Userkaf

Userkaf was the first king ( pharaoh ) of ancient Egyptian 5th Dynasty the Old Kingdom. He reigned about 2500-2490 BC About his person and his reign there are very few products. Userkaf is known primarily for its construction were among the key projects a pyramid system and a sun temple. The latter represents the first representatives of this typical for the 5th Dynasty temple type

• 3.1 The Userkaf Pyramid at Saqqara
• 3.2 The sun temple of Userkaf in Abu Gurob

Origin and family

The origin and family relationships Userkafs are largely in the dark. The Egyptian priest and historian Manetho wrote in the 3rd century BC, Userkaf came from Elephantine on the southern border of Egypt. Whether this tradition is based on facts, however, is unknown. Also unclear is the relationship with the royal family of the 4th dynasty and his successors. This requires a more lore from a later period is often used, namely a story from the papyrus Westcar are called triplets and sons of a Rudj - Djedet in the Userkaf and his two successors Sahura and Neferirkare. The latter is usually identified in research with Chentkaus I, which is considered the " matriarch " of the 5th dynasty and the unique title of " mother of two kings of Upper and Lower Egypt " was wearing. About the relationship between Userkaf and Chentkaus prevails in the research, however, disagreement. So it is partly seen as their husband and so as the father of Sahura and Neferirkare, but partly also as a son of Chentkaus and thus as a brother of his two successors.

Through the discovery of some relief blocks in the pyramid of Sahura is now secured, however, that the wife of Userkaf was a queen named Neferhetepes. She is also the mother of Sahura, the successor of Userkaf.

Rule

Longevity

The exact duration of the government Userkaf is unknown. The Royal Canon of Turin, which originated in the New Kingdom, and is an important document for Egyptian chronology, specifies seven years of living in the 3rd century BC Egyptian priest Manetho 28 The highest occupied Contemporary sure date is a " third Time of the census, "which originally introduced as Horus conduct a census of cattle is meant for the purpose of tax collection. A certain problem involves the fact that these counts initially every two years took place ( that is, an "x -th year of the count " followed by a " year after the umpteenth time of the census "), but also take place a year later partly could (on an "x -th year of the count " was followed by the "y -th year of the count "). In a very short reign, as is assumed by most researchers for Userkaf, this circumstance would not, however much consequence. More problematic are four dates that were found in the sun temple of Userkaf and a " fifth Time of the count " and a " year after the 5th time of the count " call. However, since these dates no mention of a king name occurs is still unclear whether they are attributable Userkaf or whether they were in rebuilding measures by a later king, about Sahura or Neferirkare attached. The Egyptological research on this question tends towards the latter possibility and takes for Userkaf to a government length of about seven to eight years.

Events

Under Userkaf the Re - cult ( sun worship ) prevailed final. It is certain that already expeditions to Lebanon and to Punt (Somalia) were carried out at the time.

Construction

The Userkaf Pyramid at Saqqara

→ Main article: Userkaf Pyramid

After his predecessor Shepseskaf erected a monument in the form of a huge mastaba itself, Userkaf returned to the shape of the pyramid. As the site he chose the immediate vicinity of the Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara. Userkafs tomb with the ancient Egyptian name " Pure are the ( cult ) places of Userkaf " has some new features compared to older pyramids, some of which were used by later rulers, but partly also remained unique.

With a side length of 73.30 meters and a height of 49.40 meters, the original Userkaf pyramid was designed significantly smaller than their predecessors. As a building material for the core masonry was roughly hewn limestone of local origin, for lining of finer Tura limestone was used. The entrance to the underground chamber system is no longer as in the pyramids of the 4th dynasty in an elevated position on the north side but on the pavement of the past before her court. From there first leads down a descending passage, which then goes into a horizontal position. Behind a blocking device, there is a turn to the east to a T -shaped magazine chamber. The main course leads southwards to the antechamber, to the west the actual grave chamber followed, were found in what remains of a basalt sarcophagus.

The mortuary temple is made considerably larger in proportion to the pyramid, as it was the case in previous pyramids. This strong emphasis on the mortuary temple was taken over by Userkafs successors of the 5th and 6th dynasty, but his position on the south side of the pyramid was once held as usual in the 4th Dynasty on the east side. Although the temple is a large area disturbed by later construction, there are three main sections can be reconstructed: a south-easterly entrance area, a middle part, which included an open Pfeilerhof and the holy of holies, and a south-west section in which there was a small cult pyramid. In Pfeilerhof numerous relief fragments and the head of a colossal statue were found. The pyramid and mortuary temple are surrounded by an enclosure wall, the Valley Temple and the causeway that connected it to the mortuary temple, have so far unexcavated. South of the Dead Temple located as queens pyramid Neferhetepes pyramid that has its own, remote from the Tomb of the Userkaf pyramid complex.

The sun temple of Userkaf in Abu Gurob

→ Main article: sun temple of Userkaf

Userkaf regarded as the builder of the sun shrine of Abu Gurob ( at Abusir, since 1954 unearthed ) and becoming the first king who built a sun temple in Egypt. This sanctuary covers an area of ​​44 × 83 m.

Statuary

Statues of Userkaf have been found in two places: in the valley temple of his sun sanctuary ( see figure above) in Abusir and in the mortuary temple of his pyramid at Saqqara. None of the statues is completely preserved; the most outstanding specimens are two well- preserved statue heads.

One of them was discovered in the 1950s during excavations outside the valley temple of Userkaf sanctuary and is now in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo ( JE 90220 Inv ). It consists of greywacke and measures 45 × 26 × 25 cm. The king is shown beardless and wears on his head the red crown of Lower Egypt. The excavator Herbert Ricke assumed initially that it was a statue of the goddess Neith, which was also shown in this way. Later, however, remains of a painted with black color mustache were identified, which was clearly confirmed that this is a statue of a king.

More statue finds from the sanctuary Userkaf are smaller fragments of limestone, granite and red sandstone, which were discovered in 1907 by Ludwig Borchardt. Another piece of alabaster originally belonged to an almost life-size statue. It shows the mouth and chin of the king and is now in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin ( Inv. No. ÄM 19774 )

Another very well-preserved statue 's head was found in 1928 by Cecil Firth in the mortuary temple of Userkaf pyramid and is now also owned by the Egyptian Museum in Cairo ( JE 52501 Inv ). The head is made of red granite and has a height of 75 cm. He was thus originally a colossal statue of about four meters in height ( starting from the assumption that there had been a seated statue ) and thus far the largest known statue of the 5th Dynasty. The king is here also shown beardless and wears the Nemes kerchief with a uraeus on his forehead. Also in the mortuary temple of the pyramid more statues fragments of granite and diorite were found carrying the equity and Horus name Userkafs.

Userkaf in memory of Ancient Egypt

Userkafs enjoyed in the course of Egyptian history for a long time high reputation. His cultic worship held, however, to not very long and its buildings were left to decay. During the Middle Kingdom, at the beginning of the 12th dynasty, King Amenemhet I. Parts of Userkafs pyramid complex tear down and used the stones to build his own pyramid at el- Lisht.

Well also in the Middle Kingdom Userkaf was first mentioned in a literary work, namely, in one of the stories of the papyrus Westcar. As time of origin of the stories of the 12th dynasty is adopted by majority, although now increasingly arguments are appropriate, they dated to the 17th dynasty, from which also comes the traditional papyrus. The action takes place in the royal court and revolves around Pharaoh Cheops of the 4th Dynasty as the main person. To pass the boredom, he can tell by his sons miraculous stories. After three of his sons have already told him about past wonder, can the fourth Hordjedef a surviving wizard named Djedi bring bring, which initially presents magic tricks. Cheops would then know of Djedi whether this the number of ipwt ( exact meaning of the word unclear, including translated locks, chambers, chests ) of Thoth sanctuary of Heliopolis know. Djedi says no and explains that Rudj - Djedet, the wife of a Re -priest, three sons born to her would be to climb the throne. The oldest of these is to find out the number and transmit Cheops. Djedi adds reassuringly that these three are only ascend to the throne, who ruled when already Khufu's son and grandson will be. Cheops then decides to visit the residence of the Rudj - Djedet. Subsequently, suddenly the description of the birth of the three kings. The four goddesses Isis, Nephthys, and Meschenet Heket, as well as the god Khnum occur and be of Rauser, Rudj - Djedets husband, led to the laboring woman. Through dance and spells they help the three kings of the world. Their names are reproduced here as a User Re -ef, Sah- Re and Keku, so it is the first three kings of the 5th Dynasty: Userkaf, Sahura and Neferirkare Kakai.

From the New Kingdom relief fragment is known, which dates from the grave of a priest named Mehu from Saqqara and dated to the 19th or 20th Dynasty. On him three deities are depicted facing a number of deceased kings. These are Djoser and Djoserteti from the 3rd dynasty and Userkaf from the 5th Dynasty. From a fourth king, a strong signature of destroyed is only obtained which was read in part as Schepseskare, partly as Djedkare. The relief is an expression of personal piety of the grave owner, who had thus worship the ancient kings for him to the gods.

During the 19th Dynasty Khaemwaset, a son of Ramesses II led by nationally restoration projects. This included numerous pyramids, as is known by inscriptions. You may also see the Userkaf pyramid this included, because even on the fragments of her disguise remains of a hieroglyphic inscription were found.