Texts from the Pyramid Age (Writings from the Ancient World Book 16)

I think I'll stick with his conclusions and pardon his blissful thought that we find his source material fascinating. The returns were not worth the effort. I still look forward to reading his analytical books, since every bit of commentary he offered was instructive. You can tell he's a real character, with such statements as: Oh, and I can't fathom why the Society of Biblical Literature published this. There's nothing even transparently Biblical about this, except that Egyptian eulogies are exaggerated see 45, and believe the voice of hard-won experience plowing through all of them in the direction of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, dealing right, aging perfectly, speaking no evil, etc.

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Djedkare likely enjoyed a reign of more than 40 years, which heralded a new period in the history of the Old Kingdom. Breaking with a tradition followed by his predecessors since the time of Userkaf , Djedkare did not build a temple to the sun god Ra , possibly reflecting the rise of Osiris in the Egyptian pantheon. More significantly, Djedkare effected comprehensive reforms of the Egyptian state administration, the first undertaken since the inception of the system of ranking titles.

He also reorganised the funerary cults of his forebears buried in the necropolis of Abusir and reformed the corresponding priesthood. Djedkare commissioned expeditions to Sinai to procure copper and turquoise , to Nubia for its gold and diorite and to the fabled Land of Punt for its incense. One such expedition had what could be the earliest recorded instance of oracular divination undertaken to ensure an expedition's success. The word "Nub", meaning gold, to designate Nubia is first recorded during Djedkare's reign.

Under his rule, Egypt also entertained continuing trade relations with the Levantine coast and made punitive raids in Canaan. In particular, one of the earliest depictions of a battle or siege scene was found in the tomb of one of Djedkare's subjects. Djedkare was buried in a pyramid in Saqqara named Nefer Djedkare "Djedkare is perfect" , which is now ruined owing to theft of stone from its outer casing during antiquity. The burial chamber still held Djedkare's mummy when it was excavated in the s. Examinations of the mummy revealed that he died in his fifties. Following his death, Djedkare was the object of a cult that lasted at least until the end of the Old Kingdom.

He seemed to have been held in particularly high esteem during the mid- Sixth Dynasty , whose pharaohs lavished rich offerings on his cult. Archaeological evidence suggests the continuing existence of this funerary cult throughout the much later New Kingdom c. Djedkare was also remembered by the ancient Egyptians as the Pharaoh of Vizier Ptahhotep , the purported author of The Maxims of Ptahhotep , one of the earliest pieces of philosophic wisdom literature.

The reforms implemented by Djedkare are generally assessed negatively in modern Egyptology as his policy of decentralization created a virtual feudal system that transferred much power to the high and provincial administrations.

Some Egyptologists such as Naguib Kanawati argue that this contributed heavily to the collapse of the Egyptian state during the First Intermediate Period , c. These conclusions are rejected by Nigel Strudwick, who says that in spite of Djedkare's reforms, Ancient Egyptian officials never amassed enough power to rival that of the king.

Djedkare is well attested in sources contemporaneous with his reign. Another important source of information about Egypt during the reign of Djedkare is the Abusir papyri. These are administrative documents, covering a period of 24 years [28] during Djedkare's reign; they were discovered in the mortuary temples of pharaohs Neferirkare Kakai , Neferefre and queen Khentkaus II.

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Djedkare is attested in four ancient Egyptian king lists, all dating to the New Kingdom. Djedkare is also present on the Saqqara Tablet 31st entry [16] where he is listed under the name "Maatkare", probably because of a scribal error. In addition to these sources, Djedkare is mentioned on the Prisse Papyrus dating to the 12th Dynasty c. No copies of the Aegyptiaca have survived to this day and it is known to us only through later writings by Sextus Julius Africanus and Eusebius. Djedkare's parentage is unknown; in particular his relation with his predecessors Menkauhor Kaiu and Nyuserre Ini cannot be ascertained.

The name of Djedkare's principal wife is not known. An important queen consort whose name is lost was very likely the owner of a large pyramid complex located to the northeast of Djedkare's pyramid in Saqqara. This is rejected by other Egyptologists, such as Michel Baud , owing to the lack of evidence for a regency or interregnum between Djedkare and Unas. The Egyptologist Wilfried Seipel has proposed that this pyramid was initially intended for queen Meresankh IV , whom he and Verner see as a wife of Djedkare.

Djedkare Isesi

Seipel contends that Meresankh was finally buried in a smaller mastaba in Saqqara North after she fell into disgrace. Only one son of Djedkare has been identified for certain, Neserkauhor , [49] who bore the title of "eldest beloved king's son of his body". As well as Neserkauhor, there is indirect evidence that princes Raemka [note 5] and Kaemtjenent [note 6] [55] are sons of Djedkare [56] [57] [58] based on the dating and general location of their tombs in Saqqara. For example, the tomb of Kaemtjenent mentions vizier Rashepses, who served during the reign of Djedkare.

These conclusions are debated, in particular in the case of Kaemtjenent, whose title of "king's son" may have been purely honorific. A high official named Isesi-ankh could have been yet another son of Djedkare, as suggested by his name meaning "Isesi lives". Finally, the successor of Djedkare, Unas, is thought to have been his son [2] in spite of the complete lack of evidence bearing on the question.

Several daughters of Djedkare have been identified by the title of "king's daughter of his body" and the general date of their tomb. These include Kekheretnebti , [note 9] [48] whose filiation is clearly indicated by her other title of "Beloved of Isesi", [73] Meret-Isesi , [note 10] [48] Hedjetnebu , [note 11] [74] [48] and Nebtyemneferes.

The relative chronological position of Djedkare as the eighth and penultimate ruler of the Fifth Dynasty, succeeding Menkauhor Kaiu and preceding Unas on the throne, is well established by historical sources and confirmed by archaeological evidence. The duration of Djedkare's reign is much less certain.

Djedkare's time on the throne is well documented by the Abusir papyri, numerous royal seals and contemporary inscriptions; taken together, they indicate a fairly long rule for this king. Several artefacts and inscriptions have been uncovered relating to Djedkare's rejuvenation or "sed" festival , normally celebrated only after 30 years of reign. For example, the tomb of one of Djedkare's viziers, Senedjemib Inti , relates construction works undertaken during the year of the 16th cattle count in preparation for the festival ceremonies. An alabaster vase now on display at the Louvre museum [note 15] bears an inscription celebrating Djedkare's first sed festival, indicating in all likelihood that he reigned beyond his 30th year on the throne.

One of the Abusir papyri was found to be dated to the "Year of the 22nd Count, IV Akhet day 12", constituting Djedkare's latest known date. The higher estimate is close to Manetho's year figure credited to Tancheres, [88] the Hellenized name of Djedkare, although this may just be coincidental. The reign of Djedkare heralded a new period in the history of the Old Kingdom.

This changes demythologise the king's position and, as the Egyptologist Hans Goedicke write, make him fully human yet still socially dominant. Abusir may have become overcrowded by the time of Menkauhor's accession [] and the capital may have been shifted south to Saqqara along with the royal necropolis around the same time.

During his reign Djedkare effected significant reforms of the state administration and priesthood, in particular that pertaining to the funerary cults [] in the necropolis of Abusir. Yet neither Seshemnefer III's father nor his mother seems to have belonged to the royal family. Lower ranking officials lost power during the late Fifth Dynasty and were frequently limited to holding only one high title, [] a departure from the preceding period.

The main building activity undertaken during the reign of Djedkare was the construction of his pyramid complex in Saqqara. Djedkare also either completed or undertook restoration works in the funerary complex of Nyuserre Ini in Abusir, as indicated by a now damaged inscription, [] which must have detailed Djedkare's activities on the site. A group of mastabas was thus constructed for princess Kekheretnebti and her daughter Tisethor, princess Hedjetnebu, the courtiers Mernefu and Idu, who was buried with his wife Khenit, and prince Neserkauhor.

Djedkare also undertook building activities in relation with his "sed" festival as indicated by a decree that he sent to his vizier Senedjemib Inti on the year of the 16th cattle count, [] praising him for his work. This chapel was most likely built during his reign. Djedkare may have left some of his monuments unfinished at his death, as suggested by several relief-bearing blocks inscribed with his name and which were found reused in the pyramid of king Unas. Their original setting remains unknown.

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Three or four [note 23] rock inscriptions dating to Djedkare's reign have been found in the Wadi Maghareh in Sinai, where mines of copper and semi-precious stones were exploited throughout the Old Kingdom, from the Fourth until the Sixth Dynasty. Smiting the chief of the foreign land". These expeditions departed Egypt from the port of Ain Sukhna , on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez , as revealed by papyri and seals bearing Djedkare's name found on the site. These seals have been found in close association with copper ore, Nubian potery, the remains of two large buildings and a settlement.

Edfu, called Behdet by the ancient Egyptians, was likely the place of departure for the mining expeditions sent to the Eastern desert and the Red Sea during Djedkare's reign. These expeditions were undertaken by a special group of prospectors, called the sementiu , who were under the orders of an administration official sent by the king from Memphis to Edfu. Djedkare probably also exploited gold mines in the Eastern Desert and in Nubia: Egypt entertained continuing trade relations with the Levant during Djedkare's reign, possibly as far north as Anatolia.

A gold cylinder seal bearing the serekh of Djedkare together with the cartouche of Menkauhor Kaiu is now on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Trade contacts with Byblos , on the coast of modern-day Lebanon , are suggested by a fragmentary stone vessel unearthed in the city and bearing the inscription "King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Djedkare [living] forever".

Texts from the Pyramid Age

To the south of Egypt, Djedkare also sent an expedition to the fabled Land of Punt [] to procure the myrrh used as incense in the Egyptian temples. Harkuf had reported that he would bring back a "dwarf of the god's dancers from the land of the horizon dwellers". Pepi mentions that the god's sealbearer Werdjededkhnum had returned from Punt with a dwarf during the reign of Djedkare and had been richly rewarded. The decree mentions that "My Majesty will do for you something greater than what was done for the god's sealbearer Werdjededkhnum in the reign of Isesi, reflecting my majesty's yearning to see this dwarf".

Not all relations between Egypt and its neighbors were peaceful during Djedkare's reign. In particular, one of the earliest known depictions of a battle or city being besieged [] is found in the tomb of Inti, an official from the 21st nome of Upper Egypt , who lived during the late Fifth Dynasty. Djedkare built his pyramid in South Saqqara.

The pyramid originally comprised six or seven steps made of irregular and roughly hewn limestone blocks and mortar, of which only three survive. This core was overlaid by casing stones of white Tura limestone, which have been stolen in antiquity. In the interior of the pyramid a descending passage led, behind three granite portcullises, to an antechamber, three magazine rooms and the burial chamber. In it, pieces of alabaster and a faience bead on a gold thread were discovered as well as many fragments of what was originally a large sarcophagus of dark grey basalt.

An almost complete mummy was discovered in the remnants of the sarcophagus. An examination by Ahmed Batrawi of these skeletal remains, excavated in the mids under the direction of Abdel-Salam Hussein, suggests that Djedkare died at the age of 50 to 60 years old. To the east of the pyramid, Djedkare's mortuary temple was laid out.

The mortuary temple is connected via a yet unexcavated causeway to a valley temple. For Nigel Strudwick, the reforms of Djedkare were undertaken as a reaction to the rapid growth of the central administration in the first part of the Fifth Dynasty [] which, Baer adds, had amassed too much political or economic power [] in the eyes of the king. This is best witnessed by the large, magnificent mastaba tombs that Djedkare's viziers built. For some Egyptologists, such as Naguib Kanawati , this failure contributed in no small part to the fall of the Old Kingdom, [] but others, including Strudwick, believe the reasons of the collapse must be sought elsewhere as the power of an administration official never approached that of the king.

The reforms of Djedkare played an important role in flourishing of the arts during the later Old Kingdom, as artisans and craftsmen could now find many wealthy patrons beyond the king. This created a surge in the number of commissions leading to a general improvement of the artistic works. This also provided the artisans with a new wealth, which they used to build their own large funerary complexes. Djedkare was the object of a funerary cult established at his death and which lasted until the end of the Old Kingdom nearly years later.

Provisions for this cult were produced in several agricultural estates set up during Djedkare's reign. The names of some of these estates have been found inscribed on the walls of the tombs of his courtiers: Djedkare seems to have been held in high esteem during the Sixth Dynasty. For example, Merenre Nemtyemsaf I chose to place his pyramid complex close to that of Djedkare. More generally, an historical or literary tradition concerning events in the time of Djedkare seems to have flourished toward the end of Old Kingdom as can be inferred from the tombs of Harkuf and Iny.

The funerary cult of Djedkare enjoyed a revival during the New Kingdom c. For the early part of this period, this is best attested by the Karnak king list, a list of kings commissioned by pharaoh Thutmose III. The list was not meant to be exhaustive, rather it gave the names of Thutmose's forefathers whom he wanted to honor by dedicating offerings.

For the later New Kingdom, a relief from the Saqqara tomb of the priest Mehu, dating to the 19th or 20th Dynasty shows three gods faced by several deceased pharaohs. He is followed by a fourth king whose name is damaged but which is often read "Djedkare" or, much less likely, " Shepseskare ". The relief is an expression of personal piety on Mehu's behalf, who prayed to the ancient kings for them to recommend him to the gods. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi. Therefore, the numeral can probably be reconstructed as For the king of Upper and Lower Egypt [Nyuse]rre he set up a monument For Brovarski and Sethe the palace is simply called the "jubilee palace" in the decree, [] while others such as Breasted, [] Roccati, [] and Trigger [] have read the palace name as "lotus-blossom of Isesi" or "lotus of Isesi" Ancient Egyptian Nehbet.

Wente reads the "jubilee palace of Lotus-of-Izezi". Museum of Art Museum of Art , Tomb of Raemka. Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids.

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Februar in German. In Redford, Donald B.