Neferefre

There are many different opinions regarding the Pharaoh Neferefre and his reign in Egypt. The pyramid of Abusir has been a major source of archaeological evidence surrounding his rulership, but questions and mysteries still remain.

What is clear from the evidence is that there was a pharaoh known as Neferefre or Raneferef who reigned sometime during the 5th dynasty. As a crown prince, his name was Raneferef, but he later changed his name to Neferefre when he assumed the throne. Neferefre's name, in Egyptian, meant beautiful. He was the son and successor of Neferirkare. His mother was Khentkaus. It is not known whether Neferefre had any wives or children. In 2015, a tomb was discovered by  archaeologists suspected to be the tomb of his wife Khentkaus III. 

The Length of Neferefre's Reign

Previous historians estimated that Neferefre might have ruled for a long time, perhaps close to 20 years. However, modern-day historians have an entirely different view: that the king ruled for only a very short time. They derive this conclusion from the unfinished state of the pyramid during his reign. Some of the information about Neferefre's reign is partly damaged, but a visual examination gives the evidence that there was only a single vertical stroke about him. These vertical strokes signify the number of years he reigned in the kingdom.

Interruption of Funerary Construction

It is also believed that if Neferefre ruled for a long period, there would be no signs of interruption to construction of his tomb. In fact, the shape of the Neferefre tomb along with other archaeological findings indicate that there was some form of interruption in the construction of his funerary monuments. This can often be due to the early and unexpected death of a king. The unfinished building plan had to be changed, and thereby a decision was taken to change the unfinished pyramid into a mastaba shaped in a square. This can also be considered as a primeval hill in a stylized version.

Queen Khentkaus Acted As A Ruler

It appears that after the death of

There are many different opinions regarding the Pharaoh Neferefre and his reign in Egypt. The pyramid of Abusir has been a major source of archaeological evidence surrounding his rulership, but questions and mysteries still remain.

What is clear from the evidence is that there was a pharaoh known as Neferefre or Raneferef who reigned sometime during the 5th dynasty. As a crown prince, his name was Raneferef, but he later changed his name to Neferefre when he assumed the throne. Neferefre's name, in Egyptian, meant beautiful. He was the son and successor of Neferirkare. His mother was Khentkaus. It is not known whether Neferefre had any wives or children. In 2015, a tomb was discovered by  archaeologists suspected to be the tomb of his wife Khentkaus III. 

The Length of Neferefre's Reign

Previous historians estimated that Neferefre might have ruled for a long time, perhaps close to 20 years. However, modern-day historians have an entirely different view: that the king ruled for only a very short time. They derive this conclusion from the unfinished state of the pyramid during his reign. Some of the information about Neferefre's reign is partly damaged, but a visual examination gives the evidence that there was only a single vertical stroke about him. These vertical strokes signify the number of years he reigned in the kingdom.

Interruption of Funerary Construction

It is also believed that if Neferefre ruled for a long period, there would be no traces of interruption. In fact, the shape of the Neferefre tomb along with other archaeological findings indicate that there was some form of interruption in the construction of the funerary monuments of the king. This can even be due to the early and unexpected death of the king. The unfinished building plan had to be changed, and thereby a decision was made to change the unfinished pyramid into a mastaba shaped in a square. This can even be considered as a primeval hill in a stylized version.

Queen Khentkaus Acted As A Ruler

It appears that after the death of Neferefre his consort queen Khentkaus II acted as a regent. In fact, she might have even ruled Egypt for some time. An analysis of the body parts found in the pyramid of Abusir shows that the king died around 20-23. Thus, it can be estimated that he did not rule for more than 3 years. Consequently, it also seems strange that he required a regent to act on his behalf. In this case, some of the evidence does not fit.

Differences in the Dates

On the other hand, different references gathered from different sources show some radical differences in period of his reign. Some claim that the reign of Neferefre began as early as 2419 or even as late as 2460 B.C. Another chronicle of the Pharaohs concludes that his reign was actually 7 years. Irrespective of all these things, the Pyramid at Abusir is a major tourist attraction in Egypt, and its significance cannot be overlooked.