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Learn about the Egyptian Dynasties with our fast fact sheets. |
History of the
6th Dynasty and its Pharaohs from King Teti to
Queen Nitocris Sixth Dynasty Dates: c2323–2181 B.C.E. Ancient Egyptian History - 6th Dynasty Fact Sheet Fact 1 on 6th Dynasty: The previous period of the "Sun Kings" saw the building of smaller pyramids and the construction of great Sun Temples dedicated to the Sun-god Ra. The power of the kings and the royal family declined when commoners were raised to exalted positions in the government and the priests became highly influential. The end of the era saw the rise in the funerary cult of Osiris and the inscription of the Pyramid Texts appearing in many burial chambers. Fact 2 on 6th Dynasty: This house of kings was founded by King Teti, who had married Queen Iput, who was a daughter of the previous King Unas. Fact 3 on 6th Dynasty: King Teti was surrounded by political intrigue in his court and the growing power of his courtiers. According to Manetho he was murdered by his own bodyguard, and the throne was seized by the usurper Userkare. Fact 4 on 6th Dynasty: Userkare was eventually ousted by Pepi, the son of the murdered king and the rightful heir to the throne, helped by two important courtiers called Weni and Fefi (aka Merefnebef). Fact 5 on 6th Dynasty: Weni and Fefi held much of the power in the court of King Pepi. Weni was the general of the army and Fefi was the vizier (Prime Minister). Fact 6 on 6th Dynasty: The reign of Pepi I was both prosperous and eventful. New trade routes were established via the Eastern Desert to the Red Sea and military campaigns, led by Weni, were launched in the gold-rich Nubia on the southernmost border of ancient Egypt and established garrisons and trading posts in the area. Fact 7 on 6th Dynasty: King Pepi and Weni also led troops against the Bedouins in Sinai and in Canaan. Fact 8 on 6th Dynasty: There was another 'harem conspiracy' when Queen Weret-yamtes (aka Amtes or Yamtisy) a consort of Pepi, was involved in a plot to overthrow the king and Queen Amtes disappeared from the court. Fact 9 on 6th Dynasty: King Pepi was a prolific builder and built his pyramid at Saqqara and built great temples at Abydos, Dendera, Tanis, Bubastis and Coptos. High ranking officials also started to build great tombs that rivalled those of the kings. Fact 10 on 6th Dynasty: Pepi II was succeeded by his son Merenre but the new king died at a young age. Merenre was succeeded by Pepi II, his young, underage brother. His mother Queen Ankhesenpepi II, the widow of Pepi I, ruled as regent until he reached maturity. Fact 11 on 6th Dynasty: Like his father before him, King Pepi II was also a prolific builder and undertook massive building projects including temples and small pyramids. Fact 12 on 6th Dynasty: As Pepi II lost control during his long reign, his spending on building projects spiralled out of control and the government was in turmoil, with rebellious officials leaving the royal court. King Pepi II died after an extremely long reign and was buried in his pyramid tomb. Fact 13 on 6th Dynasty: Merenre II succeeded his father Pepi I but only reigned briefly as a Pharaoh of Egypt. He was murdered as the result of a conspiracy and his sister Queen Nitocris swore revenge. Fact 14 on 6th Dynasty: According to Herodotus, Nitocris seized the throne. Queen Nitocris took her revenge. She invited the murderers of her brother to a banquet and then massacred them by flooding the sealed room with waters from the River Nile. Fact 15 on 6th Dynasty: Queen Nitocris then committed suicide so ending the reign of the 6th royal line of ancient Egyptian pharaohs and the period in ancient Egyptian history known as the Old Kingdom. Ancient Egyptian History - 6th Dynasty Fact Sheet
Definition of the
6th Dynasty
Sixth Dynasty Dates: c2323–2181 B.C.E.
Ancient
Egyptian
Dynasties
Ancient
Egytian
Dynasties
Early
Dynastic
Period:
1st -
2nd
Dynasties
The Old
Kingdome
3rd -
6th
Dynasties
1st
Intermediate
Period
7th -
10th
Dynasties
The
Middle
Kingdom
11th -
12th
Dynasties
2nd
Intermediate
Period
13th -
20th
Dynasties
The New
Kingdom
18th -
20th
Dynasties
Post
Empire
21st -
31st
Dynasties
History of the
6th Dynasty Pharaohs
6th Dynasty Chronology - Succession and History
of the Kings Chronology of the Kings Name - Dates of Reign King Teti - 2323–2291 BC King Userkare - 2291–2289 BCKing Pepi I - 2289–2255 BC King Merenre I - 2255–2246 BCKing Pepi II - 2246–2152 BC King Merenre II - Dates UnknownQueen Nitocris - Dates Unknown Chronology of the Kings
6th Dynasty History
Ancient Egyptian History
Egytian
Time
Periods
Prehistoric
Egytpt
5000 -
3100BCE
Early
Dynastic
Period:
3100 -
2686 BCE
The Old
Kingdom
2686 -
2181 BCE
1st
Intermediate
Period
2181 -
2134 BCE
The
Middle
Kingdom
2134 -
1782 BCE
2nd
Interm
ediate
Period
1782 -
1550 BCE
The New
Kingdom
1550 -
1069 BCE
3rd
Interm
ediate
Period
1069 -
664 BCE
The Late
Period
664 -
332 BCE
Ptolemaic
Egypt
332 - 30
BCE
Roman &
Byzantine
Egypt 30
BCE -
641 CE
6th Dynasty Ancient Egyptian History |