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Pepi II - an Unusually Long Reign
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Pepi II is known as the longest reigning pharaoh in the history of Egypt; perhaps as long as 94 years, which might sound a bit drastic.
Pepi II The reign of Pepi II was counted to 94 years if the scribe who noted it didn´t confuse the numbers 64 and 94, which is very similar in hieratic script. Egyptologists are uncertain of which is correct of these. This long reign is thought by some to be responsible for the decline of the state of Egypt. Pepi II married several times, as most of the kings did. Some of the wifes were his half-sister and cousin Neith, and his niece Ipwet, daughter of his brother Merenre. Around his mortuary complex were three smaller pyramids for the queens, each with its own pyramid, chapel, mortuary temple and even satellite pyramids. The whole mortuary complex, including the pyramid, valley temple and causeway, was surrounded by a thick enclosure wall. The ancient name of the pyramid complex is 'Pepi is Established and Living'. It was built in five steps which were filled in and covered with a smooth casing. At the northern side of the pyramid was a chapel with the entrance into the pyramid, a sloping corridor covered in granite. A knife or spatula of gold and fragments of alabaster and diorite vessels were found here. The corridor first lead to an outer room, then continued without sloping to the inner rooms. These were an antechamber, the burial chamber and storerooms. Both the antechamber and the burial chamber had saddled roofs of heavy limestone beams. In both rooms the Pyramid Texts decorated the walls while the ceiling was covered with stars. At the farthest end of the burial chamber, the sarcophagus made of black granite had the king´s titles. There was also a false door. The whole complex, including the Valley Temple and Causeway was surrounded by an unusually thick enclosure wall. The Valley Temple and the Causeway The depictions on the walls of the court are almost a copy of the ones at Sahure´s mortuary complex, dyn 5. There is also a long, transverse hall which is decorated with images of the Heb Sed Jubilee (The king´s 30th year of reign). Behind this hall were a chamber with five niches for cult statues, a vestibule and an offering chapel. Also here were storerooms.
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Palace of the Empress of the Known Universe
~ Table of Contents ~
Early Claim
Thessalonike The Tragic Queen Icelandic History The Althingi Odin's lament A FATEFUL CHARIOT RACE: The STORY of PELOPS and OENOMAUS Mastabas in the Vicinity of Unas Pyramid Horemheb and His Contemporaries Pepi I and His Consorts The Last Royal Tombs of the Old Kingdom The Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara Northern Saqqara - The Pyramids of Teti and Queens Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep - Royal Manicurists and Prophets of Re. Benu of Iunu - The Prototype Phoenix Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Mereruka, His Wife & Son Northern Saqqara - The Mastaba of Kagemni Northern Saqqara III: The Tomb of Ankhmahor Northern Saqqara IV: The Tomb of Akhethotep & Ptahotep Northern Saqqara V: The Mastaba of Ti Northern Saqqara VI: Early Dynastic & 3rd Dynastic Tombs Northern Saqqara VII: The Serapeum History of Devon Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt I Styles of House in Ancient Egypt II Styles of Houses in Ancient Egypt III Northern Saqqara VII: Other Animal Burials Calendar of Festivals of Aset Aset Through History Places of Worship Aset in the Ancient Texts Lady of Philae, Lady of Abaton An Aretalogy of Aset Aset in Festival |