Pepi II was the son of Pepi I and Ankhenesmerire I. He was the half-brother of his predecessor, Merenre I. He was married to Neith, his half-sister and to Iput II, a daughter of his brother. He was also married to a woman named Udjbeten. His successor, Merenre II, is perhaps the son Pepi II had with Neith.
When his half-brother died, apparently without any male heirs, Pepi II was still a child. According to the Turin King-list, he ruled for over 90 years, which appears to be confirmed by Manetho, who recorded 94 years. This would make Pepi II the longest ruling king of Ancient Egypt. Some doubt has however been shed on this high number, and some researchers believe that it was the result of a miss-reading of 64.
The actual power in the beginning of his reign was held by his mother and her brother, Djau. An alabaster statue shows Ankhenesmerire I with the young but regal Pepi II on her lap, somewhat reminiscent of Isis with the young Horus. Another statue, shows Pepi II as a naked child.
The actual power in the beginning of his reign was held by his mother and her brother, Djau. An alabaster statue shows Ankhenesmerire I with the young but regal Pepi II on her lap, somewhat reminiscent of Isis with the young Horus. Another statue, shows Pepi II as a naked child.
Pepi II's long reign is marked by a gradual decline of the central government. His predecessors' policy to try and consolidate the position of the king was starting to fail, and this would become more obvious after Pepi II's death. It is often believed that the cause of this was the long reign of Pepi II: the ageing king was no longer able to rule himself, which would have increased the power of his central administration and of the provincial governors. On the other hand, it must be noted that Pepi's funerary monument was built and decorated in a much poorer way than his predecessors', which may indicate a decline in welfare in general during his reign. This decline is likely to have been the result of the lower annual inundation of the Nile: with a lower annual inundation, harvests and crops were no longer abundant and agriculture, the backbone of Egyptian economy, began to decline.
Pepi II's foreign policy too is marked by some problems. In the beginning of his reign, a pygmy brought by the governor of Elephantine, could delight the young king. Later, several expedition leaders would find their deaths while campaigning in Nubia. The commercial relationship with Byblos appear to have continued, but many other commercial relationships with foreign countries were broken off.
Pepi II's foreign policy too is marked by some problems. In the beginning of his reign, a pygmy brought by the governor of Elephantine, could delight the young king. Later, several expedition leaders would find their deaths while campaigning in Nubia. The commercial relationship with Byblos appear to have continued, but many other commercial relationships with foreign countries were broken off.
Pepi II built his funerary complex in Saqqara South, near the monument of Shepseskaf of the 4th Dynasty, at a kilometre distance from his father's and brother's. His three wives were buried in smaller pyramids next to his own.
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Pepi II's wife Neith was fair to look upon. Abraham's wife was fair to look upon. (Genesis 12:11-12)Towards the end of Pepi II's reign Egyptian men would kill the foreign men in Egypt to steal their wives.
Pepi II's wife Neith was named after the Egyptian Bee goddess Neith. Pepi II had trade with Abraham UR's king Amar/Bur-Sin who had built the House of Honey at Ur Before Abraham and Sarah had enetered Egypt. Pepi II would smear honey on his naked male and female slaves to keep the flies off him.
Pepi II got plagued by God. (Genesis 12:17) Pepi II then gave Abraham cattle, silver and gold. (Genesis 13:1-2) There were no silver mines in Africa at this time in world history. Pepi II had received silver from Abraham's UR Before Elamite king Kindattu Chedorlaomer had destroyed UR when Abraham and Sarah were in Egypt. Abraham later slays the Elamite king Chedorlaomer who had destroyed his hometown of UR. (Genesis 14:1 & Genesis 14:17)
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