General Notes

Pharoah of Egypt (VI Dynasty)

Pepi I's throne name was Nefersahor (cartouche bottom left) that later was changed into Mery-re. He appears to have ruled for 42-52 because he had a 21st and a 25th cattle count (held every two years). He had several wives and many children and the sons Merenre and Pepi II rule through the 6th Dynasty. He made a number of trading and mining expeditions and started several building projects throughout the country. At least four statues of him have survived and one (picture left) shows him offering on his bended knees. He maintained all relations with Byblos and Ebla in the Middle East and many inscriptions from his reign are known.

One of the names of Pepi I was "The Ka (soul) of Re is powerful" (picture left) and reflects back on the traditional solar cult from Heliopolis that was slowly loosing its grip as the most powerful manifestation of the Egyptian diverted religion.
When he ascend the throne he had the name of his predecessor king Userkare removed wherever possible, indicating a feud in the royal family.
Many building projects of his are known from Bubastis in the delta to Aswan in the south, but little of it remains. Some of it was possibly incorporated into later projects made by other rulers, but he did leave behind many inscriptions from his time telling about his deeds during his three decade reign.
He organised expeditions to Sinai and Nubia and has left rock carving in Wadi Hammamat, a 120 km long path between the Nile valley and the Red Sea.
One of the most remarkable finds in Egyptian history was made in Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt. It was a large copper statue of Pepi I and his little son Merenre.
He built his pyramid complex at south Sakkara four kilometres south of Djoser's complex and a couple of hundred metres from the pyramid of fifth dynasty king Djedkare Isesi. During the 19th dynasty it was restored and text from this occasion tell that it was in good condition at that time.

The pyramid complex of Pepi I as seen from northeast. The entrance to the pyramid was by the mini chapel and the mortuary temple had no pylons flanking its entrance.

When early Egyptologists entered the subterranean rooms from the north side entrance in the late 1800s, they found pyramid texts incised in the walls, spreading light over the builder of the monument and more. The valley temple and causeway are still to be and investigated, but the remains of them seem to be very few. The mortuary complex was almost a duplicate of Teti's and the pyramid was of six dynasty standard size: a 79 m square with a height of 53.
It also had a name of its own: "The Established and Beautiful Pyramid".

Today this beauty is a twelve-meter high ruin.