Editing Sahure (section)

==== Development of the Egyptian Navy ====

[[File:Berlin 122009 020a.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|alt=Fragmentary relief showing a large boat with men onboard working the mast and sails|Relief from Sahure's mortuary temple showing the Egyptian fleet returning from the Levant]]

Sahure's reign may have been a time of development for the Egyptian [[navy]]. His expeditions to Punt and Byblos demonstrate the existence of a high seas navy and reliefs from his mortuary complex are described by Shelley Wachsmann as the "first definite depictions of seagoing ships in Egypt",{{sfn|Wachsmann|1998|p=12}}{{sfn|Faulkner|1941|p=4}} some of which must have been 100-[[Cubit#Ancient Egyptian royal cubit|cubit]]s long (c. 50{{nbs}}m, 170{{nbs}}ft).{{sfn|Lehner|2008|pp=142–144}}
Because of this, Sahure has been credited by past scholars with establishing the Egyptian navy. It is recognized today that this is an overstatement: fragmentary reliefs from Userkaf's temple depict numerous boats, while a high seas navy must have existed as early as the Third Dynasty.{{sfn|Faulkner|1941|p=4}} The oldest known sea harbor, [[Wadi al-Jarf]] on the [[Red Sea]] was operating under [[Khufu]].{{sfn|Tallet|2012}} Finally, there is the distinct possibility that some of the reliefs are copied from earlier examples. Nonetheless, Sahure remains the earliest known ruler to have depicted, and thus possibly made use of, sea power for transporting troops over the Mediterranean sea, to Syria.{{sfn|Faulkner|1941|p=3}}

The extensive nautical scenes from Sahure's mortuary complex are sufficiently detailed to show that specialized racing boats for the military and perhaps for ceremonial training were built at the time.{{sfn|Mark|2013|p=285}} They also give the earliest depiction of specific rope uses aboard ships, such as that of a [[Hog chains|hogging-truss]].{{sfn|Veldmeijer|Zazzaro|Clapham|Cartwright|2008|p=33}} They permit precise estimates regarding shipbuilding, for example indicating that the mid-ship [[Freeboard (nautical)|freeboard]] for seagoing vessels was of {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}},{{sfn|Wicker|1998|p=161}}
and that the masts employed at the time were bipodal, resembling an inverted Y.{{sfn|Faulkner|1941|p=6}}
Further rare depictions include the king standing in the stern of a sailing boat with a highly decorated sail,{{sfn|El Awady|2009|loc=pl. 1 & Fig. 2}}{{sfn|Mark|2013|p=272}} and one of only two{{efn|group=note|The only other similar relief is found in Userkaf's temple.{{sfn|Mark|2013|p=280}}}} reliefs from ancient Egypt showing men aboard a ship paddling in a wave pattern, possibly during a race.{{sfn|Mark|2013|pp=270, 280–281}}