Sixth Dynasty of Egypt

E51683

The Sixth Dynasty of Egypt was the final major royal line of the Old Kingdom, marked by long reigns, increasing power of provincial officials, and the gradual decline that led into the First Intermediate Period.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
sixth dynasty of ancient Egypt 1

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf dynasty
period of ancient Egypt
royal house
administrativeTrend decentralization of power
rise of nomarchs (provincial governors)
associatedWithOfficial Harkhuf
Weni the Elder
burialSiteOfKings Saqqara necropolis
surface form: Saqqara
capital Memphis
culturalFeature continuation of pyramid building at Saqqara
development of autobiographical tomb inscriptions
economicTrend possible strain on royal resources
endDate c. 2181 BC
era Old Kingdom of Egypt
surface form: Old Kingdom
firstRuler Teti
followedBy First Intermediate Period of Egypt
follows Fifth Dynasty of Egypt
foreignRelations contacts with Byblos
trade and expeditions to Nubia
trade and expeditions to Punt
governmentForm absolute monarchy
hasMonarch Merenre Nemtyemsaf I
Merenre Nemtyemsaf I
surface form: Merenre Nemtyemsaf II

Netjerkare Siptah
Pepi I Meryre
Pepi II Neferkare
Teti
Userkare
historicalInterpretation period of political fragmentation leading to First Intermediate Period
historicalSignificance final major royal line of the Old Kingdom
knownFor gradual decline of central authority
increasing power of provincial officials
long reigns of its kings
transition toward the First Intermediate Period
language Old Egyptian
lastRuler Netjerkare Siptah
locatedIn Pharaonic Egypt
surface form: Ancient Egypt

Lower Egypt
notableRuler Pepi I Meryre
Pepi II Neferkare
partOf Old Kingdom of Egypt
PepiIIReignLength traditionally about 94 years
positionInChronology Sixth Dynasty of Egypt self-linksurface differs
surface form: sixth dynasty of ancient Egypt
religion ancient Egyptian religion
sourceOfEvidence later king lists such as the Abydos King List
Saqqara necropolis
surface form: royal pyramids at Saqqara

tomb inscriptions of officials
startDate c. 2345 BC

Referenced by (7)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Pepi I Meryre dynasty Sixth Dynasty of Egypt
Pepi II Neferkare dynasty Sixth Dynasty of Egypt
Pyramid Texts earliestAttestation Sixth Dynasty of Egypt
Fifth Dynasty of Egypt followedBy Sixth Dynasty of Egypt
Sixth Dynasty of Egypt positionInChronology Sixth Dynasty of Egypt self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: sixth dynasty of ancient Egypt
Old Kingdom of Egypt rulingDynasty Sixth Dynasty of Egypt
Fifth Dynasty of Egypt succeededBy Sixth Dynasty of Egypt