Pharaohs of THe Old Kingdom

The Old Kingdom was made up of about three dynasties, the great age of building pyramids was in the Old Kingdom (Shuter 44). It was in the Old Kingdom that the Egyptians started to build pyramids. The Old Kingdom was very prosperous and peaceful (Casson 51).


The Old Kingdom was made up of the fourth dynasty through the sixth dynasty. The first pharaoh of the fourth dynasty was Sneferu. His wife was Hetepheres II. Interestingly, King Cheops or Khufu, who was the next pharaoh built the Pyramid of Giza (Shutter 12).

The pharaoh of the fifth dynasty, Userkaf became the pharaoh by marring into the royal family. We do not know anything about his background, probably because he was not of the royal family and tomb robbers could have ruined his burial site. He ruled for seven years, and built his pyramid at the northeast corner of Djoser's complex at Saqqara, wich is localy described as the ruined pyramid. This pyramid was stripped of all of the outer casing, and looks like a mound of rubble. source


The sixth dynasty was started with King Teti. He took the name Seheteptawy, this means,"He who pacifies the Two Lands" scource. A lot of the Egyptologists suggest that he reigned for about twelve years. He was married to Queen Iput I and had about three children. This king also had his pyramid built in Saqqara. However, we know very little about this man's reign.


The Old Kingdom collapsed when the sixth dynasty ended. this led into the century of trouble and famine. It is possible that it was the long reign of Pepi II, which, according to ancient sources, was for over ninety years, and it weakened the control of the central government. It also could have been destructive Nile floods that brought famine. the large buildings and the works of art ceased, it is very likely that the pyramids and tombs were robbed. Then under a new line of rulers from Thebes in the Eleventh Dynasty the country was reunited and the country restored. source


The Old kingdom was made of about three dynasties. The Old Kingdom was very prosperous and peaceful (Casson 51). However, the Old Kingdom met a very tragic end.

Shuter, Jane. People Who Made History in Ancient Egypt.
Steck-Vaughen: Austen, 2001.

Casson, Lionel. Great Ages of Man Ancient Egypt.
Time Incorporated: New York, 1965