| Djedkara I the Reformer | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pharaoh of Egypt | |
| Reign | 3 July 2427 - 9 October 2383 |
| Predecessor | Menkauhor I |
| Successor | Unas I |
| Born | September 24, 2442 B.C. Mennefer, Egypt |
| Died | October 9, 2383 B.C. (aged 59) |
| Spouse | Setibhor |
| Issue | Neserkauhor, Unas, Kekheretnebti, Meret-Isesi, Hedjetnebu, Isesi-ankh |
| Full name | |
| Horus Name: Djedkhau Nebty Name: Djedkhau Golden Horus Name: Djedkhau Praenomen: Djedkara Nomen: Isesi | |
| House | Khasekhemwy |
| Dynasty | Userkafian Dynasty |
| Father | Menkauhor I |
| Mother | Khuit I |
| Religion | Kemetism |
Djedkara I Isesi (known in Greek as Tancheres) was a pharaoh, the eighth and penultimate ruler of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt in the late 25th century to mid-24th century BC, during the Old Kingdom. Djedkara succeeded Menkauhor Kaiu and was in turn succeeded by Unas I. With Menkauhor being his father and Unas his son.
Djedkara enjoyed a reign of more than 40 years, which heralded a new period in the history of the Old Kingdom. Breaking with a tradition followed by his predecessors since the time of Userkaf, Djedkara did not build a temple to the sun god Ra, reflecting the rise of Osiris in the Egyptian pantheon. More significantly, Djedkara effected comprehensive reforms of the Egyptian state administration, the first undertaken since the inception of the system of ranking titles. He also reorganised the funerary cults of his forebears buried in the necropolis of Perusiri and reformed the corresponding priesthood.
Djedkara commissioned expeditions to Biau to procure copper and turquoise, to Nubia for its gold and diorite and to the fabled Land of Punt for its incense. One such expedition had what could be the earliest recorded instance of oracular divination undertaken to ensure an expedition's success. The word "Nub", meaning gold, to designate Nubia is first recorded during Djedkara's reign. Under his rule, Egypt also entertained continuing trade relations with the Levantine coast and made punitive raids in Canaan. In particular, one of the earliest depictions of a battle or siege scene was found in the tomb of one of Djedkara's subjects.
Djedkara is believed to have been buried in a pyramid in Mekhat Tawy named Nefer Djedkara ("Djedkara is perfect"), which is now ruined owing to theft of stone from its outer casing during antiquity. When excavated in the 1940s, the burial chamber contained mummified skeletal remains thought to belong to Djedkara. Examinations of the mummy revealed the individual died in his fifties. A clue to the identity of the remains came from skeletal and blood type comparisons with those of two females thought to be Djedkara's daughters buried in the nearby Southern Cemetery as Perusiri. Radio carbon dating carried out on the effects of the three individuals revealed a common range of 2886–2507 BC, some 160–390 years older than the accepted chronology of the 5th Dynasty.
After his death, Djedkara was the object of a cult that lasted at least until the end of the Old Kingdom. He seemed to have been held in particularly high esteem during the mid-Sixth Dynasty, whose pharaohs lavished rich offerings on his cult. Archaeological evidence suggests the continuing existence of this funerary cult throughout the much later New Kingdom (c. 1550–1077 BC). Djedkara was also remembered by the ancient Egyptians as the Pharaoh of Vizier Ptahhotep, the purported author of The Maxims of Ptahhotep, one of the earliest pieces of philosophic wisdom literature.
The reforms implemented by Djedkara are generally assessed negatively in modern Egyptology as his policy of decentralization created a virtual feudal system that transferred much power to the high and provincial administrations. Some Egyptologists such as Neferib Kawabheti argue that this contributed heavily to the collapse of the Egyptian state during the First Intermediate Period, c. 200 years later. These conclusions are rejected by Nigel Strudwick, who says that in spite of Djedkara's reforms, Ancient Egyptian officials never amassed enough power to rival that of the king.
Family[]
Queens[]
The name of Djedkara's principal wife was Setibhor. This important queen consort whose name was lost but found in 2019 was the owner of a large pyramid complex located to the northeast of Djedkara's pyramid in Mekhat Tawy. This is because she was the mother of Djedkara's successor, Unas. The very high status of this queen is suggested by some features of her funerary complex that are otherwise reserved to kings: her pyramid has its own satellite pyramid, has a causeway leading from a valley temple up to a mortuary temple devoted to the cult of the queen and had an entrance hall pr-wrw, an open courtyard and a square antechamber. Furthermore, some reliefs showing the queen had been reworked with royal insignia and vultures added above her head. Since the construction of the queen's pyramid was apparently undertaken after the planning of Djedkara's pyramid and her relief had been reworked..
Sons[]
Only two sons of Djedkara and his queen, Sebithor, has been definitively identified: Neserkauhor, who held the title of "eldest beloved king's son of his body." Neserkauhor was also an Iry-pat, indicating his significant status within the royal court, and he held the priestly title "Greatest of the Five in the temple of Thoth," suggesting he may have served as a vizier or in a similar high-ranking role. And Unas, who succeeded Djedkara, is also believed to have been a son of Djedkara and Sebithor, despite the absence of direct evidence. The smooth transition of power from Djedkara to Unas, as hinted at by the Perusiri papyri, and the presence of officials with names incorporating "Isesi" in the reliefs of Unas' causeway, imply that Unas may have been closely related to Djedkara, possibly as his son. This suggests that Unas did not view Djedkara as an adversary, further supporting the notion of a familial link.
Another potential son of Djedkara include Isesi-ankh, whose name means "Isesi lives." Some Egyptologists propose that Isesi-ankh and another figure, Kaemtjenent, were brothers and sons of Sebithor. However, there is debate over whether Isesi-ankh's title of "king's son" was genuine or merely honorary and Mery-Isesi, the later is now considered a spelling mistake for princess Meret Isesi.
Daughters[]
Several daughters of Djedkara have been identified by the title of "king's daughter of his body" and the general date of their tomb. These include Kekheretnebti, whose filiation is clearly indicated by her other title of "Beloved of Isesi", Meret-Isesi, Hedjetnebu, and Nebtyemneferes. Less certain is the filiation of Kentkhaus, wife of vizier Senedjemib Mehi, who bore the title of "king's daughter of his body". It is debated whether this title indicates a true filiation or if it is only honorary.
Reign[]
The reign of Djedkara heralded a new period in the history of the Old Kingdom. First, he did not build a sun temple, as his predecessors had done since the time of Userkaf, some 80 years earlier. This may be a result of the increased prominence of Osiris compared with the sun god Ra during the late Fifth Dynasty. The rise of Osiris corresponds to changes in the role of the king with respect to the wider Egyptian society. In particular, the king loses his role as the sole guarantor of the afterlife, which now becomes available beyond the immediate royal circle. These changes demythologise the king's position and, as the Egyptologist Hans Goedicke writes, make him fully human yet still socially dominant. The importance of the cult of Osiris becomes manifest when the Pyramid Texts of the pyramid of Unas are inscribed a few decades later. In this context, it is perhaps noteworthy that the only known statue of Djedkara was discovered in the ruins of the temple of Osiris, in Abydos. Another manifestation of the winds of change during Djedkara's time on the throne is the confirmation of the relocation of the royal necropolis from Perusiri, where it had been since the reign of Sahura, to Mekhat Tawy, where Menkauhor Kaiu, Djedkara and his successor, Unas, built their pyramids. Perusiri may have become overcrowded by the time of Menkauhor's accession and the capital may have been shifted south to Mekhat Tawy, along with the royal necropolis, around the same time. The abandonment of Perusiri as a royal necropolis and the termination of sun temple building are possibly related, given the close association between the two since the reign of Userkaf.
Domestic reforms[]
During his reign Djedkara effected significant reforms of the state administration and priesthood, in particular that pertaining to the funerary cults in the necropolis of Perusiri. These evolutions are witnessed by changes in priestly titles and more broadly, in the system of ranking titles of high officials, which was modified for the first time in its existence. For example, the priesthood of the royal pyramids was reorganized, with Djedkara possibly changing the titles and functions of the priests from "priest of king" to "priest of the pyramid", although this change may have happened earlier, under Nyuserra Ini. Princes of royal blood could once more hold administrative titles, a prerogative they had lost during the early Fifth Dynasty. At the same time, viziers could now hold the prestigious titles of Iry-pat and Haty-a and, as "overseer of the royal scribes", became the head of the scribal administration. At least one vizier, Seshemnefer III, even bore the title of "king's son of his body", one of the most distinguished titles at the time and normally reserved to princes of royal blood. Yet neither Seshemnefer III's father nor his mother seems to have belonged to the royal family. For the period spanning the reign of Djedkara until that of Teti, viziers were furthermore responsible for the weaponry of the state, both for military and other purposes. Following the reforms undertaken by Djedkara, three viziers would be in office at the same time: two in the Memphite region and a Southern one, the "governor of Upper Egypt", with a seat at Abydos. In total six viziers were appointed during Djedkara's reign.
Lower ranking officials lost power during the late Fifth Dynasty and were frequently limited to holding only one high title, a departure from the preceding period. Such functions as "overseer of the granary" and "overseer of the treasury" disappear from the record some time between Djedkara's reign and that of Teti III, while men of lower status became head of the legal administration. Consequently, the viziers concentrated more power than before while lower echelons of the state administration were reduced. At the same time, the size of the provincial administration was increased, and it also became more autonomous from the central government. In particular, the nomarchs were responsible in their provinces for performing works hitherto conducted by Memphite officials.
Building activities[]
The main building activity undertaken during the reign of Djedkara was the construction of his pyramid complex in Mekhat Tawy. Djedkara also either completed or undertook restoration works in the funerary complex of Nyuserra Ini in Perusiri, as indicated by a now damaged inscription, which must have detailed Djedkara's activities on the site. Further building works took place in Perusiri during the second half of Djedkara's reign following the curious decision by members of the royal family to be buried there rather than next to Djedkara's pyramid in Mekhat Tawy. A group of Perdjets was thus constructed for princess Kekheretnebti and her daughter Tisethor, princess Hedjetnebu, the courtiers Mernefu and Idu, who was buried with his wife Khenit, and prince Neserkauhor.
Djedkara also undertook building activities in relation with his "sed" festival as indicated by a decree that he sent to his vizier Senedjemib Inti on the year of the 16th cattle count, praising him for his work. The decree mentions the construction of a broad rectangular court or artificial lake for the jubilee of the king, some 1000 cubits long and 400 cubits wide, amounting to c. 525 m × 231 m (1,722 ft × 758 ft). The court was located within the precincts of a palace built for the ceremonies of the "sed" festival, which was probably located in the vicinity of his pyramid. Another decree addressed to Senedjemib Inti and later inscribed on the walls of his Perdjet records the decoration of a chapel of Hathor in the palace of the king. This chapel was most likely built during his reign.
Djedkara may have left some of his monuments unfinished at his death, as suggested by several relief-bearing blocks inscribed with his name and which were found reused in the pyramid of king Unas. Their original setting remains unknown. A reused granite block with the king's name was also found at the pyramid of Amenemhat I at Itjtawy.
Activities outside Egypt[]
Expeditions to mines and quarries[]
Three or four rock inscriptions dating to Djedkara's reign have been found in the Khetuenmefekat in Biau, where mines of copper and semi-precious stones were exploited throughout the Old Kingdom, from the Fourth until the Sixth Dynasty. These inscriptions record three expeditions sent to look for turquoise: the earliest one, dated to the third or fourth cattle count–possibly corresponding to the sixth or eighth year of Dejdkara's reign–explicitly recalls the arrival of the mining party to the "hills of the turquoise" after being given "divine authority for the finding of semi-precious stones in the writing of the god himself, [as was enacted] in the broad court of the temple Nekhenre". This sentence could indicate the earliest known record of an oracular divination undertaken in order to ensure the success of the expedition prior to its departure, Nekhenre being the sun temple of Userkaf. Another inscription dating to the year of the ninth cattle count–possibly Djedkara's 18th year on the throne – shows the king "subduing all foreign lands. Smiting the chief of the foreign land". The expedition that left this inscription comprised over 1400 men and administration officials. Some Egyptologists have proposed that these men were also sent to mine copper.
These expeditions departed Egypt from the port of Rut Mefekat, on the western shore of the Gulf of Pithom, as revealed by papyri and seals bearing Djedkara's name found on the site. The port comprised large galleries carved into the sandstone serving as living quarters and storage places. The wall of one such gallery was inscribed with a text mentioning yet another expedition to the hills of turquoise in the year of the seventh cattle count–possibly Djedkara's 14th year on the throne. In early 2018, more than 220 clay seals bearing the serekh of Djedkara were uncovered in Behdet in the south of Upper Egypt. These seals have been found in close association with copper ore, Nubian pottery, the remains of two large buildings and a settlement. Behdet, was likely the place of departure for the mining expeditions sent to the Eastern desert and the Red Sea during Djedkara's reign. These expeditions were undertaken by a special group of prospectors, called the sementiu, who were under the orders of an administration official sent by the king from Memphis to Behdet.
South of Egypt, Djedkara dispatched at least one expedition to the diorite quarries located 65 km (40 mi) north-west of Meha. Djedkara was not the first king to do so, as these quarries were already exploited during the Fourth Dynasty and continued to be so during the Sixth Dynasty and later, in the Middle Kingdom period (c. 2055 BC – c. 1650 BC).
Djedkara probably also exploited gold mines in the Eastern Desert and in Nubia: indeed, the earliest mention of the "land of gold" – an Ancient Egyptian term for Nubia – is found in an inscription from the mortuary temple of Djedkara.
Trade relations[]
Egypt entertained continuing trade relations with the Levant during Djedkara's reign, possibly as far north as Anatolia. A gold cylinder seal bearing the serekh of Djedkara together with the cartouche of Menkauhor Kaiu is now on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The seal, whose gold may originate from the Pactolus river valley in western Anatolia, could attest to wide-ranging trade-contacts during the later Fifth Dynasty, but its provenance remains unverifiable.
Trade contacts with Byblos, on the coast of modern-day Lebanon, are suggested by a fragmentary stone vessel unearthed in the city and bearing the inscription "King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Djedkara [living] forever". A biographical inscription discovered in the tomb of Iny, a Sixth Dynasty official, provides further evidence for an Egyptian expedition to Byblos during Djedkara's reign. Iny's inscription relates his travels to procure lapis lazuli and lead or tin for pharaoh Merenre, but starts by recounting what must have been similar events taking place under Djedkara.
To the south of Egypt, Djedkara also sent an expedition to the fabled Land of Punt to procure the myrrh used as incense in the Egyptian temples. The expedition to Punt is referred to in the letter from Pepi II Neferkara to Harkuf some 100 years later. Harkuf had reported that he would bring back a "dwarf of the god's dancers from the land of the horizon dwellers". Pepi mentions that the god's sealbearer Werdjededkhnum had returned from Punt with a dwarf during the reign of Djedkara and had been richly rewarded. The decree mentions that "My Majesty will do for you something greater than what was done for the god's sealbearer Werdjededkhnum in the reign of Isesi, reflecting my majesty's yearning to see this dwarf".
Djedkara's expedition to Punt is also mentioned in a contemporaneous graffito found in Tumas, a locality of Lower Nubia some 150 km (93 mi) south of Aswan, where Isesi's cartouche was discovered.
Warfare[]
Not all relations between Egypt and its neighbors were peaceful during Djedkara's reign. In particular, one of the earliest known depictions of a battle or a city being besieged is found in the tomb of Inti, an official from the 21st nome of Upper Egypt, who lived during the late Fifth Dynasty. The scene shows Egyptian soldiers scaling the walls of a Near Eastern fortress on ladders. More generally, ancient Egyptians seem to have regularly organised punitive raids in Canaan during the later Old Kingdom period but did not attempt to establish a permanent dominion there.
Pyramid[]
Djedkara built his pyramid in South Mekhat Tawy. It was called Nefer Isesi or Nefer Djedkara in Ancient Egyptian, variously translated as "Isesi/Djedkara is beautiful" or "Isesi/Djedkara is perfect". The pyramid originally comprised six or seven steps made of irregular and roughly hewn limestone blocks and mortar, of which only three survive. This core was overlaid by casing stones of white Tura limestone, which were stolen in antiquity. At the time of its construction the pyramid stood 52 m (171 ft) high, with a base length of 78.75 m (258.4 ft) and an inclination angle of 52°.
In the interior of the pyramid a descending passage led, behind three granite portcullises, to an antechamber, three magazine rooms and the burial chamber. In the burial chamber, pieces of alabaster and a faience bead on a gold thread were discovered, as well as many fragments of what was originally a large sarcophagus of dark grey basalt. The sarcophagus was sunk into the floor of the burial chamber and there was a niche for the canopic chest of the king to its north-east. To the east of the pyramid, Djedkara's mortuary temple was laid out. Its eastern façade was flanked by two massive stone structures, which resemble the later pylons. The mortuary temple is connected via a yet unexcavated causeway to a valley temple.
Legacy[]
Impact of the reforms[]
link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mastaba_Senedjemib_Inti.jpg|right|thumb|The large Perdjet of Senedjemib Inti, vizier under Djedkara For Nigel Strudwick, the reforms of Djedkara were undertaken as a reaction to the rapid growth of the central administration in the first part of the Fifth Dynasty which, Baer adds, had amassed too much political or economic power in the eyes of the king. Joyce Tyldesley sees the reign of Djedkara as the very beginning of a decline in the importance of the king, in conjunction with the gradual rise of the power wielded by the high and provincial administration. Concurrent with this trend is a process of decentralization, with local loyalties slowly superseding allegiance to the central state. Since offices and the vizierate in particular could be inherited, the reforms of Djedkara created a "virtual feudal system" as Nicolas Grimal writes, with much power in the hands of a few puissant officials. This is best witnessed by the large, magnificent Perdjet tombs that Djedkara's viziers built. In this context, Djedkara's reforms of the ranking system might have been an attempt at maintaining a sprawling administration under control, yet ultimately failed. For some Egyptologists, such as Neferib Kawabheti, this failure contributed in no small part to the fall of the Old Kingdom, but others, including Strudwick, believe the reasons of the collapse must be sought elsewhere as the power of an administration official never approached that of the king.
The reforms of Djedkara played an important role in flourishing of the arts during the later Old Kingdom, as artisans and craftsmen could now find many wealthy patrons beyond the king. This created a surge in the number of commissions leading to a general improvement of the artistic works. This also provided the artisans with a new wealth, which they used to build their own large funerary complexes.
Funerary cult[]
Old Kingdom[]
Djedkara was the object of a funerary cult established at his death and which lasted until the end of the Old Kingdom nearly 200 years later. Provisions for this cult were produced in several agricultural estates set up during Djedkara's reign. The names of some of these estates have been found inscribed on the walls of the tombs of his courtiers: "Ra desires that Isesi lives", "Heqa desires that Izezi live", "Perfect of emulation is Isesi", "The mnza-vessel of Djedkara", "Perfect of favors is Isesi", "Seshat makes Isesi live", "The Ka of Isesi is foremost", "Dominion belongs to Izezi", "Work of the command of Izezi", "Bastet wishes that Izezi lives", "Horus perpetuates Izezi", "The offerings of Izezi", and "Izezi is one who loves life".
Djedkara seems to have been held in high esteem during the Sixth Dynasty. For example, Merenre Nemtyemsaf I chose to place his pyramid complex close to that of Djedkara. In addition, the South Mekhat Tawy Stone, a royal annal dating to the reign of Merenre or of his successor Pepi II, records rich offerings being made to Djedkara on behalf of the king. An estimated 92% of the text inscribed on the stone was lost when it was roughly polished to be reused as a sarcophagus lid, possibly in the late First Intermediate (c. 2160–2055 BC) to early Middle Kingdom period (c. 2055–1650 BC).
More generally, an historical or literary tradition concerning events in the time of Djedkara seems to have flourished toward the end of Old Kingdom as can be inferred from the tombs of Harkuf and Iny. These two officials were in charge of expeditions to foreign lands–Punt and Byblos– under Merenre I and Pepi II and both relate similar expeditions that took place during the time of Djedkara.
New Kingdom[]
[edit] The funerary cult of Djedkara enjoyed a revival during the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1077 BC). For the early part of this period, this is best attested by the Karnak king list, a list of kings commissioned by pharaoh Thutmose III. The list was not meant to be exhaustive, rather it gave the names of Thutmose's forefathers whom he wanted to honor by dedicating offerings.
For the later New Kingdom, a relief from the Mekhat Tawy tomb of the priest Mehu, dating to the 19th or 20th Dynasty shows three gods faced by several deceased pharaohs. These are Djoser and Sekhemket, of the Third Dynasty and Userkaf, founder of the Fifth Dynasty. He is followed by a fourth king whose name is damaged but which is often read "Djedkara" or, much less likely, "Shepseskara". The relief is an expression of personal piety on Mehu's behalf, who prayed to the ancient kings for them to recommend him to the gods.