In order to get "almost" all of the people introduced in an understandable way, we sometimes had to move ahead in time. We are now back in Egypt, to pickup their story we have to go back a few thousand years.
When last we left Egypt, King Narmer had just united upper and lower Egypt. We pickup from there.
So now, we are back in Egypt and by now Egypt has been moving right along, it has gone through two dynasties and many kings. Its religion has become more refined, its society even more organized, and much more affluent. So much so, that the king now has the wealth and power to undertake monumental building projects. And so it is, that Netjerikhet Djoser (Zoser), the second King of Egypt's 3rd Dynasty, and his grand vizier and architect "Imhotep" set about to build the first Monumental stone structure ever created, the Step Pyramid.
However, it will be Djosers grandson Khufu, 2nd king of the 4th dynasty, {no one is sure why the kingship of Snefru, caused a new dynasty to begin}, who will became Egypt's best-known pyramid builder. For it is he, who will build the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Herodotus, (who wrote his histories and commentaries on Egypt around 450 B.C, centuries after Khufu had reigned around 2585 B.C.), recorded this about the King:
"Kheops brought the country into all kinds of misery. He closed the temples, forbade his subjects to offer sacrifices, and compelled them without exception to labor upon his works. The Egyptians can hardly bring themselves to mention Kheops so great is their hatred." It was even said that Khufu sent one of his daughters into a brothel so that she could raise revenue to build the pyramid, also asking each client for a block of stone so she could build her own pyramid. No evidence exists for such a story, though there are smaller pyramids, which probably belonged to the half-sister/wives of Khufu, and he did have at least three daughters of record.
It is also from his time that we know that Egyptians had ships capable of trans-continental travel, many of these ships {150 ft. in length}, were found buried in Khufu's tomb.
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In Australia, there is a stella and writings chronicling the trials and travails of Khufu's grandson "Prince Gjes-eb", who had been shipwrecked in Australia. The chronicle tells of how the prince had been bitten by a poisonous snake and died, and that the rest of the crew was without hope. But, something really curious here, in the chronicle the writer says, "For two seasons he made his way westward, weary, but strong to the end". Where could they have been coming from, where after "two seasons", they had still only made it to as far west as Australia? Click here for the full text of the Egyptian Ship-wreak in Australia. <<Click>>
We will end the 4th dynasty by mentioning that The last and smallest of the Great Pyramids at Giza was built by pharaoh Menkaure, 5th king of the fourth dynasty.
It is with the beginning of the 6th dynasty, that the groundwork is laid for the problems to come. There was apparently accession problems following the death of King Unas, last king of the 5th dynasty. It is believed that Teti, 1st. king of the 6th. dynasty, secured his position by marrying one of king Unas's daughters "Iput I". The length of Teti's reign is sometimes given as 13 years and other sources list it as 33 years. In any event, according to the Manetho, the king was murdered by his guards for mysterious reasons.
The accession of his son Pepi, seems to have been held up by a usurper named Userkare. His reign was short-live however, and Pepi ascended the throne after about one year. When Pepi ascended the throne he was still quite young and his mother Iput I, may have acted as his regent, he reigned for about 50 years. In about year 42 of his reign, there was apparently a harem conspiracy against his life, by one of his queens named "Were-Imtes". Some say that it was not one of his queens behind the plot, but rather the mother of the usurper Userkare. In any event the plot was uncovered, and the plotters punished.
During Pepi's reign, there was apparently many disturbances in Canaan. Five campaigns are attested to by this inscription in the tomb of Weni the Elder.
His majesty sent me to lead this army 5 times to subdue the land of the Sand Dwellers, every time they rebelled, with these troops. I acted so that his majesty praised me for it. Told that there were rebels amongst these foreigners at the 'Nose-of-the-Gazelle's-head' I crossed in ships, together with these troops. I put to land at the back of the height of the mountain range to the north of the land of the Sand-Dwellers, while (the other) half of this army were traveling by land. I turned back, I obstructed all of them and slew every rebel amongst them.
From the autobiography of Weni the Elder
An indication of the unsettled nature of Pepi I's reign, is the duties of one "Nankhpepi", who was the supervisor of Upper Egypt, and chancellor of the king of Lower Egypt, plus the governor of the fourteenth Nome of Upper Egypt. Apparently along with the beautiful backpack, he also wore many hats.
Upon his death, Pepi I was succeeded by his eldest son Merenre I, who died unexpectedly. He was succeeded by his younger half brother, Pepi II. His reign of possibly 94, (some Egyptologist believe 64), years was the longest in ancient Egyptian history. He seems to have come to the throne at about the age of six, and would therefore have lived until the age of one hundred.
Pepi II maintained diplomatic and commercial relations with Canaan, and made several trips and campaigns south to pacify Nubia. There were also many trading expeditions into central and east Africa.
Upon his death Pepi II may have been succeeded by a son named Merenre II, but perhaps for only one year. According to Manetho, he was married to a Queen Nitocris, who succeeded her husband to become the last ruler of the 6th Dynasty. However, very little archaeological evidence of Merenre II, or Nitocris exists.
The Turin Papyrus places 'Nitocris' after Pepi II and possibly Merenre II and an unknown pharaoh towards the end of the 6th dynasty. This 'Nitocris' is also mentioned by both Herodotus and Manetho as a queen, but cannot be identified with any historical pharaoh. These events reported by Herodotus cannot be verified and may be fanciful.
Herodotus:
The name of the woman who reigned was the same as that of the Babylonian queen, namely Nitocris.
Of her, they said that desiring to take vengeance for her brother, whom the Egyptians had slain when he was their king and then, after having slain him, had given his kingdom to her,--desiring I say, to take vengeance for him, she destroyed by craft many of the Egyptians. For she caused to be constructed a very large chamber under ground, and making as though she would inhabit it but in her mind devising other things, she invited those of the Egyptians whom she knew to have had most part in the murder of her brother, and gave a great banquet. Then while they were feasting, she let in the river upon them by a secret conduit of large size.
Of her they told no more than this, except that, when this had been accomplished, she threw herself into a room full of embers, in order that she might escape vengeance.
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It is always the case, that when there is a king of extraordinary length of reign, the result will be weak kings to follow and eventually chaos. The demise of the 6th dynasty, because of dissension and weak kings, marks the onset of what is called, the First Intermediate Period. These intermediate periods, are times when Egypt is not a united country, but rather independent cities or regions. In these periods, the term dynasty is assigned to the kingship lines that have the most power, or sometimes to a group of disparate rulers.
The end of the Old Kingdom brought on a period of chaos, bloodshed and anarchy. Resulting from the collapse of the monarchy, and the rivalries of the provincial feudal lords or 'nomarchs'.
This situation may also have been fomented by Asiatic's, who had infiltrated into the Delta (northern Egypt). From the beginning, Egyptian kings had gone into Canaan to subdue people who they variously called, Troglodytes, San dwellers or vile Asiatic's. It appears that at this time, these people are making a concerted effort to breed dissension in Egypt. However in this case, it is unclear if these mischief-makers are native Canaanite's or Amorites from the desert.
Things continued this way throughout the Seventh Dynasty (2181-2173 B.C.). During this brief period, over 70 rulers were said to have laid claim to the throne of Egypt. The Eighth Dynasty (2173-2160 B.C.), followed the same pattern. Civil disorders multiplied, and then a drought struck Egypt. Valuable insight into this period can be gleaned from a papyrus in the Leyden collection, called "Admonitions of an Egyptian Sage". Excerpts from the papyrus follows..
Admonitions of an Egyptian Sage
The bowman is ready. The wrongdoer is everywhere. There is no man of yesterday. A man goes out to plow with his shield. A man smites his brother, his mother's son. Men sit in the bushes until the benighted traveler comes, in order to plunder his load. The robber is a possessor of riches. Boxes of ebony are broken up. Precious acacia-wood is left asunder.
{The general upheaval has reversed the status of rich and poor:}
He who possessed no property is now a man of wealth. The poor man is full of joy. Every town says: let us suppress the powerful among us. He who had no yoke of oxen is now the possessor of a herd. The possessors of robes are now in rags. Gold and lapis lazuli, silver and turquoise are fastened on the necks of female slaves. All female slaves are free with their tongues. When their mistress speaks it is irksome to the servants. The children of princes are dashed against the walls.
Out of the turmoil and weak Kingships, principalities within the realm rose up to challenge the authority of these weak kings. One Achthoes, the ruler of Heracleopolis, seized control of Middle Egypt, and founded the Ninth Dynasty of lower Egypt (2160-2130 B.C.).
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These kings of Heracleopolis maintained control over lower (northern) Egypt, through the Tenth Dynasty (2130-2040 B.C.). Meanwhile, the rulers of Edfu and Thebes, fought over control of Upper Egypt. The battle over Upper Egypt was won by Thebes and its ruler Inyotef Sehertowy, founded the Eleventh Dynasty (2133 B.C.), with the aim of extending his power over all the land. There ensued a north-south battle for control of Egypt, which ended with the victory of Nebhepetre Mentuhope II, who re-united the country under one king, and launched the period known as the Middle Kingdom.
Montuhotep II was king for about 50 years, though much of his reign involved military campaigns, some building work was done. His greatest building work however, was his own temple and tomb, located on the west bank at Thebes. It is located in the cliffs at Deir el-Bhari, next to the famous temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
Rebuilding from the second intermediate period, was only begun in earnest by his son and successor, Montuhotep III. He demonstrated a preference for the arts as well as building. He also reopened trade with the Red Sea region.
But it was Amenemhet I, the first ruler of the 12th Dynasty, (who may have been a usurper), that some Egyptologists credit with the full recovery from the First Intermediate Period and the transition into the Middle Kingdom. Which was a period of great prosperity.
Amenemhet I appears to have been a wise leader, he set about to correct the problems of the First Intermediate Period, and he took steps to protect Egypt's boarders from invasion and to assure a legitimate succession, {he was the first king to establish a co-regency with his son, Senusret I}. Yet he was murdered in an apparent harem plot, while his co-regent was leading a campaign in Libya. We find two literary works, the Tale of Sinuhe, and the Instructions of Amenemhet I, reflecting this king's tragic end. One literary work from the time of his son Senusret I, presents the account of Amenemhet I's murder, supposedly provided by the king himself from beyond the grave:
It was after supper, when night had fallen, and I had spent an hour of happiness. I was asleep upon my bed, having become weary, and my heart had begun to follow sleep. When weapons of my counsel were wielded, I had become like a snake of the necropolis. As I came to, I awoke to fighting, and found that it was an attack of the bodyguard. If I had quickly taken weapons in my hand, I would have made the wretches retreat with a charge! But there is none mighty in the night, none who can fight alone; no success will come without a helper. Look, my injury happened while I was without you, when the entourage had not yet heard that I would hand over to you when I had not yet sat with you, that I might make counsels for you; for I did not plan it, I did not foresee it, and my heart had not taken thought of the negligence of servants.
Apparently, his foresight in creating the co-regency with his son proved successful, for Senusret I, succeeded his father, and there seems to have been little or no disruption in the administration of the country.
Amenemhet II, grandson of Amenemhet I, continued the recovery by reestablishing Egypt's prominence in foreign affairs and trade. Recovered artifacts attest that he exchanged gifts with other rulers in the Mediterranean region. We find jewelry inscribed with his name in royal tombs at Byblos in Canaan. Bronze boxes found at the temple of Montu at Tod inscribed with his name, contained a large number of silver cups of Aegean origin. Also found were cylinder seals and lapis Lazuli amulets from Mesopotamia. In addition, Egyptian artifacts from this period has been found in Crete at Knossos, and Minoan pottery, called Kamares ware, has been found in a tomb at Abydos in Egypt.
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