|
|
|
Ancient Egyptians - Menkaure |
Profile of Pharaoh Menkaure Profile of Menkaure History Time Period: Old Kingdom Dynasty: 4th DynastyPredecessor: Khafre aka Chephren Parents: Khafre and Queen KhamerernebtyDates of his Reign: 2490 - 2472 BC Principal Wife: Queen Khamerernebty IISuccessor: Shepseskaf King Menkaure Ancient Egyptian King - Menkaure Fact Sheet Fact 1 on Menkaure: Name: This pharaoh of ancient Egypt was also known as Mycerinus, his name in Greek. His name means "Eternal like the souls of Re". Fact 2 on Menkaure: History: Menkaure ruled as the king of Egypt during the period in ancient Egyptian history known as the Old Kingdom and was a pharaoh of the 4th dynasty of kings by right of inheritance. He succeeded Pharaoh Khafre to the throne of Egypt. Fact 3 on Menkaure: Family: His father was Khafre and his mother was Queen Khamerernebty. Fact 4 on Menkaure: Family: Menkaure married Khamerernebty II, whose status and title was the "Kings Wife, his beloved". He also had a second, lesser wife called Rekhetre. His sons were Khuenre, the heir to the throne who died young, Shepseskaf and his daughter's name was Khentkawes. Fact 5 on Menkaure: The Giza Pyramids: His grandfather, King Khufu, had built the Great Pyramid at the Giza necropolis, his father Khafre built the second pyramid and Menkaure continued the tradition and initiated the construction of the third and smallest pyramid at Giza. Fact 6 on Menkaure: Pharaoh Menkaure ruled from his royal court at Memphis from where he governed ancient Egypt. During his reign he was assisted by a number of Viziers (Chief Councillors) who were all members of his family. Fact 7 on Menkaure: The names of his Viziers were Duaenre, Nikaure, Ankhmare, Nebemakhet and Iunmin who were all sons of Khafre and therefore brothers, or half-brothers, of the king. Nepotism (favoritism granted to relatives) was practised by all of the pharaohs of the 4th dynasty to ensure that the wealth and power of the kingdom remained in the family. Fact 8 on Menkaure: The viziers had traditionally played an important role as architects in the building projects of the pharaohs and this was probably the same with Menkaure's pyramid and burial complex at Giza. Fact 9 on Menkaure: The king governed ancient Egypt with the help of his trusted viziers and state matters focussed on building projects. There are no records of military campaigns or attacks from foreign countries during his reign. Fact 10 on Menkaure: Menkaure did however, experience problems at home. The cult of the sun god Ra had grown to enormous importance during the 4th dynasty and the priests of Ra were gaining great influence and wealth in the country. Their power was such that it threatened the supremacy of the king. Ancient Egyptian King - Menkaure Fact Sheet Pharaoh Menkaure King Menkaure Ancient Egyptian King - Menkaure Fact Sheet Fact 11 on Menkaure: A shadow was cast over the reign of the king when the oracle at the temple of the goddess Wadjet at Buto declared that he would only reign for six years and that the gods had decreed a period of 150 years of hardship. (Wadjet was a protector goddess and seen as defender of the the solar god, Ra whose titles were the Lady of Flame and Eye of Ra. ) Fact 12 on Menkaure: The oracle proved to be false, the king reigned for over 20 years, but had raised doubts about the stability of ancient Egypt under the king. It is suspected that the priests of Ra instigated these reports in an effort to undermine the monarchy. Fact 13 on Menkaure: In addition to the prophecy of the oracle another older prophecy had told of how children of a priest of the sun-god Ra would overthrow the 4th royal house of Egypt. Fact 14 on Menkaure: These events provide an indication of the atmosphere that must have purveyed the royal court. No doubt the actions of the priests, who were based at the cult center of the solar god Ra in Heliopolis, the "City of the Sun", were treated with considerable suspicion. Fact 15 on Menkaure: The massive pyramids emphasized the power and the divine status of the king and perhaps this was over-shadowing the importance of Ra and had sparked the conflict between the priests and the monarchy. Fact 16 on Menkaure: The pyramid of Menkaure was only 1/10th the size of the Great Pyramid built by Khufu which possibly reflects the growing influence of the priests and a shift from building pyramids to a greater emphasis being placed on the construction of temples. Fact 17 on Menkaure: Menkaure was succeeded by his son Shepseskhaf who completed the construction of all the monuments started by his father. Fact 18 on Menkaure: Shepseskhaf reportedly feuded with the priests of various temples and his reign lasted for less than 7 years and ended the 4th dynasty. The Age of the Pyramids was over and the 5th dynasty was to see the rise of the Sun Kings. Ancient Egyptian King - Menkaure Fact Sheet King Menkaure and the 4th Dynasty 4th Dynasty Name - Dates of Reign King Menkaure - 25752551 BC King Menkaure aka Khufu - 25512528 BCKing Djedefre aka Radjedef - 25282520 BC King Khafre aka Chephren - 25202494 BCKing Menkaure aka Mycerinus - 24902472 BC King Shepseskaf - 24722467 BCSuccession of the Kings Menkaure Menkaure |
