Djedkare Isesi

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Djedkare Isesi (known in Greek as Tancheres; died Template:Circa 2375 BC) was a king, 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 kings remain uncertain, although it is often conjectured that Unas was Djedkare's son, owing to the smooth transition between the two.

Djedkare likely 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, Djedkare did not build a temple to the sun god Ra, possibly reflecting the rise of Osiris in the Egyptian pantheon. More significantly, Djedkare 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 Abusir and reformed the corresponding priesthood.

Djedkare commissioned expeditions to the Sinai Peninsula 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 Djedkare'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 Djedkare's subjects.

Djedkare is believed to have been buried in a pyramid in Saqqara named Nefer Djedkare ("Djedkare 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 Djedkare. 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 Djedkare's daughters buried in the nearby Southern Cemetery as Abusir. 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.Template:Sfn

After his death, Djedkare 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 kings lavished rich offerings on his cult. Archaeological evidence suggests the continuing existence of this funerary cult throughout the much later New Kingdom (Template:Circa–1077 BC). Djedkare was also remembered by the ancient Egyptians as the king of Vizier Ptahhotep, the purported author of The Maxims of Ptahhotep, one of the earliest pieces of philosophic wisdom literature.

The reforms implemented by Djedkare 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 Naguib Kanawati 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 Djedkare's reforms, Ancient Egyptian officials never amassed enough power to rival that of the king.

AttestationsEdit

Contemporaneous sourcesEdit

Djedkare is well attested in sources contemporaneous with his reign.Template:Efn The tombs of many of his courtiers and family members have been discovered in Giza,Template:Efn Saqqara and Abusir.Template:Sfn They give insights into the administrative reforms that Djedkare conducted during his reign and, in a few cases, even record letters that the king sent to his officials.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn These letters, inscribed on the walls of tombs, typically present royal praises for the tomb owner.Template:Sfn

Another important source of information about Egypt during the reign of Djedkare is the Abusir papyri. These are administrative documents, covering a period of 24 yearsTemplate:Sfn during Djedkare's reign; they were discovered in the mortuary temples of kings Neferirkare Kakai, Neferefre and queen Khentkaus II.Template:Sfn In addition to these texts, the earliest letters on papyrus preserved to the present day also date to Djedkare's reign, dealing with administrative or private matters.Template:Sfn

Historical sourcesEdit

Djedkare is attested in four ancient Egyptian king lists, all dating to the New Kingdom.Template:Sfn The earliest of these is the Karnak king list, dating to the reign of Thutmose III (1479–1425 BC), where Djedkare is mentioned on the fifth entry. Djedkare's prenomen occupies the 32nd entry of the Abydos King List, which was written during the reign of Seti I (1290–1279 BC). Djedkare is also present on the Saqqara Tablet (31st entry)Template:Sfn where he is listed under the name "Maatkare", probably because of a scribal error.Template:Sfn Djedkare's prenomen is given as "Djed" on the Turin canon (third column, 24th row),Template:Sfn probably because of a lacuna affecting the original document from which the canon was copied during the reign of Ramses II (1279–1213 BC).Template:Sfn The Turin canon credits Djedkare with 28 years of reign.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

In addition to these sources, Djedkare is mentioned on the Prisse Papyrus dating to the 12th Dynasty (Template:Circa–1800 BC).Template:Sfn The papyrus records The Maxims of Ptahhotep and gives Djedkare's nomen "Isesi" to name the king whom the purported authors of the maxims, vizier Ptahhotep, served.Template:Sfn Djedkare was also probably mentioned in the Aegyptiaca, a history of Egypt written in the 3rd century BC during the reign of Ptolemy II (283–246 BC) by the Egyptian priest Manetho. No copies of the Aegyptiaca have survived to this day and it is known to us only through later writings by Sextus Julius Africanus and Eusebius. Africanus relates that a king Tancheres (Ancient Greek Τανχέρης) reigned for 44 years as the eighth and penultimate king of the Fifth Dynasty.Template:Sfn Given its position within the dynasty, Tancheres is believed to be his Hellenized name.Template:Sfn

FamilyEdit

ParentsEdit

File:Isesi-ankh closeup.jpg

Isesi-ankh as depicted on his false door stelaTemplate:Sfn

Djedkare's parentage is unknown; in particular his relation with his predecessors Menkauhor Kaiu and Nyuserre Ini cannot be ascertained.Template:Sfn Djedkare is generally thought to have been the son of Menkauhor Kaiu, but the two might instead have been brothers and sons of Nyuserre Ini.Template:Sfn Another hypothesis suggests that Djedkare and Menkauhor could have been cousins,Template:Sfn being sons of Nyuserre and Neferefre respectively.Template:Sfn The identity of Djedkare's mother is similarly unknown.Template:Sfn

QueensEdit

The name of Djedkare's principal wife was most likely 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 Djedkare's pyramid in Saqqara.<ref>Discovery of a unique tomb and the name of an ancient Egyptian queen in south Saqqara (titles of queen on Fig. 14)</ref> This could indicate that she was the mother of Djedkare's successor, Unas,Template:Sfn or that Djedkare owed the throne to her.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The very high status of this queen is suggested by some features of her funerary complex that are otherwise reserved to kings:Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Furthermore, some reliefs showing the queen had been reworked with royal insignia and vultures added above her head.Template:Sfn Since the construction of the queen's pyramid was apparently undertaken after the planning of Djedkare's pyramid and her relief had been reworked, the Egyptologist Klaus Baer suggests that this queen may have ruled after the death of Djedkare, playing an important role in his succession. This is rejected by other Egyptologists, such as Michel Baud, owing to the lack of evidence for a regency or interregnum between Djedkare and Unas.Template:Sfn

The Egyptologist Wilfried Seipel has proposed that this pyramid was initially intended for queen Meresankh IV, whom he and Verner see as a wife of Djedkare. Seipel contends that Meresankh was finally buried in a smaller mastaba in Saqqara North after she fell into disgrace.Template:Sfn Alternatively, Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton have proposed that she was a wife of the preceding king, Menkauhor Kaiu.Template:Sfn

File:Abydos KL 05-07 n32.jpg

Cartouche of king Djedkare Isest

SonsEdit

File:Náprstek Museum - NM Prague 20.JPG

Wooden statues of Kekheretnebti and in the background, of Neserkauhor, now in the Náprstek Museum

Only one son of Djedkare has been identified for certain, Neserkauhor,Template:Sfn who bore the title of "eldest beloved king's son of his body".Template:Efn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Neserkauhor also bore the title of Iry-pat, showing that he was an important member of the royal court, as well as a priestly title "Greatest of the Five in the temple of Thoth", suggesting that he may have been a vizierTemplate:Sfn or had similar occupations.Template:Sfn

As well as Neserkauhor, there is indirect evidence that princes Raemka Template:Efn and Kaemtjenent Template:Efn Template:Sfn are sons of DjedkareTemplate:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn based on the dating and general location of their tombs in Saqqara. For example, the tomb of Kaemtjenent mentions vizier Rashepses, who served during the reign of Djedkare.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Raemka also bore the title of "king's son of his body",Template:Sfn almost exclusively reserved to true princes of royal blood.Template:Efn The locations of Raemka's and Kaemtjenent's tombs have led some Egyptologists to believe that both princes are sonsTemplate:Sfn of queen Meresankh IV buried nearby, who would thus be one of Djedkare's wives. These conclusions are debated, in particular in the case of Kaemtjenent, whose title of "king's son" may have been purely honorific.Template:Sfn

A high official named Isesi-ankh could have been yet another son of Djedkare, as suggested by his name meaning "Isesi lives".Template:Sfn Yet, similarities in the titles and locations of the tombsTemplate:Efn of Isesi-ankh and Kaemtjenent have led Egyptologists to propose that they could instead be brothers and sons of Meresankh IV,Template:Sfn or that the former is a son of the latter.Template:Sfn Even though Isesi-ankh bore the title of "king's son", the Egyptologists Michel Baud and Bettina Schmitz argue that this filiation was fictitious, being only an honorary title.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Finally, the successor of Djedkare, Unas, is thought to have been his sonTemplate:Sfn in spite of the complete lack of evidence bearing on the question.Template:Sfn The main argument in favor of this filiation is that the succession from Djedkare to Unas seems to have been smooth,Template:Sfn as suggested indirectly, for example, by the Abusir papyri.Template:Sfn Indirect evidence also comes from the reliefs of Unas' causeway, which show many officials bearing names incorporating "Isesi", suggesting at the very least that Unas did not perceive Djedkare as an antagonist.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

DaughtersEdit

Several daughters of Djedkare have been identified by the title of "king's daughter of his body" and the general date of their tomb. These include Kekheretnebti,Template:Efn Template:Sfn whose filiation is clearly indicated by her other title of "Beloved of Isesi",Template:Sfn Meret-Isesi,Template:Efn Template:Sfn Hedjetnebu,Template:Efn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn and Nebtyemneferes.Template:Efn Template:Sfn Less certain is the filiation of Kentkhaus, wife of vizier Senedjemib Mehi, who bore the title of "king's daughter of his body".Template:Sfn Template:Sfn It is debated whether this title indicates a true filiation or if it is only honorary.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

ChronologyEdit

File:Djedkare Isesi.jpg

Alabaster vase bearing an inscription celebrating Djedkare's first "Sed" festival, Musée du Louvre Template:Efn Template:Sfn

The relative chronological position of Djedkare as the eighth and penultimate ruler of the Fifth Dynasty, succeeding Menkauhor Kaiu and preceding Unas on the throne, is well established by historical sources and confirmed by archaeological evidence.Template:Sfn

The duration of Djedkare's reign is much less certain. Djedkare's time on the throne is well documented by the Abusir papyri, numerous royal seals and contemporary inscriptions; taken together, they indicate a fairly long rule for this king.Template:Efn Template:Sfn While the Turin canon credits him with 28 years of reign, there is direct evidence for an even longer reign. Several artefacts and inscriptions have been uncovered relating to Djedkare's rejuvenation or "sed" festival, normally celebrated only after 30 years of reign. For example, the tomb of one of Djedkare's viziers, Senedjemib Inti, relates construction works undertaken during the year of the 16th cattle count in preparation for the festival ceremonies. An alabaster vase now on display at the Louvre museumTemplate:Efn bears an inscription celebrating Djedkare's first sed festival, indicating in all likelihood that he reigned beyond his 30th year on the throne.Template:Sfn

One of the Abusir papyri was found to be dated to the "Year of the 22nd Count, IV Akhet day 12", constituting Djedkare's latest known date.Template:Efn Template:Sfn This date might correspond to any time from the 32nd year of Djedkare's reign up to his 44th year on the throne, depending on whether the cattle count was once every two years or once every year and a half. The higher estimate is close to Manetho's 44-year figure credited to Tancheres,Template:Sfn the Hellenized name of Djedkare, although this may just be coincidental.Template:Sfn Modern estimates thus put Djedkare's reign length as certainly more than 33 years and, if the cattle count was regularly biennial, at least 42 to 44 years.Template:Sfn This makes Djedkare the longest reigning king of the Fifth Dynasty.Template:Sfn

ReignEdit

File:Petrie Statue of Djedkare from Abydos.png

Statue of Djedkare from the temple of Osiris in AbydosTemplate:Sfn

The reign of Djedkare heralded a new period in the history of the Old Kingdom.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn First, he did not build a sun temple, as his predecessors had done since the time of Userkaf, some 80 years earlier.Template:Efn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn This may be a result of the increased prominence of Osiris compared with the sun god Ra during the late Fifth Dynasty.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn The importance of the cult of Osiris becomes manifest when the Pyramid Texts of the pyramid of Unas are inscribed a few decades later.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn In this context, it is perhaps noteworthy that the onlyTemplate:Sfn known statue of Djedkare was discovered in the ruins of the temple of Osiris, in Abydos.Template:Sfn Another manifestation of the winds of changeTemplate:Sfn during Djedkare's time on the throne is the confirmation of the relocation of the royal necropolis from Abusir, where it had been since the reign of Sahure, to Saqqara, where Menkauhor Kaiu, Djedkare and his successor, Unas, built their pyramids. Abusir may have become overcrowded by the time of Menkauhor's accessionTemplate:Sfn and the capital may have been shifted south to Saqqara, along with the royal necropolis, around the same time.Template:Sfn The abandonment of Abusir 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.Template:Sfn

File:Berlin 122009 037a.jpg

Main relief from the false door of Manefer, depicting the deceased with his name and titles in front of him. Time of Djedkare Isesi - 5th dynasty of Egypt - Egyptian museum of Berlin

Domestic reformsEdit

File:Statuevizir095.jpg

Two statues of Ptahhotep, a vizier during Djedkare's reignTemplate:Sfn

During his reign Djedkare effected significant reforms of the state administration and priesthood, in particular that pertaining to the funerary cultsTemplate:Sfn in the necropolis of Abusir.Template:Efn Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn For example, the priesthood of the royal pyramids was reorganized,Template:Sfn with Djedkare possibly changing the titles and functions of the priests from "priest of king" to "priest of the pyramid",Template:Sfn although this change may have happened earlier, under Nyuserre Ini.Template:Sfn Princes of royal blood could once more hold administrative titles,Template:Efn a prerogative they had lost during the early Fifth Dynasty.Template:Sfn At the same time, viziers could now hold the prestigious titles of Iry-patTemplate:Sfn and Haty-aTemplate:Sfn and, as "overseer of the royal scribes", became the head of the scribal administration.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn For the period spanning the reign of Djedkare until that of Teti, viziers were furthermore responsible for the weaponry of the state, both for military and other purposes.Template:Sfn Following the reforms undertaken by Djedkare, three viziers would be in office at the same time:Template:Sfn two in the Memphite region and a Southern one, the "governor of Upper Egypt",Template:Sfn with a seat at Abydos.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn In total six viziers were appointed during Djedkare's reign.Template:Efn Template:Sfn

Lower ranking officials lost power during the late Fifth Dynasty and were frequently limited to holding only one high title,Template:Sfn a departure from the preceding period.Template:Sfn Such functions as "overseer of the granary" and "overseer of the treasury" disappear from the record some time between Djedkare's reign and that of Teti,Template:Sfn while men of lower status became head of the legal administration.Template:Sfn Consequently, the viziers concentrated more power than before while lower echelons of the state administration were reduced.Template:Sfn At the same time, the size of the provincial administration was increased, and it also became more autonomous from the central government.Template:Sfn In particular, the nomarchs were responsible in their provinces for performing works hitherto conducted by Memphite officials.Template:Sfn

Building activitiesEdit

The main building activity undertaken during the reign of Djedkare was the construction of his pyramid complex in Saqqara. Djedkare also either completed or undertook restoration works in the funerary complex of Nyuserre Ini in Abusir, as indicated by a now damaged inscription,Template:Sfn which must have detailed Djedkare's activities on the site.Template:Efn Template:Sfn Further building works took place in Abusir during the second half of Djedkare's reign following the curiousTemplate:Sfn decision by members of the royal family to be buried there rather than next to Djedkare's pyramid in Saqqara. A group of mastabas 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.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

Djedkare 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,Template:Sfn praising him for his work.Template:Sfn The decree mentions the construction of a broad rectangular courtTemplate:Sfn or artificial lakeTemplate:Sfn Template:Sfn for the jubilee of the king, some 1,000 cubits long and 400 cubits wide,Template:Sfn amounting to c. Template:Convert.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn 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.Template:Efn Template:Sfn Another decree addressed to Senedjemib Inti and later inscribed on the walls of his mastaba records the decoration of a chapel of Hathor in the palace of the king. This chapel was most likely built during his reign.Template:Sfn

Djedkare 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.Template:Sfn A reused granite block with the king's name was also found at the pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht.Template:Sfn

Activities outside EgyptEdit

File:Relief of Djedkare Isesi Wadi Maghara.png

Drawing by Karl Richard Lepsius of a relief of Djedkare, Wadi MagharaTemplate:Sfn

Expeditions to mines and quarriesEdit

Three or fourTemplate:Efn rock inscriptions dating to Djedkare's reign have been found in the Wadi Maghareh in Sinai, where mines of copper and semi-precious stones were exploited throughout the Old Kingdom, from the Fourth until the Sixth Dynasty.Template:Sfn These inscriptions record three expeditions sent to look for turquoise: the earliest one, dated to the thirdTemplate:Sfn or fourthTemplate:Sfn cattle count–possibly corresponding to the sixth or eighth year of Dejdkare's reign–explicitly recalls the arrival of the mining party to the "hills of the turquoise"Template:Efn 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".Template:Sfn Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn Another inscription dating to the year of the ninth cattle count–possibly Djedkare's 18th year on the throne – shows the king "subduing all foreign lands. Smiting the chief of the foreign land".Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The expedition that left this inscription comprised over 1400 men and administration officials.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Some Egyptologists have proposed that these men were also sent to mine copper.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

These expeditions departed Egypt from the port of Ain Sukhna, on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez, as revealed by papyri and seals bearing Djedkare's name found on the site.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The port comprised large galleries carved into the sandstone serving as living quarters and storage places.Template:Sfn 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 Djedkare's 14th year on the throne.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn In early 2018, more than 220 clay seals bearing the serekh of Djedkare were uncovered in Tell Edfu 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. Edfu, called Behdet by the ancient Egyptians, was likely the place of departure for the mining expeditions sent to the Eastern desert and the Red Sea during Djedkare'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 Edfu.Template:Sfn

File:2414-2375 050 PHARAOHS OF EGYPT- Gold Seal of Office. Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5, reign of DJEDKARE ISESI. Museum of Fine Arts Boston ©Hans Ollermann.jpg

Gold cylinder seal bearing the names of Djedkare and Menkauhor Kaiu, purportedly from AnatoliaTemplate:Sfn

South of Egypt, Djedkare dispatched at least one expedition to the diorite quarries located Template:Convert north-west of Abu Simbel.Template:Efn Template:Sfn Djedkare 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 (Template:Circa).Template:Sfn

Djedkare 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 NubiaTemplate:Efn – is found in an inscription from the mortuary temple of Djedkare.Template:Sfn

Trade relationsEdit

Egypt entertained continuing trade relations with the Levant during Djedkare's reign, possibly as far north as Anatolia. A gold cylinder seal bearing the serekh of Djedkare together with the cartouche of Menkauhor Kaiu is now on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.Template:Efn Template:Sfn The seal, whose gold may originate from the Pactolus river valley in western Anatolia,Template:Sfn could attest to wide-ranging trade-contacts during the later Fifth Dynasty,Template:Sfn Template:Sfn but its provenance remains unverifiable.Template:Efn Template:Sfn

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, Djedkare [living] forever".Template:Sfn Template:Sfn A biographical inscription discovered in the tomb of Iny, a Sixth Dynasty official, provides further evidence for an Egyptian expedition to Byblos during Djedkare's reign.Template:Sfn Iny's inscription relates his travels to procure lapis lazuli and lead or tin Template:Sfn for king Merenre, but starts by recounting what must have been similar events taking place under Djedkare.Template:Sfn

To the south of Egypt, Djedkare also sent an expedition to the fabled Land of Punt Template:Sfn to procure the myrrh used as incense in the Egyptian temples.Template:Sfn The expedition to Punt is referred to in the letter from Pepi II Neferkare 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 Djedkare 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".Template:Sfn

File:Petrie Relief of Inti from Dishasha.png

Relief from the tomb of Inti showing a scene of battle or siegeTemplate:Sfn

Djedkare's expedition to Punt is also mentioned in a contemporaneous graffito found in Tumas, a locality of Lower Nubia some Template:Convert south of Aswan,Template:Sfn where Isesi's cartouche was discovered.Template:Sfn

WarfareEdit

Not all relations between Egypt and its neighbors were peaceful during Djedkare's reign. In particular, one of the earliest known depictions of a battle or a city being besiegedTemplate:Sfn is found in the tomb of Inti, an official from the 21st nome of Upper Egypt, who lived during the late Fifth Dynasty.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The scene shows Egyptian soldiers scaling the walls of a Near Eastern fortress on ladders.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

PyramidEdit

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File:Djedkare-Isesi-05.jpg

The pyramid of Djedkare in Saqqara, 2011

Djedkare built his pyramid in South Saqqara. It was called Nefer Isesi or Nefer Djedkare in Ancient Egyptian,Template:Efn Template:Sfn variously translated as "Isesi/Djedkare is beautiful"Template:Sfn or "Isesi/Djedkare is perfect".Template:Sfn Template:Sfn It is known today as Haram el-Shawwâf (Template:Langx),Template:Sfn because it stands on the edge of the Nile valley.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

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 Template:Convert high, with a base length of Template:Convert and an inclination angle of 52°.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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. An almost complete mummy was discovered in the remnants of the sarcophagus. An examination by Ahmed Batrawi of these skeletal remains, excavated in the mid-1940s under the direction of Abdel-Salam Hussein, suggests that Djedkare died at the age of 50 to 60 years.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

To the east of the pyramid, Djedkare's mortuary temple was laid out.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

LegacyEdit

Impact of the reformsEdit

File:Mastaba Senedjemib Inti.jpg

The large mastaba of Senedjemib Inti, vizier under Djedkare

For Nigel Strudwick, the reforms of Djedkare were undertaken as a reaction to the rapid growth of the central administration in the first part of the Fifth DynastyTemplate:Sfn which, Baer adds, had amassed too much political or economic powerTemplate:Sfn in the eyes of the king.Template:Sfn Joyce Tyldesley sees the reign of Djedkare 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.Template:Sfn Concurrent with this trend is a process of decentralization, with local loyalties slowly superseding allegiance to the central state.Template:Sfn Since offices and the vizierate in particular could be inherited,Template:Sfn the reforms of Djedkare created a "virtual feudal system" as Nicolas Grimal writes,Template:Sfn Template:Sfn with much power in the hands of a few puissant officials. This is best witnessed by the large, magnificent mastaba tombs that Djedkare's viziers built.Template:Sfn In this context, Djedkare's reforms of the ranking system might have been an attempt at maintaining a sprawling administration under control,Template:Sfn yet ultimately failed. For some Egyptologists, such as Naguib Kanawati, this failure contributed in no small part to the fall of the Old Kingdom,Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

The reforms of Djedkare 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.Template:Sfn

Funerary cultEdit

Old KingdomEdit

File:Isesi Estate.png

Personified agricultural estate of Djedkare called "Ra desires that Isesi lives"Template:Sfn

Djedkare 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 Djedkare'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",Template:Efn "Heqa desires that Izezi live",Template:Efn "Perfect of emulation is Isesi",Template:Efn "The mnza-vessel of Djedkare",Template:Efn "Perfect of favors is Isesi",Template:Efn "Seshat makes Isesi live",Template:Efn "The Ka of Isesi is foremost",Template:Efn "Dominion belongs to Izezi",Template:Efn "Work of the command of Izezi",Template:Efn "Bastet wishes that Izezi lives",Template:Efn "Horus perpetuates Izezi",Template:Efn "The offerings of Izezi",Template:Efn and "Izezi is one who loves life".Template:Efn

Djedkare 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 Djedkare.Template:Sfn In addition, the South Saqqara Stone, a royal annal dating to the reign of Merenre or of his successor Pepi II,Template:Sfn records rich offerings being made to Djedkare on behalf of the king.Template:Efn Template:Sfn Template:Sfn An estimated 92%Template:Sfn 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 (Template:Circa–2055 BC) to early Middle Kingdom period (Template:Circa–1650 BC).Template:Sfn

More generally, an historical or literary tradition concerning events in the time of Djedkare seems to have flourished toward the end of Old Kingdom as can be inferred from the tombs of Harkuf and Iny.Template:Sfn 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 Djedkare.Template:Sfn

New KingdomEdit

The funerary cult of Djedkare 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.Template:Sfn

For the later New Kingdom, a relief from the Saqqara tomb of the priest Mehu, dating to the 19th or 20th Dynasty shows three gods faced by several deceased kings. 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 "Djedkare" or, much less likely, "Shepseskare". 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.Template:Sfn

NotesEdit

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ReferencesEdit

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BibliographyEdit

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Djedkare Isesi

Contents

AttestationsEdit

Contemporaneous sourcesEdit

Historical sourcesEdit

FamilyEdit

ParentsEdit

QueensEdit

SonsEdit

DaughtersEdit

ChronologyEdit

ReignEdit

Domestic reformsEdit

Building activitiesEdit

Activities outside EgyptEdit

Expeditions to mines and quarriesEdit

Trade relationsEdit

WarfareEdit

PyramidEdit

LegacyEdit

Impact of the reformsEdit

Funerary cultEdit

Old KingdomEdit

New KingdomEdit

See alsoEdit

NotesEdit

ReferencesEdit

BibliographyEdit