after him, and
Speaker 1: probably founded by him. The diorite he needed for these
Speaker 1: works he quarried in Hamamat. After a reign of thirty years,
Speaker 1: the king died section six the Sixth dynasty about twenty
Speaker 1: five sixty through twenty four hundred BC. Teta was the
Speaker 1: founder of the new dynasty and seems to have been
Speaker 1: the immediate successor of Unas. It would seem, however, that
Speaker 1: the new dynasty did not gain the throne without a struggle.
Speaker 1: Two kings are ment who belong about in this time,
Speaker 1: Ati and Imhotep, both of whom quarried stone and the
Speaker 1: Wadi Hammamat. They were most probably pretenders to the crown.
Speaker 1: Teta triumphed over all his rivals and ascended the throne
Speaker 1: about twenty five sixty b C. Whatever struggle there was
Speaker 1: seems to have been short lived and is not mentioned
Speaker 1: in the inscriptions. These inscriptions are chiefly those of nobles,
Speaker 1: and though they are, despite their brevity, accurate biographies recounting
Speaker 1: the possessions and offices of the nobles they treat of,
Speaker 1: they touch on matters of state only incidentally. Of the
Speaker 1: history of this king we know absolutely nothing. Manetho has
Speaker 1: preserved a legend that he was murdered by one of
Speaker 1: his bodyguard. According to the same historian, he ruled thirty years.
Speaker 1: This pharaoh was buried in a pyramid near Sakara, which
Speaker 1: was opened in eighteen eighty one. The Egyptian name of
Speaker 1: the structure was de Dasu. The opening of this pyramid
Speaker 1: was of the greatest importance for religious history, but of
Speaker 1: none whatever for secular history, the walls being covered with
Speaker 1: long religious texts, containing not the slightest historical illusion. After Teta,
Speaker 1: the list of Abydos mentions a king oh Sir Kharah,
Speaker 1: of whom we know nothing. Perhaps this was the king's
Speaker 1: throne name and was put here by mistake. Marie Ra
Speaker 1: Pepi twenty five thirty through twenty five b C, who
Speaker 1: ascended the throne about twenty five thirty BC, is the
Speaker 1: greatest monarch of this dynasty. Pepi was the immediate successor
Speaker 1: of Teta, but we do not know whether he was
Speaker 1: related to his predecessor or not. Pepi's empire embraced all
Speaker 1: of Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. In the eighteenth year
Speaker 1: of his reign, he sent an expedition to the Wadi
Speaker 1: Maghara and was compelled to punish the Mentiu, who had
Speaker 1: again become troublesome. In the same year, he also sent
Speaker 1: an expedition to Rohanu Wadi hammamat the quarry stones for
Speaker 1: some temples he was erecting. His name also appears in
Speaker 1: the sandstone quarries of Gabel Silsila, and he is the
Speaker 1: first king of whose opera rations here we have any tidings,
Speaker 1: though assuredly the quarries had been worked by many of
Speaker 1: his predecessors. We know that he built in Tannis, and
Speaker 1: an inscription on the walls of the Temple of Denderah
Speaker 1: relates that he had found the old plan of this
Speaker 1: building prepared in King Chufu's time. He also founded a city,
Speaker 1: the governor of which Beba is buried. At Chech said,
Speaker 1: the greater part of what we know of his reign
Speaker 1: is gleaned from the inscription of a noble named Una.
Speaker 1: This noble began his career under King Teta in minor offices.
Speaker 1: Under Pepe, he rapidly gained distinction, rising to high offices.
Speaker 1: Early in Pepe's reign, he was made judge. Farded himself
Speaker 1: so well in a very delicate case that he was
Speaker 1: given the exalted title of only friend to the Pharaoh
Speaker 1: and was appointed governor of the Nubian district. He now conducted,
Speaker 1: in conjunction with a justice of lower rank, a case
Speaker 1: brought by the King against Queen amst The case was
Speaker 1: a very delicate one and conducted with the utmost secrecy.
Speaker 1: We do not hear the cause of action or the
Speaker 1: outcome of the case. The King was highly pleased with
Speaker 1: UNA's conduct of this case, and heaped new honors upon him.
Speaker 1: The Amu Heryusha, as the Egyptians called the Syrian Bedouins
Speaker 1: at this time, began to make inroads on Egyptian territory,
Speaker 1: and it was determined to punish them. A vast army
Speaker 1: was collected from all parts of Egypt and Nubia, drilled
Speaker 1: and disciplined under the direction of Una. With this army
Speaker 1: he marched against the enemy, and in five successive campaigns
Speaker 1: completely routed them. Their strongholds were taken and destroyed, their
Speaker 1: crops were burned, their cattle driven off, Vast numbers of
Speaker 1: prisoners were taken, and their country was left completely devastated
Speaker 1: and almost depopulated. Peppi died soon after the close of
Speaker 1: this war, after a reign of twenty years, and was
Speaker 1: buried in his pyramid, which bore the name of Menepher,
Speaker 1: the same as that of Memphis. This pyramid, which lies
Speaker 1: near Sakura, was opened in eighteen eighty one. Its walls
Speaker 1: are covered with long religious inscriptions. Marin Ra Horumsaff twenty
Speaker 1: five O nine through twenty five O two b c.
Speaker 1: On Peppi's death, his son marin Ra ascended the throne
Speaker 1: of him. We know little outside of what Una tells us.
Speaker 1: This noble was made a prince by the new ruler,
Speaker 1: an appointed governor of the South. In this capacity, he
Speaker 1: highly distinguished himself. He made two enumerations of the South,
Speaker 1: that is, twice took the census of his province, a
Speaker 1: thing that had never been done before, and that gained
Speaker 1: him great praise from the king. He was then ordered
Speaker 1: to bring a granite sarcophagus and fittings for the King's
Speaker 1: pyramid from the quarries at Elephantine. The fact that only
Speaker 1: one man of war would needed to escort six transports
Speaker 1: and six other vessels as a significant proof of the
Speaker 1: extent of the Egyptian power in these early times. We
Speaker 1: have already seen that Pepi the first conscripted troops from
Speaker 1: the Nubian districts bordering on Egypt in an expedition undertaken
Speaker 1: somewhat later, Una pressed Nubian tribes into his service to
Speaker 1: cut timber and build boats. Most probably, these tribes had
Speaker 1: been subdued already by King Chufu when he opened the
Speaker 1: granite quarries on the first Cataract. These tribes most probably
Speaker 1: stood in a relation of semi dependence to Egypt. They
Speaker 1: certainly retained their tribal relations and their autonomy, but were
Speaker 1: compelled to serve in the Egyptian army in case of
Speaker 1: war and to assist the expeditions that were sent to Assuan.
Speaker 1: Outside of this, we know of this reign only that
Speaker 1: the king made a tour of inspection on which he
Speaker 1: visited the quarries of Assouan, and that he sent an
Speaker 1: expedition to the Wadi Hammamat. According to Manetto, he ruled
Speaker 1: only seven years. He was entombed in his pyramid, which
Speaker 1: was named Chanofur. This pyramid was opened in eighteen eighty one,
Speaker 1: and it was found that the walls were covered with
Speaker 1: inscriptions analogous to those found in the pyramid of his father.
Speaker 1: In the sarcophagus chamber was found the carefully embalmed and
Speaker 1: well preserved mummy of the king, which was brought to Bulloch.
Speaker 1: The body is that of a young man, which well
Speaker 1: accords with the short reign ascribed to him by Manetho.
Speaker 1: Nefrikhare Pepi the Second twenty five oh one through twenty
Speaker 1: four eleven b c. On Marenra's death, his brother Nefrikare
Speaker 1: assented de throne. He corresponds to Manetho's king Phiops, who
Speaker 1: ruled one hundred years, as the Turin Papyrus gives Pepi
Speaker 1: the Second over ninety years. All that we know of
Speaker 1: him is that he sent an expedition to the copper
Speaker 1: minds of Wadi Maghara on the Sinai. This king was
Speaker 1: buried in a pyramid near Sakara, the Egyptian name of
Speaker 1: which was Menanch. It was opened in eighteen eighty one
Speaker 1: and contained the same texts as the others. The close
Speaker 1: of this dynasty is shrouded in darkness. We know of
Speaker 1: few view of the names belonging here, but of not
Speaker 1: one of the kings after Peppy the second do we
Speaker 1: know the history. Thus we hear of a king meant Emsaf,
Speaker 1: a King Nephrus, and a King ab Nae Taker. The
Speaker 1: Netocris of the classical authors, belongs in this dynasty, though
Speaker 1: we cannot give her her exact place. Her name is
Speaker 1: mentioned on none of the monuments, but many a legend
Speaker 1: is related of her. Herodotus tells us that after a
Speaker 1: reign of scarce, one year, King Menth the Sophis was murdered,
Speaker 1: and his sister and wife, the beautiful one with the
Speaker 1: rosy cheeks, succeeded him. She resolved to avenge her husband
Speaker 1: and brother. To this end, she had a great hall
Speaker 1: built underground, which was connected with the waters of the Nile.
Speaker 1: The river was prevented from entering by mighty floodgates. To
Speaker 1: this hall, she invited all who were implicated in the
Speaker 1: murder of her husband to a banquet. When this was
Speaker 1: at its height, she herself opened the floodgates, and the
Speaker 1: waters of the nile streaming in. All the guests perished. Then,
Speaker 1: to avoid the vengeance of the murderer's friends, she threw
Speaker 1: herself into a large chamber filled with glowing coal, and
Speaker 1: was burned up. The same historian further relates that in
Speaker 1: her reign of seven years, she had enlarged the Pyramid
Speaker 1: of Myceinos and had coated its apex with granite. There
Speaker 1: is as little foundation for one of these tales as
Speaker 1: for the other. The latters story is disproved by the
Speaker 1: fact that the Third Pyramid shows no traces of having
Speaker 1: been rebuilt or enlarged. An Arabic legend is also connected
Speaker 1: with Nitokris, or rather with the Third Pyramid. To the
Speaker 1: present day, the Arabs dwelling about the pyramids believe that
Speaker 1: the ghost of the Southern Pyramid hovers about it in
Speaker 1: the shape of a beautiful naked woman, whom she sets
Speaker 1: eyes on. Her smile infatuates, but she is a great coquette,
Speaker 1: alternately attracting and repelling her victim until he becomes insane
Speaker 1: and wanders aimless through the land. Many and many a
Speaker 1: one say they has seen her, especially at noon and
Speaker 1: sunset hovering about her pyramid, end of chapter for two