Episode 14: The Joy of Re's Heart – The History of Egypt Podcast

Niuserre (Part II): Hasty Burials, and Elite Culture

Coming to the throne after the premature death of his brother, Niuserre Ini must rapidly complete his predecessor’s burial. He must also complete the pyramid of their father, Neferirkare Kakai, and put his own pyramid into the works – a difficult task to handle all at once…

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3D models of the pyramid of Niuserre (right), next to that of his father Neferirkare Kakai — 3D models of the pyramid of Niuserre (right), next to that of his father Neferirkare Kakai
Source: R.F. Morgan, via Wikipedia

3D model of Niuserre’s Sun Temple — 3D model of Niuserre’s Sun Temple
Source: R.F. Morgan, via Wikipedia

A dual-statue of the king, representing him in both elderly and youthful guises, with complex symbolic functions beneath the surface

The scribe Nykare, who lived in the Fifth Dynasty — The scribe Nykare, who lived in the Fifth Dynasty
Discovered in the Saqqara region (Source: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).

Two young dogs, from the pyramid complex of Niuserre. — Two young dogs, from the pyramid complex of Niuserre.
Re-used and discovered at al-Lisht, in the pyramid complex of Amenemhat I of the 12th Dynasty (Source: the Metropolitan Museum of Art).

Bibliography

Miroslav Verner, The Pyramids, 2002.
Miriam
Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms, 1973 (2006 paperback edition).
Harold M. Hays, “The Death of the Democratization of the Afterlife” in Old Kingdom, New Perspectives, 2011 (Free Download).

Show 2 Comments

2 Comments

Anne

March 8, 2021, 5:07 pm

you mentioned a video connected to this episode, but l don’t see it here
Anne

March 8, 2021, 5:08 pm

where is the video you mentioned in the podcast?

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