Teti

Last updated

Teti, less commonly known as Othoes, sometimes also Tata, Atat, or Athath in outdated sources, was the first king of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. He was buried at Saqqara. The exact length of his reign has been destroyed on the Turin King List but is believed to have been about 12 years.

Contents

Biography

Teti had several wives:

Teti is known to have had several children. He was the father of at least three sons and probably ten daughters. [3] Of the sons, two are well attested, a third one is likely:

Piriform mace head inscribed with the cartouche of Teti, Imhotep Museum. Teti.jpg
Piriform mace head inscribed with the cartouche of Teti, Imhotep Museum.

According to N. Kanawati, Teti had at least nine daughters, by a number of wives, and the fact that they were named after his mother, Sesheshet, allows researchers to trace his family. At least three princesses bearing the name Seshseshet are designated as "king's eldest daughter", meaning that there were at least three different queens. It seems that there was a tenth one, born of a fourth queen as she is also designated as "king's eldest daughter":

Lantern Slide Collection: Views, Objects: Egypt. Chapel, Tomb of Nefer-Seshem-Ptah. Sakkara. 6th Dynasty., n.d. Brooklyn Museum Archives Estela de falsa puerta de Neferseshemptah.jpg
Lantern Slide Collection: Views, Objects: Egypt. Chapel, Tomb of Nefer-Seshem-Ptah. Sakkara. 6th Dynasty., n.d. Brooklyn Museum Archives

Another possible daughter is princess Inti. [15]

Reign and possible assassination

Sistrum inscribed with the name of Teti. Sistrum Inscribed with the Names of King Teti MET DT259185.jpg
Sistrum inscribed with the name of Teti.

Teti's Horus name Sehoteptaoui, "He who pacifies the Two Lands", probably indicates that he must have led military pacification operations near the start of his reign. During Teti's reign, high officials were beginning to build funerary monuments that rivaled that of the pharaoh. His vizier, Mereruka, built a mastaba tomb at Saqqara which consisted of 33 richly carved rooms, the biggest known tomb for an Egyptian nobleman. [16] This is considered to be a sign that Egypt's wealth was being transferred from the central court to the officials, a slow process that culminated in the end to the Old Kingdom.[ citation needed ]

The Egyptian priest and chronicler Manetho states that Teti was murdered by his palace bodyguards in a harem plot, and he appears to have been briefly succeeded by a short-lived usurper, Userkare. Teti was buried in the royal necropolis at Saqqara. His pyramid complex is associated with the mastabas of officials from his reign. Teti's highest date is his Year after the 6th Count 3rd Month of Summer day lost (Year 12 if the count was biannual) from Hatnub Graffito No.1. [17] This information is confirmed by the South Saqqara Stone Annal document from Pepi II's reign which gives him a reign of around 12 years.

Third "subsidiary" pyramid to Teti's tomb

Teti's mother was the Queen Sesheshet, who was instrumental in her son's accession to the throne and a reconciling of two warring factions of the royal family. [18] Sesheshet lived between 2323 BC to 2291 BC. Egypt's chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced, on 11 November 2008, that she was entombed in a 4,300-year-old 5-metre (16-foot) tall pyramid at Saqqara. This is the 118th pyramid discovered thus far in Egypt; the largest portion of its 2-metre-wide casing was built with a superstructure 5 metres high. It originally reached 14 metres, with sides 22 metres long. [19] [20]

Once 5 stories tall, it lay beneath 7 meters (23 feet) of sand, a small shrine and mud-brick walls from later periods. The third known "subsidiary" pyramid to Teti's tomb was originally 46 feet (14 meters) tall and 72 feet (22 meters) square at its base, due to its walls having stood at a 51-degree angle. Buried next to the Saqqara Step Pyramid, its base lies 65 feet underground and is believed to have been 50 feet tall when it was built. [19]

Funerary temple of Queen Neith

In January 2021, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of more than 50 wooden sarcophagi in 52 burial shafts dating back to the New Kingdom period, as well as a 13 ft-long papyrus containing texts from the Book of the Dead.

Archaeologists led by Zahi Hawass at Saqqara also found the funerary temple of queen Neith and warehouses made of bricks. [21] [22] [23] Previously unknown to researchers, she was a wife of Teti. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unas</span> Egyptian pharaoh

Unas or Wenis, also spelled Unis, was a pharaoh, the ninth and last ruler of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt during the Old Kingdom. Unas reigned for 15 to 30 years in the mid-24th century BC, succeeding Djedkare Isesi, who might have been his father.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saqqara</span> Burial ground in Giza Governorate, Egypt

Saqqara, also spelled Sakkara or Saccara in English, is an Egyptian village in the markaz (county) of Badrashin in the Giza Governorate, that contains ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty, serving as the necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. Saqqara contains numerous pyramids, including the Pyramid of Djoser, sometimes referred to as the Step Tomb, and a number of mastaba tombs. Located some 30 km (19 mi) south of modern-day Cairo, Saqqara covers an area of around 7 by 1.5 km.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepi II Neferkare</span> Egyptian pharaoh of the Sixth dynasty for the Old Kingdom

Pepi II Neferkare was a pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty in Egypt's Old Kingdom who reigned from c. 2278 BC. His second name, Neferkare (Nefer-ka-Re), means "Beautiful is the Ka of Re". He succeeded to the throne at age six, after the death of Merenre I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Userkare</span> Ancient Egyptian pharaoh

Userkare was the second pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt, reigning briefly, 1 to 5 years, in the late 24th to early 23rd century BC. Userkare's relation to his predecessor Teti and successor Pepi I is unknown and his reign remains enigmatic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepi I Meryre</span> Egyptian pharaoh, third ruler of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt in the late 24th century BC

Pepi I Meryre was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, third king of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt, who ruled for over 40 years at the turn of the 24th and 23rd centuries BC, toward the end of the Old Kingdom period. He was the son of Teti, the founder of the dynasty, and ascended the throne only after the brief intervening reign of the shadowy Userkare. His mother was Iput, who may have been a daughter of Unas, the final ruler of the preceding Fifth Dynasty. Pepi I, who had at least six consorts, was succeeded by his son Merenre Nemtyemsaf I, with whom he may have shared power in a coregency at the very end of his reign. Pepi II Neferkare, who might also have been Pepi I's son, succeeded Merenre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merenre Nemtyemsaf I</span> Egyptian Pharaoh during early 23rd century BC

Merenre Nemtyemsaf was an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, fourth king of the Sixth Dynasty. He ruled Egypt for six to 11 years in the early 23rd century BC, toward the end of the Old Kingdom period. He was the son of his predecessor Pepi I Meryre and queen Ankhesenpepi I and was in turn succeeded by Pepi II Neferkare who might have been his son or less probably his brother. Pepi I may have shared power with Merenre in a co-regency at the very end of the former's reign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixth Dynasty of Egypt</span> Final Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt

The Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, along with the Third, Fourth and Fifth Dynasty, constitutes the Old Kingdom of Dynastic Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menkauhor Kaiu</span> Pharaoh of Egypt

Menkauhor Kaiu was an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Old Kingdom period. He was the seventh ruler of the Fifth Dynasty at the end of the 25th century BC or early in the 24th century BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Djedkare Isesi</span> Ancient Egyptian pharaoh

Djedkare Isesi 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. Djedkare succeeded Menkauhor Kaiu and was in turn succeeded by Unas. His relationship to both of these pharaohs remain uncertain, although it is often conjectured that Unas was Djedkare's son, owing to the smooth transition between the two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyramid of Teti</span>

The pyramid of Teti is a smooth-sided pyramid situated in the pyramid field at Saqqara in Egypt. It is the second known pyramid containing pyramid texts. Excavations have revealed a satellite pyramid, two pyramids of queens accompanied by cult structures, and a funerary temple. The pyramid was opened by Gaston Maspero in 1882 and the complex explored during several campaigns ranging from 1907 to 1965. It was originally called Teti's Places Are Enduring. The preservation above ground is very poor, and it now resembles a small hill. Below ground the chambers and corridors are very well preserved.

Iput I was a Queen of Egypt, a daughter of King Unas, the last king of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt. She married Teti, the first Pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. Their son was Pepi I Meryre. She possibly ruled as regent for her son Pepi I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ankhesenpepi II</span> Egyptian queen consort

Ankhesenpepi II or Ankhesenmeryre II was a queen consort during the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. She was the wife of Kings Pepi I and Merenre Nemtyemsaf I, and the mother of Pepi II. She likely served as regent during the minority of her son. She was buried in a pyramid in Saqqara.

Sesheshet, occasionally known as Sesh, was the mother of King Teti, the first and founding pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. She was instrumental in enabling her son to gain the throne and reconciling two warring factions of the royal family.

Iput was an ancient Egyptian queen consort of the Sixth Dynasty, a sister and wife of Pepi II.

Khuit II was a wife of King Teti, the first pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt.


Neferseshemre also called Seshi was a vizier from the early or middle part of the reign of King Teti of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kagemni</span> Ancient Egyptian vizier

Kagemni was a vizier from the early part of the reign of King Teti of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. Kagemni's wife Nebtynubkhet Sesheshet was a King's Daughter and likely the daughter of Teti.

Meryteti served as vizier of Pepi I during the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. He was the son of the vizier Mereruka. His mother was the royal daughter Seshseshet Waatetkhethor, daughter of Teti. He was thus a nephew of the king Pepi I Meryre.

Merefnebef, also called Unisankh and Fefi, was a vizier from the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. He first served at the court of Teti, possibly became vizier during the reign of Userkare, and was dismissed during the reign of Pepi I.

Tetiankhkem was an Ancient Egyptian prince who lived at the beginning of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt.

References

  1. 1 2 Miroslav Verner, The Pyramids,1994
  2. 1 2 Davis-Marks, Isis, Archaeologists Unearth Egyptian Queen's Tomb, 13-Foot 'Book of the Dead' Scroll , Smithsonian, 21 January 2021
  3. N. Kanawati, Mereruka and King Teti. The Power behind the Throne, 2007.
  4. N. Kanawati, Conspiracies in the Egyptian Palace. Unis to Pepy I. 2003, p. 139
  5. N. Kanawati, Mereruka and King Teti. The Power behind the Throne, 2007, p. 14 et 50
  6. 1 2 N. Kanawati, Mereruka and King Teti. The Power behind the Throne, 2007, p. 14, 20 et 50
  7. N. Kanawati, Mereruka and King Teti. The Power behind the Throne, 2007, p. 20, 32 et 50
  8. N. Kanawati, Mereruka and King Teti. The Power behind the Throne, 2007, p. 21-22 et 50
  9. N. Kanawati, Mereruka and King Teti. The Power behind the Throne, 2007, p. 20, 32 et 35
  10. N. Kanawati, Mereruka and King Teti. The Power behind the Throne, 2007, p. 20, 32 et 36
  11. N. Kanawati, Mereruka and King Teti. The Power behind the Throne, 2007, p. 20-21
  12. N. Kanawati, The Teti Cemetery at Saqqara, Volume 9: The Tomb of Remni, 2009
  13. Ali El-Khouli & Naguib Kanawati, Quseir El-Amarna: The Tombs of Pepy-ankh and Khewen-Wekh, 1989
  14. C. Berger, A la quête de nouvelles versions des textes des pyramides, in Hommages à Jean Leclant, 1994, p 73-74
  15. Dodson and Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004
  16. Christine Hobson, Exploring the World of the Pharaohs, Thames & Hudson Ltd., 1997. p.85
  17. Anthony Spalinger, "Dated Texts of the Old Kingdom," SAK 21, (1994), p.303
  18. "Egypt: 4,300-year-old pyramid discovered". CNN . 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  19. 1 2 Bossone, Andrew (11 November 2008). "New Pyramid Found in Egypt: 4,300-Year-Old Queen's Tomb". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008.
  20. Rasmussen, Will; Boulton, Ralph (11 November 2008). "Egypt says has found pyramid built for ancient queen". Reuters.
  21. "Queen's temple, 50 coffins, Book of Dead: Ancient Egypt trove 'remakes history' | The Times of Israel". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  22. Sunday, 17 January 2021 07:54 AM MYT (17 January 2021). "Egypt makes 'major discoveries' at Saqqara archaeological site | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. "Egypt makes 'major discoveries' at Saqqara archaeological site". www.msn.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021.

Bibliography