Pepi II Neferkare: The Decline of Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom
Following up on Meryneith (Meryre): High Priest of the Aten in Akhetaten, this week we’ll take a look at the life of Pepi II Neferkare, Egypt’s longest reigning pharaoh.
King's personal seal, year 2, third month of inundation, day 15. Royal decree to the Sole Companion, lector-priest and chief of desert rangers, Harkhuf.
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According to the Turin King-list, a papyrus which lists all kings from the first five dynasties, Pepi II ruled for over 90 years (2246 - 2152 BC). This appears to be confirmed by Manetho who recorded 94 years. Some doubt has been shed on this high number, and researchers believe that it was the result of a misreading of 64.
Pharaoh Pepi II ascended the throne at about the age of six. He’s considered the last ruler of Egypt's 6th Dynasty and the last significant ruler of the Old Kingdom.
Within the span of 20 years, fragmentary records indicate that no less than 18 kings and possibly one queen ascended the throne with nominal control over the country. This was the entire length of the 7th and 8th Dynasties (2150 - 2134 BC).
Pepi II was the grandson of Pepi I, the son of Merenre and Queen Ankhesenpepi II. His birth name was Pepi, while his throne name was Neferkare, which means "Beautiful is the Soul of Re." His mother, Ankhesenpepi II, probably acted as regent during his youth.
Pharaoh Pepi II Neferkare had at least five wives, some of whom were his sisters or aunts – Neith, Iput, Ankhenespepi III and Ankhenespepi IV were all King’s Daughters. Another wife was Wedjebten.
Not much has been written about his reign, suggesting that it was relatively peaceful. Outside of Egypt the political landscape was changing – the lands to the south were coming together in a coalition of states and Egypt’s influence wasn’t as strong as it had been.
By the end of the Old Kingdom, the inundation of the Nile River apparently became less abundant. Local measures needed to be taken to ensure that the flooding of the Nile would cover enough land to keep it fertile… a key factor in the decline of the Old Kingdom over two or three decades.
This led to a severe famine that gripped the country and paralyzed the political institutions. People were forced to commit unheard of atrocities such as eating their own children.
With a lower annual inundation, harvests and crops were no longer abundant and agriculture, the backbone of Egyptian economy, began to decline. Local administrators and governors who succeeded in controlling the flow of the floods for their region strengthened their position against the central government. The erosion of power of the centralized state was offset by that of these provincial governors and officials who became hereditary holders of their posts.
Pepi II’s death marked a sharp decline of the Old Kingdom. Building projects ceased almost entirely until the reign of Mentuhotep II of the 11th Dynasty. His funerary monument was built and decorated less ornately than his predecessors.
His pyramid complex consisted of all the elements that had become standard by the end of the 6th Dynasty: a main pyramid, a mortuary temple and a satellite pyramid to the east of it and a causeway leading to a valley temple. Three Queen's Pyramids, with their own mortuary temples were found to the south and northwest of the King's complex.
During the Old Kingdom, pyramid building had reached its peak, giving this period its nickname Age of the Pyramids.
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