Sixth Dynasty of Egypt

Tomb Relief of Iny

All years are BC

First Dynasty	I	c. 3150–2890
Second Dynasty	II	2890–2686

Old Kingdom

Third Dynasty	III	2686–2613
Fourth Dynasty	IV	2613–2498
Fifth Dynasty	V	2498–2345
Sixth Dynasty	VI	2345–2181

First Intermediate

Seventh Dynasty	VII	spurious
Eighth Dynasty	VIII	2181–2160
Ninth Dynasty	IX	2160–2130
Tenth Dynasty	X	2130–2040
Early Eleventh Dynasty	XI	2134–2061

Middle Kingdom

Late Eleventh Dynasty	XI	2061–1991
Twelfth Dynasty	XII	1991–1803
Thirteenth Dynasty	XIII	1803–1649
Fourteenth Dynasty	XIV	1705–1690

Second Intermediate

Fifteenth Dynasty	XV	1674–1535
Sixteenth Dynasty	XVI	1660–1600
Abydos Dynasty		1650–1600
Seventeenth Dynasty	XVII	1580–1549

New Kingdom

Eighteenth Dynasty	XVIII	1549–1292
Nineteenth Dynasty	XIX	1292–1189
Twentieth Dynasty	XX	1189–1077

Third Intermediate

Twenty-first Dynasty	XXI	1069–945
Twenty-second Dynasty	XXII	945–720
Twenty-third Dynasty	XXIII	837–728
Twenty-fourth Dynasty	XXIV	732–720
Twenty-fifth Dynasty	XXV	732–653

Late Period

Twenty-sixth Dynasty	XXVI	672–525
Twenty-seventh Dynasty (1st Persian Period)	XXVII	525–404
Twenty-eighth Dynasty	XXVIII	404–398
Twenty-ninth Dynasty	XXIX	398–380
Thirtieth Dynasty	XXX	380–343
Thirty-first Dynasty (2nd Persian Period)	XXXI	343–332

Ptolemaic (Hellenistic)

Argead Dynasty	332–305
Ptolemaic Kingdom	305–30

The Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty VI) along with Dynasties III, IV and V constitute the Old Kingdom of Dynastic Egypt.

Pharaohs

Known pharaohs of the Sixth Dynasty are as follows (the absolute dates given are suggestions rather than facts, as the error margin amounts to tens of years) The pharaohs of this dynasty ruled for approximately 164 years. The Horus names and names of the Queens are taken from Dodson and Hilton.^[1]

**Dynasty VI pharaohs**
Name of King	Horus (Throne) Name	Date	Pyramid	Queen(s)
Teti	Seheteptawy	2345–2333 BC	Pyramid of Teti at Saqqara	Khent(kaus III) Iput I Khuit
Userkare		2333–2331 BC
Pepi I	Nefersahor/Merenre	2331–2287 BC	Pyramid of Pepi I in South Saqqara	Ankhesenpepi I Ankhesenpepi II Nubwenet Meritites IV Inenek-Inti Mehaa Nedjeftet
Merenre I	Merenre	2287–2278 BC	Pyramid of Merenre in South Saqqara	Ankhesenpepi II
Pepi II	Neferkare	2278–2184 BC	Pyramid of Pepi II in South Saqqara	Neith Iput II Ankhesenpepi III Ankhesenpepi IV Udjebten
Merenre II	Merenre	2184 BC
Netjerkare Siptah		2184–2181 BC

Dynasty VI is considered by many authorities as the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom, although The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt ^[2] includes Dynasties VII and VIII as part of the Old Kingdom. Manetho writes that these kings ruled from Memphis, since their pyramids were built at Saqqara, very close one to another.^[3]

Teti

Dynasty VI was founded by Teti, who had married Iput, commonly believed to be the daughter of the Dynasty V pharaoh Unas. Manetho claimed that Teti was eventually murdered by his own bodyguard, but no contemporary sources confirm this.^[4]

Pepi I

During this dynasty, expeditions were sent to Wadi Maghara in the Sinai Peninsula to mine for turquoise and copper, as well as to the mines at Hatnub and Wadi Hammamat. The pharaoh Djedkara sent trade expeditions south to Punt and north to Byblos, and Pepi I sent expeditions not only to these locations, but also as far as Ebla in modern-day Syria.

Pepi II

The most notable member of this dynasty was Pepi II, who is credited with a reign of 94 years,^[5] one of the longest of any monarch in history.

Nitiqret

Also known by the Greek name Nitocris, this woman is believed by some authorities to have been not only the first female pharaoh but the first queen in the world, although it is currently accepted that her name is actually a mistranslation of the king Neitiqerty Siptah.

The rise of the nobility

Seated statue of an official on block chair. Limestone. 6th Dynasty. From Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

With the growing number of biographical inscriptions in non-royal tombs,^[6] our knowledge of the contemporary history broadens.^[7] For example, we hear of an unsuccessful plot against Pepi I.^[8] We also read a letter written by the young king Pepi II, excited that one of his expeditions will return with a dancing pygmy from the land of Yam, located to the south of Nubia.^[9]

These non-royal tomb inscriptions are but one example of the growing power of the nobility, which further weakened the absolute rule of the king. As a result, it is believed that on the death of the long-lived Pepi II his vassals were entrenched enough to resist the authority of his many successors, which may have contributed to the rapid decline of the Old Kingdom.

References

↑ Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton: The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. The American University in Cairo Press, London 2004
↑ Ian Shaw ed., The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2000
↑ Sir Alan Gardiner, Egypt of the Pharaohs, Oxford University Press 1964, p. 91
↑ Naguib Kanawati, Conspiracies in the Egyptian Palace: Unis to Pepy I, Routledge 2003, p.157
↑ Ian Shaw, The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Oxford University Press 2000, p.116
↑ J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part One, Chicago 1906, §§282-390
↑ Ian Shaw, The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Oxford University Press 2000, p.115
↑ J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part One, Chicago 1906, §310
↑ J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Part One, Chicago 1906, §§350-354

Preceded by Fifth dynasty	Dynasty of Egypt c. 2345 – 2181 BC	Succeeded by (Seventh) Eighth Dynasty

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