South Saqqara Stone facts for kids
The South Saqqara Stone is a very old and important piece of stone from ancient Egypt. It has a list of pharaohs, who were the kings of Egypt, from the 6th dynasty. This list includes famous names like Teti, Userkare, Pepi I, Merenre, and Pepi II. Because the list ends with Pepi II, experts think the stone was probably carved during his time as king.
This stone is like an ancient history book, recording important events that happened during each king's rule. However, after its original use, the stone was later used as the lid for a sarcophagus, which is a special stone coffin. This sarcophagus was for an ancient Egyptian queen named Ankhenespepi. Because of this, much of the writing on the stone is now hard to read or has been worn away.
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How Was the Stone Found?
The South Saqqara Stone was discovered by an archaeologist named Gustave Jéquier. He found it between 1932 and 1933. The stone was hidden in a storage room. This room was located south of the pyramid of Queen Iput II. This area is part of the larger pyramid complex of Pepi II at Saqqara. Saqqara was a very important burial ground for the ancient city of Memphis.
What Does the Stone Look Like?
The South Saqqara Stone is made from a dark, hard rock called basalt. It is quite large, measuring about 2.43 meters (nearly 8 feet) long and 0.92 meters (about 3 feet) wide. It is also 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) thick. The stone has writing on both its front and back sides. Sadly, over time, much of this ancient writing has been damaged or removed, making it unreadable today.
Why Is This Stone Important?
The writing on the South Saqqara Stone makes it a very valuable historical object. The list of pharaohs on the stone includes details about the "cattle count." This was a regular event, happening every one or two years, where ancient Egyptians counted their livestock. These details match information found on other ancient lists, like the Turin King List.
By comparing these records, archaeologists can figure out how long each king ruled. For example, the stone helps us know that:
- Teti ruled for at least 12 years.
- Userkare ruled for 2 to 4 years.
- Pepi I ruled for 49 to 50 years.
- Merenre ruled for 11 to 13 years.
The South Saqqara Stone is one of the oldest historical documents we have. It contains the names of all the pharaohs known to the people who created it, giving us a rare glimpse into ancient Egyptian history.
Other Ancient King Lists
