Known rulers in the Fifth Dynasty are listed below.
Manetho assigns 248 years of rule to the Fifth Dynasty; however, the
pharaohs of this dynasty more probably ruled for around 150 years. This estimate varies by both scholar and source. The
Horus names and most names of the queens are taken from Dodson and Hilton. Manetho writes that the Dynasty V kings ruled from
Elephantine, but archeologists have found evidence clearly showing that their palaces were still located at
Ineb-hedj ("White Walls"). As before, expeditions were sent to
Wadi Maghareh and
Wadi Kharit in the
Sinai to mine for
turquoise and
copper, and to quarries northwest of
Abu Simbel for
gneiss. Trade expeditions were sent south to
Punt to obtain
malachite,
myrrh, and
electrum, and archeological finds at
Byblos attest to diplomatic expeditions sent to that
Phoenician city. Finds bearing the names of several Dynasty V kings at the site of
Dorak, near the
Sea of Marmara, may be evidence of trade but remain a mystery.
Family tree Userkaf How
Pharaoh Userkaf founded this dynasty is not known for certain. The
Westcar Papyrus, which was written during the
Middle Kingdom, tells a story of how king
Khufu of Dynasty IV was given a prophecy that triplets born to the wife of the priest of
Ra in
Sakhbu would overthrow him and his heirs, and how he attempted to put these children – named Userkaf,
Sahure, and
Neferirkare – to death; however in recent years, scholars have recognized this story to be at best a legend and admit their ignorance over how the transition from one dynasty to another transpired. During this dynasty,
Egyptian religion made several important changes. The earliest known copies of funerary prayers inscribed on royal tombs (known as the
Pyramid Texts) appear. The cult of the god
Ra gains added importance, and kings from Userkaf through
Menkauhor Kaiu built temples dedicated to Ra at or near
Abusir. Then late in this dynasty, the cult of the
deity Osiris assumes importance, most notably in the inscriptions found in the tomb of
Unas.
Djedkare Isesi Amongst non-royal Egyptians of this time,
Ptahhotep,
vizier to
Djedkare Isesi, won fame for his wisdom;
The Maxims of Ptahhotep was ascribed to him by its later copyists. Non-royal tombs were also decorated with inscriptions, like the royal ones, but instead of prayers or incantations, biographies of the deceased were written on the walls. == Comparison of regnal lists ==