Fifth Dynasty of Egypt

The Fifth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty V) is often combined with Dynasties III, IV and VI under the group title the Old Kingdom. The Fifth Dynasty pharaohs reigned for approximately 150 years, from the early 25th century BC until the mid 24th century BC.

Fifth Dynasty of Egypt
The pyramid of Unas at Saqqara
Capital	Memphis
Common languages	Egyptian language
Religion	ancient Egyptian religion
Government	Absolute monarchy
Pharaoh
• 7–8 years (first)	Userkaf
• 13 years	Sahure
• c. 10 years	Neferirkare Kakai
• c. 2 years	Neferefre
• Few months	Shepseskare
• 24–35 years	Nyuserre Ini
• 8–9 years	Menkauhor Kaiu
• 33 up to over 44 years	Djedkare Isesi
• 15–30 years (last)	Unas
Historical era	Old Kingdom of Egypt
Preceded by Succeeded by Fourth Dynasty of Egypt Sixth Dynasty of Egypt

Chronology

The Fifth Dynasty of Egypt is a group of nine kings ruling Egypt for approximately 150 years in the 25th and 24th centuries BC. The relative succession of kings is not entirely secured as there are contradictions between historical sources and archaeological evidence regarding the reign of the shadowy Shepseskare.

Rulers

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 approximately 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.

Dynasty V pharaohs

Nomen (personal name)	Prenomen (throne name)	Horus-name	Images	Estimated reign duration	Pyramid	Queen(s)
Userkaf	Userkaf	Irimaat		7 years	Pyramid in Saqqara	Khentkaus I ? Neferhetepes
Sahure	Sahure	Nebkhau		13 years, 5 months and 12 days	Pyramid in Abusir	Meretnebty
Kakai	Neferirkare	Userkhau		20 years	Pyramid in Abusir	Khentkaus II
Isi	Neferefre	Neferkhau		2 to 3 years	Unfinished Pyramid of Neferefre in Abusir	Khentkaus III ?
Netjeruser	Shepseskare	Sekhemkhau		Likely a few months	Unfinished Pyramid of Abusir?
Ini	Nyuserre	Setibtawy		24 to 35 years	Pyramid in Abusir	Reptynub
Kaiu	Menkauhor	Menkhau		8 or 9 years	"Headless Pyramid" in Saqqara	Meresankh IV?
Isesi	Djedkare	Djedkhau		33 to more than 44 years	Pyramid in Saqqara	Setibhor
Unas	Unas	Wadjtawy		15 to 30 years	Pyramid in Saqqara	Nebet Khenut

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.

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.

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