Seven years in the late 26th to early 25th century BC.[note 1]
Predecessor
Shepseskaf (most likely) or Thamphthis (possibly known as Djedefptah)
Successor
Sahure
Royal titulary
Horus name
Hor Irymaat Hr-iry-maat Horus, he who ensures the harmony Alternative translations: Performer of Maat[3] He who puts Maat into practice[21] The one who has accomplished Maat[22]
Nebty name
Irymaat nbtj iry-maat He who ensures the harmony Alternative translations: Performer of Maat[3] He who puts Maat into practice[21] The one who has accomplished Maat[22]
Golden Horus
Bik Nebu Nefer bik-nbw-nfr The perfect golden falcon[22]
Prenomen (Praenomen)
Userkaf wsr-k3-f His Ka is strong[22] Alternative translations: Powerful is his Ka[21][3] His Ka is potent[23]
Nomen
Userkaf[24] wsr-k3-f His Ka is strong[22] Alternative translations: Powerful is his Ka[21][3] His Ka is potent[23]
Consort
Neferhetepes (most likely) or Khentkaus I
Children
Sahure ♂, Khamaat ♀
Father
unknown, but probably belonged to a branch of the Fourth Dynasty royal family
Mother
Khentkaus I? Raddjedet (myth)
Monuments
Pyramid Wab-Isut-Userkaf Pyramid of Neferhetepes Sun temple Nekhenre Temple of Montu in El-Tod
Dynasty
Fifth Dynasty
Userkaf (known in Ancient Greek as Οὐσερχέρης, Usercherês) was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the founder of the Fifth Dynasty. He reigned for seven to eight years in the early 25th century BC, during the Old Kingdom period. He probably belonged to a branch of the Fourth Dynasty royal family, although his parentage is uncertain; he could have been the son of Khentkaus I. He had at least one daughter and very probably a son, Sahure, with his consort Neferhetepes. This son succeeded him as pharaoh.
His reign heralded the ascendancy of the cult of Ra, who effectively became Egypt's state god during the Fifth Dynasty. Userkaf may have been a high-priest of Ra before ascending the throne, and built a sun temple, known as the Nekhenre, between Abusir and Abu Gurab. In doing so, he instituted a tradition followed by his successors over a period of 80 years. The Nekhenre mainly functioned as a mortuary temple for the setting sun. Rites performed in the temple were primarily concerned with Ra's creator function and his role as father of the king. Taken with the reduction in the size of the royal mortuary complex, this suggests a more concrete separation between the sun god and the king than in the preceding dynasties. After Userkaf's death, his temple was the subject of four building phases, during which it acquired a large obelisk.
Column of Userkaf found at the temple of Montu, El-Tod
Userkaf built a pyramid in Saqqara close to that of Djoser, a location that forced architects to put the associated mortuary temple in an unusual position, to the south of the pyramid. The latter was much smaller than those built during the Fourth Dynasty but the mortuary complex was lavishly and extensively decorated with fine painted reliefs. In addition to his own pyramid and temple, Userkaf built a smaller pyramid close to his for one of his queens, likely Neferhetepes. Although Userkaf was the object of a funerary cult after his death like the other Fifth Dynasty kings, his was relatively unimportant, and was abandoned after the end of the dynasty. Little is known of his activities beyond the construction of his pyramid and sun temple. The Old Kingdom royal annals record offerings of beer, bread and lands to various gods, some of which may correspond to building projects on Userkaf's behalf, including the temple of Montu in El-Tod where he is the earliest attested pharaoh. Beyond the borders of Egypt, a military expedition to Canaan or the Eastern Desert may have taken place, and trade contacts with the Aegean seem to have existed at the time. [citation needed]
^Hayes 1978, p. 58.
^Verner 2001c, p. 91.
^ abcdeAltenmüller 2001, p. 598.
^El-Shahawy & Atiya 2005, p. 61.
^ abBeckerath 1997, p. 188.
^Clayton 1994, p. 60.
^Malek 2000a, pp. 98 & 482.
^Rice 1999, p. 215.
^David & David 2001, p. 164.
^Beckerath 1999, p. 285.
^Helck 1981, p. 63.
^Encyclopædia Britannica 2018.
^Arnold 1999.
^Wilkinson 2000, p. 121.
^Lehner 2008, p. 140.
^List of rulers of ancient Egypt and Nubia, MET 2019.
^CMA 2018.
^Strudwick 1985, p. 3.
^Hornung et al. 2012, p. 491.
^Dodson & Hilton 2004, p. 288.
^ abcdGrimal 1992, p. 75.
^ abcdeLeprohon 2013, p. 38.
^ abMagi 2008, p. 12.
^Digital Egypt 2018.
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Userkaf (known in Ancient Greek as Οὐσερχέρης, Usercherês) was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the founder of the Fifth Dynasty. He reigned for seven to...
The pyramid complex of Userkaf was built c. 2490 BC for the pharaoh Userkaf (reigned 2494–2487 BC), founder of the 5th Dynasty of Egypt (c. 2494–2345 BC)...
of Marmara, may be evidence of trade but remain a mystery. How Pharaoh Userkaf founded this dynasty is not known for certain. The Westcar Papyrus, which...
The Sun Temple of Userkaf was an ancient Egyptian temple dedicated to the sun god Ra built by pharaoh Userkaf, the founder of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt...
Userkaf (the first ruler of the 5th Dynasty) are destroyed and thus illegible today. But their number is puzzling, since between Khafre and Userkaf only...
have been uncovered: that of Userkaf and that of Nyuserre. The six kings associated with having built sun temples are: Userkaf, Sahure, Neferirkare, Reneferef...
a daughter of king Menkaure, the wife of both king Shepseskaf and king Userkaf (the founder of the Fifth Dynasty), the mother of king Sahure. Some suggest...
point of the Fifth Dynasty. He was probably the son of his predecessor Userkaf with Queen Neferhetepes II, and was in turn succeeded by his son Neferirkare...
throne, Userkaf, is not known although in the absence of clear indication of strife at the transition between the fourth and fifth dynasties, Userkaf could...
that the story of the Papyrus Westcar was first written, a tale where Userkaf, Sahure and Neferirkare are said to be brothers, the sons of Ra with a...
substantial monumental structure to be built of dressed stone—the Pyramid of Userkaf, the Pyramid of Teti and the Pyramid of Merikare, dating to the First Intermediate...
of the heart of Ra". He also completed the Nekhenre, the Sun temple of Userkaf in Abu Gorab, and the valley temple of Menkaure in Giza. In doing so, he...
the same name who was buried in a small pyramid next to the pyramid of Userkaf, the first king of the 5th Dynasty. In a document mentioning her funerary...
Djedefptah (2498–2496 BC). The Fifth Dynasty (2494–2345 BC) began with Userkaf (2494–2487 BC) and was marked by the growing importance of the cult of...
largest and best preserved solar temple, as well as the solar temple of Userkaf, both built in the 25th century BCE during the Old Kingdom Period. Evidence...
Pyramid of Nyuserre Pyramid of Sahure Sun temple of Nyuserre Sun temple of Userkaf Dahshur Bent Pyramid Black Pyramid Red Pyramid White Pyramid Helwan Mazghuna...
the folktales in the Westcar Papyrus. The story tells of the birth of Userkaf, Sahure, and Neferirkare Kakai, the first three kings of the Fifth Dynasty...
Mastabat al-Fir'aun, tomb of king Shepseskaf (Dynasty Four) Pyramid of Userkaf of the Fifth Dynasty Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi Pyramid of king Menkauhor...
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...
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