Nyuserre Ini | |
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Niuserre Ini, Neuserre Ini, Nyuserra, Newoserre Any, Rathoris | |
Double statue portraying Nyuserre as both a young man and an old man, Museum of Egyptian Art in Munich
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Pharaoh | |
Reign | 24 to 35 years in the late 25th century BCE(Fifth Dynasty) |
Predecessor | Shepseskare (most likely) or Neferefre |
Successor | Menkauhor Kaiu |
Consort | Reptynub, at least another queen whose name is lost, possibly two |
Children |
Khamerernebty ♀, Reputnebty ♀ Khentykauhor ♂ Unlikely: Menkauhor Kaiu ♂ |
Father | Neferirkare Kakai |
Mother | Khentkaus II |
Burial | Pyramid of Nyuserre Ini |
Monuments | Built ex-nihilo: Pyramid of Nyuserre Ini Pyramid Lepsius XXIV Lepsius XXV Sun temple Shesepibre Completed: Pyramid of Neferirkare Kakai Pyramid of Neferefre Pyramid complex of Khentkaus II Sun temple of Userkaf Renovated: Mortuary complex of Menkaure Uncertain: Temple of Satet |
Nyuserre Ini (also Niuserre Ini or Neuserre Ini; in Greek known as Rathurês, ´Ραθούρης) was an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, the sixth ruler of the Fifth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom period. He is credited with a reign of 24 to 35 years depending on the scholar, and likely lived in the second half of the 25th century BCE. Nyuserre was the younger son of Neferirkare Kakai and queen Khentkaus II, and the brother of the short-lived king Neferefre. He may have succeeded his brother directly, as indicated by much later historical sources. Alternatively, Shepseskare may have reigned between the two as advocated by Miroslav Verner, albeit only for a few weeks or months at the most. The relation of Shepseskare with Neferefre and Nyuserre remains highly uncertain. Nyuserre was in turn succeeded by Menkauhor Kaiu, who could have been his nephew and a son of Neferefre.
Nyuserre was the most prolific builder of his dynasty, having built three pyramids for himself and his queens and a further three for his father, mother and brother, all in the necropolis of Abusir. He built the largest temple to the sun god Ra constructed during the Old Kingdom, named Shesepibre or "Joy of the heart of Ra". He also completed the Nekhenre, the Sun temple of Userkaf in Abu Gorab, and the valley temple of Menkaure in Giza. In doing so, he was the first king since Shepseskaf, last ruler of the Fourth Dynasty, to pay attention to the Giza necropolis, a move which may have been an attempt to legitimise his rule following the troubled times surrounding the unexpected death of his brother Neferefre.