Merikare

Merikare
Merykare, Merykara
Stele of Anpuemhat attesting the funerary cult of Merikare.
Pharaoh of Egypt
Predecessor	Akhtoy Nebkaure?
Successor	n.d.
Royal titulary Prenomen: Merikare mr.j-k3-rˁ
Father	Akhtoy Nebkaure?

Merikare (also Merykare and Merykara) was a pharaoh in the Ninth or Tenth Dynasty of Egypt, during the First Intermediate Period in about 2075 BC.^[1] His name is not mentioned in the Turin King List; also his dates are uncertain.

Reign

Merikare (praenomen "Beloved of the Soul of Re") was possibly the son of Akhtoy Nebkaure, who may have been his immediate predecessor as pharaoh, but the exact order of succession for these dynasties is uncertain. He may have been partly contemporaneous with the reigns of Intef I and Intef II in Thebes, but this is not confirmed.

The Teaching for King Merykara, ascribed to Kheti, was apparently addressed to him. In it, his father mentions having sacked Thinis, but advises him to deal more leniently with the troublesome Upper Egyptian realms.

Inscriptions in a tomb belonging to another Kheti who was a provincial governor of Asyut mention his supporting Merikare against the Theban rulers in the south.

He seems to have been the last Heracleopolitan ruler before Mentuhotep II of the Theban 11th dynasty defeated them, reunifying Egypt.

He died in ca. 2040 BC. His pyramid at Saqqara has not yet been discovered, but the titles of the officials involved in its construction are documented, as his funerary cult endured into the 12th dynasty; in fact, Merikare's cartouche appears on the steles of two priests, Apa and Anpuemhat, who were responsible for his funerary cult during the Middle Kingdom.^[2]

Sayings

"The Pharaonic institution is the perfect way to govern."

"He who rules over the Two Lands is a wise man.
As Master of the nobility, Pharaoh cannot be an ignorant man.
He was already wise at his mother's breast,
Since God has chosen him from millions of men."

"The companions of Pharaoh are the Gods."

"Pharaoh is he who increases wealth and knows how to give.
Pharaoh is the lord of joy.
He who rebels against him would pull down Heaven."^[3]

References

External links

• Egyptian Pharaohs: First Intermediate Period

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merikare.

v t e Pharaohs (list) Dynastic genealogies: 4th 12th 18th 19th 20th 21st 25th 26th 27th 31st Ptolemaic Protodynastic Period (prior to 3150 BC) Lower Egypt Hsekiu Khayu Tiu Thesh Neheb Wazner Mekh Double Falcon Upper Egypt Scorpion I Iry-Hor Ka Scorpion II Narmer Early Dynastic Period (3150–2686 BC) Dynasty I Narmer Hor-Aha Djer Djet Merneith♀ Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qa'a Sneferka Horus Bird Dynasty II Hotepsekhemwy Raneb Nynetjer Ba Nubnefer Horus Sa Weneg-Nebty Wadjenes Senedj Seth-Peribsen Sekhemib Neferkara I Neferkasokar Hudjefa I Khasekhemwy Old Kingdom (2686–2181 BC) Dynasty III Nebka Djoser Sekhemkhet Sanakht Khaba Qahedjet Huni Dynasty IV Snefru Khufu Djedefre Khafre Bikheris Menkaure Shepseskaf Thamphthis Dynasty V Userkaf Sahure Neferirkare Kakai Shepseskare Neferefre Niuserre Menkauhor Djedkare Unas Dynasty VI Teti Userkare Pepi I Merenre Pepi II 1st Intermediate Period (2181–2040 BC) Dynasties VII & VIII Wadjkare Qakare Iby Dynasties IX & X Wakhare Khety I Meryibre Khety Merykare Kaneferre Nebkaure Akhtoy Middle Kingdom (2040–1802 BC) Dynasty XI Mentuhotep I Intef I Intef II Intef III Mentuhotep II Mentuhotep III Mentuhotep IV Dynasty XII Amenemhet I Senusret I Amenemhet II Senusret II Senusret III Amenemhet III Amenemhet IV Sobeknefru♀ 2nd Intermediate Period (1802–1550 BC) Dynasty XIII Sekhemre Khutawy Sobekhotep Sonbef Nerikare Sekhemkare Amenemhat V Ameny Qemau Hotepibre Iufni Ameny Antef Amenemhet VI Semenkare Nebnuni Sehetepibre Sewadjkare Nedjemibre Khaankhre Sobekhotep Renseneb Hor Sekhemrekhutawy Khabaw Sebkay Sedjefakare Wegaf Khendjer Imyremeshaw Sehetepkare Intef Seth Meribre Sobekhotep III Neferhotep I Sihathor Sobekhotep IV Merhotepre Sobekhotep Khahotepre Sobekhotep Wahibre Ibiau Merneferre Ay Merhotepre Ini Sankhenre Sewadjtu Mersekhemre Ined Sewadjkare Hori Merkawre Sobekhotep Mershepsesre Ini II Sewahenre Senebmiu Sewadjare Mentuhotep Seheqenre Sankhptahi Dynasty XIV Qareh Khawoserre 'Ammu Ahotepre Maaibre Sheshi Nehesy Wazad Merdjefare Yaqub-Har Dynasty XV Sakir-Har Khyan Apepi I Khamudi Dynasty XVI Djehuti Sobekhotep VIII Neferhotep III Mentuhotepi Nebiryraw I Nebiriau II Semenre Bebiankh Sekhemre Shedwast Dedumose I Dedumose II Montuemsaf Merankhre Mentuhotep Senusret IV Pepi III Abydos Dynasty Senebkay Wepwawetemsaf Pantjeny Snaaib Dynasty XVII Rahotep Nebmaatre Sobekemsaf I Sobekemsaf II Intef V Intef VII Senakhtenre Tao Kamose New Kingdom (1550–1070 BC) Dynasty XVIII Ahmose I Amenhotep I Tuthmosis I Tuthmosis II Tuthmosis III Hatshepsut♀ Amenhotep II Tuthmosis IV Amenhotep III Akhenaten Smenkhkare Neferneferuaten♀ Tutankhamun Ay Horemheb Dynasty XIX Ramesses I Seti I Ramesses II Merneptah Amenmesses Seti II Siptah Twosret♀ Dynasty XX Setnakhte Ramesses III Ramesses IV Ramesses V Ramesses VI Ramesses VII Ramesses VIII Ramesses IX Ramesses X Ramesses XI 3rd Intermediate Period (1069–664 BC) Dynasty XXI Smendes I Amenemnisu Psusennes I Amenemope Osorkon the Elder Siamun Psusennes II Dynasty XXII Sheshonq I Osorkon I Sheshonq II Takelot I Osorkon II Sheshonq III Pami Sheshonq V Osorkon IV Dynasty XXIII Harsiese A Takelot II Pedibastet Sheshonq IV Osorkon III Takelot III Rudamon Menkheperre Ini Dynasty XXIV Tefnakht Bakenrenef Dynasty XXV Piankhi Shabaka Shebitku Taharqa Tanutamun Late Period (664–332 BC) Dynasty XXVI Psamtik I Nekau Psamtik II Wahibre Ahmose II Psamtik III Dynasty XXVII Cambyses II Darius I Xerxes Artaxerxes I Darius II Dynasty XXVIII Amyrtaeus Dynasty XXIX Nefaarud I Hakor Dynasty XXX Nectanebo I Teos Nectanebo II Dynasty XXXI Artaxerxes III Arses Darius III Hellenistic Period (332–30 BC) Argead Dynasty (XXXII) Alexander the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV Ptolemaic Dynasty Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Ptolemy VIII Euergetes Ptolemy IX Soter Ptolemy X Alexander I Ptolemy XI Alexander II Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Berenice IV♀ Cleopatra♀ Ptolemy XV Caesarion ♀ indicates female pharaoh

Persondata
Name	Merikare
Alternative names
Short description	Egyptian pharoah
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death	2040 BC
Place of death