Summary of Pharaohs Video (Number Two).
During the class period of September 25, 2001 we viewed a film in which they went through the late old kingdom and middle kingdom pharaohs and some of their accomplishments. The following is a summation of the high points the video pointed out.
First, the video described the kingship of the pharaoh Menkareh. They described how he tried to deceive the gods by ruling day and night, since it was prophesied that he would only rule for six complete years. He ruled under candle light for many years. He also built the smallest of the three pyramids at Giza. Why was it the smallest? The video went into detail about the fact that this particular pyramid was built of granite at the base, so it would be much harder to create anything too big. Another reason could be that he literally ruled by candle light and may have not had the time to allocate towards such a large construction. .
The next pharaoh to be described was in the fifth dynasty. Usekauf only spent a brief time on the throne, but he did move his monument back to the site at Sakaru.
The next dynasty started with a pharaoh named Pepy. His reign was short lived and thus the next pharaoh, Pepy II, took over at the young age of six. Shortly thereafter, the kingdom dies and thus starts the Firs Intermediate Period in Egyptian history. The film is quick to point out that the country was divided by Lower and Upper Egypt, with the capitals at Thebes, and Herakopolis respectively. .
The rebirth happens under the direction of the military leadership of the pharaoh Mentehotep. He still ruled from Thebes, and had his memorial at Diar El-Bihari. Finally in 1878 BC, we get the first pharaoh, Sesoptrush, whom uses amazing likenesses to portray his strong leadership.
Probably the most interesting pharaoh was the woman pharaoh Hatshepsut. She built an amazing temple at the Diar El-Bihari. This temple was the first in history that was a clear example of a "propaganda machine".
