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Pyramid of Pepi II with smaller pyramids for the queens Neith, Iput II and Udjebten.

Documenting 6th Dynasty Pharaohs: The Significant Inscription on the South Saqqara Stone

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The sands of Egypt still cover many secrets. One such example was unearthed in the desert in Saqqara, which is now a part of Cairo. The stories of the people who lived there more than 5000 years ago remain lost, covered by the sands of the desert. This is why sometimes even the smallest discovery may open the doors to their biographies. The mysterious lid of a sarcophagus brought priceless information about the times of a queen whose life was related to at least two generations of powerful Egyptian rulers.

Saqqara is usually recognized for the famous step pyramid of the pharaoh Djoser. Its impressive shape creates a shadow over the site’s history. Every year thousands of tourists walk over Egyptian land - and most of them don't even notice that they have history hidden under their feet. What they usually consider as fascinating are the huge constructions, mummies, and golden treasures, but for science, artifacts like the South Saqqara Stone are priceless.

The South Saqqara Stone’s Royal Owner

The South Saqqara Stone is more relevant to science than a spectacle for visitors. The inscription that was carved in the stone opened a gate to the history of a dynasty that is still very mysterious but fascinating.

The South Saqqara Stone is the lid of a sarcophagus that belonged to a pharaoh’s wife. Her name was Queen Ankhenespepi. She belonged to the 6th dynasty and is one of the most famous queens of this period. Along with her sister, who shared her name, she was one of Pharaoh Pepi I’s wives.

Lifesize copper statue of Pepi I, Cairo Museum.

Lifesize copper statue of Pepi I, Cairo Museum. (Public Domain)

The Mysterious South Saqqara Stone

The South Saqqara Stone was discovered by the Swiss Egyptologist Gustave Jenquier, who is well-known due to his excavations in the pyramid complex of Pepi II. He found the precious stone in one of the rooms of the pyramid of Queen Iput II during the excavation season of 1932-33.

The stone is one of the earliest texts documenting the names of ancient Egyptian rulers. It is made of basalt and measures 2.43 x 0.92 meters (7.97 x 3.02 ft.) The inscription covered both sides of the stone. The text is related to the pharaohs Teti, Userkare, Pepi I, Merenre, and Pepi II.

Alabaster statue of Ankhesenmeryre II and her son Pepi II.

Alabaster statue of Ankhesenmeryre II and her son Pepi II. (CC BY-SA 2.5)

The inscription’s text starts with a column on the right that contains a king’s titulary. Researchers suggest that it probably belongs to Pepi II, which allows them to date the inscription to his time. The only part of the name that has survived is the initial Horus of Horus-name. The titulary band located on the left has the names of Userkara and (about 25 cm (9.84 inches) left of the middle of the slab’s breadth) the titles of Meryra Pepi and his mother’s name - Ipwt.

Pyramid of Pepi II with smaller pyramids for the queens Neith, Iput II, and Udjebten.

Pyramid of Pepi II with smaller pyramids for the queens Neith, Iput II, and Udjebten. (Public Domain)

As Francesco Raffaele explained:

“'The registers below, containing the events of each year, have no horizontal/vertical divisory line; thanks to the occurrances of the formula " Nswt-bity X ir.n.f m mnw.f " it has been possible to reconstruct 6 registers on the recto. Each column is c. 1,1 cm wide (and c. 14-15 cm in height but the sixth is only 10cm); as in the Palermo/Cairo Stone, the years blocks broaden with the last kings (Merenra) and it's a pity that no vertical line marks the year block on the S.S. Annals; each year was made of various columns and was from 5,5 to more than 30 cm large. Teti's reign had 5 columns x regnal year (we know for him a HAt-xt-sp 12 and infact 1,1 x 5 x 12 = 66 cm); Userkara's reign would contain 8 year-cases according to the model of Teti's reign but only 2, 3 or 4 according to that of Pepi I; the reign of Pepi I had 10-15 columns year-compartments; it seems that the formula "Ir.n.f m mnw.f n ..." recurred in alternate years (only in the year of the x-th count, not in the year after the x-th count), but, probably since the 3rd year of Merenra, each 'Mnw' only comprehended one year and the breadth of the year compartments was much wider (20, 25 and, after the middle of line 6, more than 30 columns, thus up to 40 cm).”

The South Saqqara Stone.

The South Saqqara Stone. (CC0)

Sadly, much of the priceless inscription on the South Saqqara Stone has been erased over time. However, the information that comes from the surviving text provides confirmation for data known from later periods, as well as some unique details.

Documenting the Legendary 6th Dynasty

The rulers of the 6th dynasty created numerous buildings and remarkable artifacts. The reign of Pepi II is one of the best documented of this period. However, it is difficult to thoroughly decipher the history of a sophisticated civilization from over 5000 years ago. Artifacts like the South Saqqara Stone bring researchers closer to the stories of major authorities from times when people were creating some of the most fascinating tombs in history.

Top image: Pyramid of Pepi II with smaller pyramids for the queens Neith, Iput II and Udjebten. (Public Domain) and the South Saqqara Stone (CC0)

By Natalia Klimczak

References:

The South Saqqara Stone by Francesco Raffaele, available at:
http://xoomer.virgilio.it/francescoraf/hesyra/ssannals.htm

An Overview of South Saqqara in Egypt by Jimmy Dunn writing as Alan Winston
http://www.touregypt.net/southsaq.htm

Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton, The complete royal families of Ancient Egypt, 2004.

Alan Gardiner, Egypt of the Pharaohs, 1964.

 

Natalia

Natalia Klimczak is an historian, journalist and writer and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate at the Faculty of Languages, University of Gdansk. Natalia does research in Narratology, Historiography, History of Galicia (Spain) and Ancient History of Egypt, Rome and Celts. She... Read More

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