Seventh and eighth dynasties of Egypt
Encyclopedia
The seventh and eighth dynasties of ancient Egypt
(notated Dynasties VII and VIII) are often combined with Dynasties IX
, X
and XI
(Thebes only) under the group title First Intermediate Period. The Dynasties VII and VIII date approximately from 2181 to 2160 BC.
s) during a confusing time in the history of Egypt
. Known rulers, in the History of Egypt
, for these dynasties are as follows:
and Eusebius of Caesarea
, provide inconsistent accounts of both dynasties. Africanus claims that Dynasty VII consisted of 70 kings that ruled during a period of seventy days in Memphis
, and Dynasty VIII consisted of 27 kings who reigned for 146 years. However, Eusebius records that during Dynasty VII five kings ruled over seventy five days, and Dynasty VIII includes five kings who ruled for 100 years. Seventy kings in seventy days is usually considered the correct version of Manetho, but obviously not the actual correct dates. This epithet is interpreted to mean that the pharaohs of this period were extremely ephemeral, and the use of seventy may be a pun on fact that this was Manetho's seventh dynasty. The fact that Manetho does not provide actual historical data on this period is interpreted by many as meaning that the seventh dynasty is fictitious.
come between the end of Dynasty VI and the beginning of Dynasty XI, and do not appear to be from Dynasty IX or X either. The Turin Canon is heavily damaged, and cannot be read without much difficulty. However, the fragment containing what is believed to be the name of Nitocris
has two mangled names and a third name on it which is clearly that of Qakare Ibi
, the fifty-third king on the Abydos King List. There seems to be room for two more kings before the end of the dynasty. This would indicate that the missing parts of the Turin Papyrus probably contained the kings in the fifty-first to fifty-fifth registers of the Abydos King List. Because the Turin papyrus omits the first nine kings on the Abydos list, W.C. Hayes thinks it reasonable that the Egyptians may have divided Dynasties VII and VIII at this point.
However many kings there actually were, it is clear that during this time period a breakdown of the central authority of Egypt was underway. The rulers of these dynasties were based in Memphis
; with the exception of the final Dynasty VIII kings, all that is known of most of these rulers is their names. This group of kings was eventually overthrown by a rival group, Dynasty IX, based in Herakleopolis Magna
.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
(notated Dynasties VII and VIII) are often combined with Dynasties IX
Ninth dynasty of Egypt
The ninth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties VII, VIII, X and XI under the group title First Intermediate Period...
, X
Tenth dynasty of Egypt
The tenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties VII, VIII, IX and XI under the group title First Intermediate Period...
and XI
Eleventh dynasty of Egypt
The eleventh dynasty of ancient Egypt was one group of rulers, whose earlier members are grouped with the four preceding dynasties to form the First Intermediate Period, while the later members are considered part of the Middle Kingdom...
(Thebes only) under the group title First Intermediate Period. The Dynasties VII and VIII date approximately from 2181 to 2160 BC.
Rulers
Dynasties VII and VIII are a little-known line of kings (pharaohPharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
s) during a confusing time in the history of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Known rulers, in the History of Egypt
History of Egypt
Egyptian history can be roughly divided into the following periods:*Prehistoric Egypt*Ancient Egypt**Early Dynastic Period of Egypt: 31st to 27th centuries BC**Old Kingdom of Egypt: 27th to 22nd centuries BC...
, for these dynasties are as follows:
| Nomen | Prenomen | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| - | Netjerkare Netjerkare Netjerkare may have been a king during the First Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt. His existence is only clearly attested on the Abydos King List, where he occupies the 40th registry, as the successor to Merenre Nemtyemsaf II, skipping over the female king Nitocris... ? |
This person is possibly Nitocris Nitocris Nitocris has been claimed to have been the last pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty. Her name is found in the Histories of Herodotus and writings of Manetho but her historicity is questionable. She might have been an interregnum queen... , and if so would belong in the sixth dynasty. |
| - | Menkare Menkare Menkare may have been a king of the First Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt. He is entirely unattested outside of the Abydos King List.-References:*, Accessed November 9, 2006.*, Accessed November 9, 2006.... |
- |
| - | Neferkare II Neferkare II Neferkare II may have been a seventh dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only attested on the Abydos King List, however J... |
- |
| Nebi | Neferkare Neby Neferkare Neby Neferkare Neby may have been a king of the Seventh Dynasty of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is clearly attested on the Abydos King List, and unlike other kings of this period, is attested in two other sources. His mother was apparently Queen Ankhesenpepi II, which... |
- |
| - | Djedkare Shemai Djedkare Shemai Djedkare Shemai may have been a seventh dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only attested on the Abydos King List.-References:*, Accessed November 9, 2006.*, Accessed November 9, 2006.... |
- |
| - | Neferkare Khendu Neferkare Khendu Neferkare Khendu may have been a seventh dynasty king of Ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only attested on the Abydos King List.-References:*, Accessed November 9, 2006.*, Accessed November 9, 2006.... |
- |
| - | Merenhor Merenhor Merenhor may have been a Seventh dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only attested on the Abydos King List.-References:*, Accessed November 9, 2006.*, Accessed November 9, 2006.... |
- |
| Seneferka | Neferkamin Neferkamin Neferkamin may have been a seventh dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His throne name Sneferka is attested on the Abydos King List, however he also appears on a tablet in the British Museum with the name "Neferkamin".... |
- |
| - | Nikare Nikare Nikare may have been a seventh dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only attested on the Abydos King List.-References:*, Accessed November 9, 2006.*, Accessed November 9, 2006.... |
- |
| - | Neferkare Tereru Neferkare Tereru Neferkare Tereru may have been a seventh dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only attested on the Abydos King List.-References:*, Accessed November 9, 2006.*, Accessed November 9, 2006.... |
- |
| - | Neferkahor Neferkahor Neferkahor may have been a seventh dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only attested on the Abydos King List and on a cylinder seal.-References:*, Accessed November 9, 2006.*, Accessed November 9, 2006.... |
- |
| Nomen | Prenomen | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| - | Neferkare Pepiseneb Neferkare Pepiseneb Neferkare Pepiseneb may have been an eighth dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is attested on the Abydos King List, and he is the first king since ntyiqrt to appear on the Turin Canon of Kings, which gives him the epithet, Shery, or The Younger. It is... |
- |
| - | Neferkamin Anu Neferkamin Anu Neferkamin Anu may have been an eighth dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is attested on the Abydos King List, and also in the Turin Canon of Kings. Neferkamin's reign length is lost in a lacuna in the Turin Canon.... |
|
| Iby | Qakare Ibi Qakare Ibi Qakare Ibi was an ancient Egyptian ruler of the 8th Dynasty. The name Qa-ka-Re means "strong is the soul of Re".His existence was established by the discovery of his small pyramid in South Saqqara which also continues the late Old Kingdom tradition of listing pyramid texts in his tomb. His name is... |
Turin Canon gives rule of two years, one month, one day |
| - | Neferkaure II Neferkaure II Neferkaure II was an eighth dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is attested on the Abydos King List, and also in the Turin Canon of Kings, which attributes him a rule of four years and two months... |
Turin Canon gives rule of four years, two months |
| Khwiwihepu | Neferkauhor Neferkauhor Neferkauhor was an eighth dynasty king of Ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is attested on the Abydos King List as the penultimate king of the Old Kingdom, but not on the Turin Canon where his name is lost in a lacuna—although his reign length is preserved here... |
Turin Canon gives rule of two years, one month, one day |
| - | Neferirkare Neferirkare *For the better known Fifth dynasty pharaoh by this name, see Neferirkare KakaiNeferirkare was an Eighth dynasty king of Ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only clearly attested in the Abydos King List but it is assumed that the reign length figure for the last 8th... |
Turin Canon gives a reign of one and a half years |
Manetho
The three sources which provide our knowledge on this period is exceedingly difficult to work with. Manetho's full history does not survive intact, but is known through other writers who quoted from it. Unfortunately, the two ancient historians who quote from this section, Sextus Julius AfricanusSextus Julius Africanus
Sextus Julius Africanus was a Christian traveller and historian of the late 2nd and early 3rd century AD. He is important chiefly because of his influence on Eusebius, on all the later writers of Church history among the Fathers, and on the whole Greek school of chroniclers.His name indicates that...
and Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
, provide inconsistent accounts of both dynasties. Africanus claims that Dynasty VII consisted of 70 kings that ruled during a period of seventy days in Memphis
Memphis, Egypt
Memphis was the ancient capital of Aneb-Hetch, the first nome of Lower Egypt. Its ruins are located near the town of Helwan, south of Cairo.According to legend related by Manetho, the city was founded by the pharaoh Menes around 3000 BC. Capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom, it remained an...
, and Dynasty VIII consisted of 27 kings who reigned for 146 years. However, Eusebius records that during Dynasty VII five kings ruled over seventy five days, and Dynasty VIII includes five kings who ruled for 100 years. Seventy kings in seventy days is usually considered the correct version of Manetho, but obviously not the actual correct dates. This epithet is interpreted to mean that the pharaohs of this period were extremely ephemeral, and the use of seventy may be a pun on fact that this was Manetho's seventh dynasty. The fact that Manetho does not provide actual historical data on this period is interpreted by many as meaning that the seventh dynasty is fictitious.
The Turin Canon of Kings and Abydos King List
Two Egyptian documents record the names of the kings of Egypt, however they do not divide them into dynasties. Kings 42 to 56 on the Abydos King ListAbydos King List
The Abydos King List, also called the Abydos Table is a list of the names of seventy-six kings and pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, found on the walls of the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, Egypt. It consists of three rows of thirty-eight cartouches on each row...
come between the end of Dynasty VI and the beginning of Dynasty XI, and do not appear to be from Dynasty IX or X either. The Turin Canon is heavily damaged, and cannot be read without much difficulty. However, the fragment containing what is believed to be the name of Nitocris
Nitocris
Nitocris has been claimed to have been the last pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty. Her name is found in the Histories of Herodotus and writings of Manetho but her historicity is questionable. She might have been an interregnum queen...
has two mangled names and a third name on it which is clearly that of Qakare Ibi
Qakare Ibi
Qakare Ibi was an ancient Egyptian ruler of the 8th Dynasty. The name Qa-ka-Re means "strong is the soul of Re".His existence was established by the discovery of his small pyramid in South Saqqara which also continues the late Old Kingdom tradition of listing pyramid texts in his tomb. His name is...
, the fifty-third king on the Abydos King List. There seems to be room for two more kings before the end of the dynasty. This would indicate that the missing parts of the Turin Papyrus probably contained the kings in the fifty-first to fifty-fifth registers of the Abydos King List. Because the Turin papyrus omits the first nine kings on the Abydos list, W.C. Hayes thinks it reasonable that the Egyptians may have divided Dynasties VII and VIII at this point.
Decline into chaos
Given that five names of the kings from this period have Pepi II's throne name Neferkare in their own names, they may have been descendants of Dynasty VI, who were trying to hold on to some sort of power. Some of the acts of the final four Dynasty VIII kings are recorded in their decrees to Shemay, a vizier during this period, however only Qakare Ibi can be connected to any monumental construction. His pyramid has been found at Saqarra near Pepi II and continues to have the pyramid texts written on the walls.However many kings there actually were, it is clear that during this time period a breakdown of the central authority of Egypt was underway. The rulers of these dynasties were based in Memphis
Memphis, Egypt
Memphis was the ancient capital of Aneb-Hetch, the first nome of Lower Egypt. Its ruins are located near the town of Helwan, south of Cairo.According to legend related by Manetho, the city was founded by the pharaoh Menes around 3000 BC. Capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom, it remained an...
; with the exception of the final Dynasty VIII kings, all that is known of most of these rulers is their names. This group of kings was eventually overthrown by a rival group, Dynasty IX, based in Herakleopolis Magna
Herakleopolis Magna
Heracleopolis or Herakleopolis Magna is the Greek name of the capital of the Twentieth nome of ancient Egypt. It was called Henen-nesut, Nen-nesu, or Hwt-nen-nesu in ancient Egyptian, meaning 'house of the royal child.' Later, it was called Hnas in Coptic, and Ahnas in medieval Arabic writings...
.