Userkare is an enigmatic pharaoh of the Egyptian Old Kingdom, who is said to have reigned briefly during the Sixth Dynasty. Due to the lack of archaeological evidence and historical information, details of his life and reign remain largely unknown. This article examines the scant information available on Userkare and the questions that remain about him.
A short and mysterious reign
Userkare is mentioned in a few Egyptian sources, notably the Royal Canon of Turin and the List of Abydos. However, these sources provide little information about his reign, which was probably very short. Estimates vary from a few months to a few years, but the exact length of his reign remains uncertain.
The reasons for the shortness and obscurity of his reign are the subject of debate among Egyptologists. Some suggest Userkare usurped the throne briefly before being overthrown, while others believe he could have been a co-regent with another pharaoh.
Limited archaeological evidence
Archaeological evidence regarding Userkare is extremely sparse. No major burial complex or monument has been definitively attributed to him, although some Egyptologists have suggested that an unfinished pyramid at Saqqara may be linked to Userkare.
Archaeological finds that mention Userkare are also very limited. A few inscriptions and seals bearing his name have been found, but they do not provide much information about his life or reign.
Userkare remains an enigmatic figure in Egyptian history due to the lack of archaeological evidence and historical information. His reign, probably brief and obscure, raises many questions that remain unanswered. Future archaeological discoveries may help shed more light on the life and reign of this mysterious pharaoh.
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||