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NSWAncient HistoryQuick questions
Section II (Ancient Societies): Old Kingdom Egypt to the death of Pepy II
Quick questions on Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom (HSC Ancient History Section II)
15short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is djoser (c. 2670 BC)?Show answer
The first major monumental pharaoh of the Old Kingdom.
What is sneferu (c. 2613-2589 BC)?Show answer
Founder of Dynasty IV. Built three pyramids:
What is khufu (Khufu/Cheops, c. 2589-2566 BC)?Show answer
Builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
What is khafre (Khafra/Chephren, c. 2558-2532 BC)?Show answer
Built the second Giza pyramid. Slightly smaller than Khufu's (143.5 m original) but on slightly higher ground, so appears comparable.
What is menkaure (Mycerinus, c. 2532-2503 BC)?Show answer
Built the third Giza pyramid. Substantially smaller than the first two (65 m). His pyramid retained better-preserved valley temple complex.
What is userkaf (c. 2494-2487 BC)?Show answer
Founder of Dynasty V. Built a small pyramid at Saqqara and the first sun temple at Abusir.
What is niuserre (c. 2453-2422 BC)?Show answer
Built the most elaborate sun temple at Abusir. Sun temples replaced the great pyramid as the major Dynasty V royal monument.
What is unas (c. 2375-2345 BC)?Show answer
Last king of Dynasty V. Built a pyramid at Saqqara.
What is teti (c. 2345-2323 BC)?Show answer
Founder of Dynasty VI. Established traditions that continued under successors.
What is pepy I (c. 2321-2287 BC)?Show answer
Substantial reign. Continued the Old Kingdom traditions. Power increasingly shared with regional nomarchs.
What is pepy II (c. 2278-2184 BC)?Show answer
Longest-reigning pharaoh in history. Traditional 94 years (Manetho); modern estimates 64-94 years (some scholars accept 90+ years, others reduce to about 64). Came to the throne aged 6.
What is step Pyramid at Saqqara?Show answer
Designed by his vizier Imhotep. The first large stone monument in Egypt. Began as a mastaba (flat-roofed tomb) and was progressively expanded into six stepped layers.
What is imhotep?Show answer
Djoser's vizier, sage, and architect of the Step Pyramid. Later deified. Considered the founder of Egyptian medicine and one of the earliest known polymaths in human history.
What is great Pyramid?Show answer
Originally 481 feet (146.6 m) tall, currently 138.5 m due to lost casing. Approximately 2.3 million stone blocks. Built over 20-25 years using approximately 20,000-40,000 workers (the slave-labour stereotype is now widely rejected; most workers were skilled craftsmen and seasonal labourers).
What is tomb chamber?Show answer
No body or burial goods survived (looted in antiquity).