During
the 6th dynasty the capital moved from White Wall.
Initially it appears to have moved south to an area known as Djed-isut.
This name was associated with Teti`s pyramid and its complex.
It is uncertain whether King Userkara and King Pepy I are
actually the same person. In the first part of his reign Pepy
I was known as Nefersahor. This was his "throne"
name which he was given at his coronation. This was preceded by the
title "nesu-bit" which means he of the sedge and bee. His
name was also enclosed by a cartouche. He later adopted his "birth
name" Meryra. This name was resubmit by the title "sa Ra"
meaning
son of Ra. The area adjacent to Pepy I`s pyramid
complex became known as Mennefer (Memphis). This contained the temple
of the god
Ptah.
Menefer now became the capital of Egypt.
Throughout
this dynasty royal authority began to decrease accompanied by a growth
of power and influence of the nobility. Despite this the 6th dynasty
kings built many temples to gods throughout Egypt. Some of
these were the temples worshiping Hathor at Dendera, Horus at
Hierakonopolis, Min at Koptos, and Satet at Elephantine.
Generous donations were made to these temples along with exemptions from
compulsory service and tax payments.
The
pyramids contained scenes showing achievements of the king. These
were not always completely factual but represented the ideal accomplishments
of a king. They believed that the inclusion of these scenes might
help them in their life after death. Further expeditions continued
to be made to obtain mineral resources. Diplomatic relations were
established with Byblos and with Elba by these kings.
In
the late 6th dynasty attempts were made to improve the navigation
of the first cataract area. Nubia began to have an increase
in people settling in its region. At times this posed a threat to
Egypt’s
interests both in terms of its security and economically. Items such
as Incense, ebony, ivory, animal skins and exotic animals reached
Egypt
via the first cataract from Africa. It was at this time that
Egypt
employed Nubians as border police and also as mercenaries.
His
brother, Pepy II, then succeeded him. Both built their pyramids
at South Saqqara. His reign was the longest in ancient
Egypt of 94 years. In the latter half of his reign the
authority of the king was significantly weakened. The power of the
officials, whose positions had been inherited by the same family for some
time, greatly increased. Some of them had become almost independent
local rulers and the strengths of the unified state declined. Considerable
pressure was caused by some years of poor Nile floods, which affected the
yield of important crops. Following the death of Pepy II,
Queen
Nitiqret succeeded him.
At
the end of the 6th dynasty a number of kings that little is known
about ruled Egypt. Some had protective decrees issued at the
temple of Min at Koptos. The only ruler whose pyramid
has been located from this period is Qakara Iby, which is at South
Saqqara.
The capital remained at Memphis. The end of the 8th Dynasty
marked the end of the "Old Kingdom".
To be continued
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