|
|
|
|
|
According to
Manetho, the VIth Dynasty kings came from Memphis. Appearances
of splendor were preserved under Dynasty VI rulers, who continued tradition of
building magnificent funerary complexes adorned inside with hieroglyphic texts.
But the first signs of social and political decay emerge. The right of
succession to the official positions acquired by provincial administrators
contributed vastly to the fall of central government. In last years of week and
doting pharaoh Pepi I and his heirs rule, anarchy reached its heyday.
|
||
T
Turin
Canon gives to him 20 years of rule and Manetho – 53 years. Surviving data
mantion 21th and 25th population count and a levy. Assuming the two-year
rhytm of registers this suggests at least 50 years of rule. However opinions
vary among historians: Vercoutter – 44, Beckerath, Grimal – more than 40,
Hornung – 32, Helck – 20 years. Burial place - 
Step-brother
of Nemtiemsaf I. Turin Canon assigns to him 90 years of rule. Ascending the
throne he was only 6 years old, so that the rule in his behalf was held by
his mother and Pepi I widow, the queen Ankhnesmerire. Some scholars
(Beckerath, Vercoutter) deny such a long period of rule. Their assumptions
they support comparing to age of the ruler’s contemporaries, however it is
generally believed that Pepi II died aged 100, after the longest rule noted
ever in Egyptian history. Some expeditions to quarries at Hat-Nub and into
Sinai were recorded. Also war campaigns to Nubia, Libya and Asia and trade
expeditions to Punt were undertaken. Royal wives were: 
