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Timeline › 6th Dynasty

Pepi II c. 2278–2184 BC

Pepi II became king as a child and is said to have reigned for over 60 years, one of the longest reigns in history. As a boy he wrote to an expedition leader asking him to bring home a dancing pygmy safely.

Throne name: Neferkare

nfr-kꜣ-rꜥ: “Beautiful is the ka of Ra”

Sign by sign

  1. Sun N5rꜥ The sun, the sun god Ra; day.
  2. Heart and windpipe F35nfr Good, beautiful, perfect.
  3. Raised arms D28kꜣ The ka, a person's life force.
Now draw this cartouche yourself

Birth name: Pepi

ppy

Sign by sign

  1. Stool Q3p The sound p.
  2. Stool Q3p The sound p.
  3. Flowering reed M17i The sound i.
  4. Flowering reed M17i The sound i.
Now draw this cartouche yourself

Names of gods (Ra, Amun, Ptah) are written first out of respect, even when they are read later. Dates are approximate; we follow Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000).