- Huni
Pharaoh Infobox
Alt= Hu, Houni, Hoeni [http://www.phouka.com/pharaoh/pharaoh/dynasties/dyn03/05huni.html Huni] accessed November 18, 2006]
Name= Huni |
Caption=Granite head of an Old Kingdom pharaoh, thought to represent Huni
NomenHiero=V28-A24-N35:Z4:D40
Nomen="Huni"
The SmiterClayton, Peter A. (1994) "Chronicle of the Pharaohs: the reign-by-reign record of the rulers and dynasties of ancient Egypt" p42. Thames and Hudson, New York, ISBN 0500050740]
Reign=2637–2613 BC 26 years in Manetho, 24 years according to theTurin King List
Predecessor=Khaba
Successor=Sneferu
Spouse=Meresankh I
Children= Sneferu
Dynasty=3rd Dynasty
Father= Huni
Died= 2613 BC
Monuments=Step pyramid (?), Island fort atElephantine Huni was the last
Pharaoh ofEgypt of the Third dynasty. He established a fortress on the island ofElephantine , securing the southern border of Egypt at the First Cataract. Huni was probably the father ofHetepheres , queen of the next king,Sneferu . A certain Huni is mentioned amongst the names of high officials from the court ofDjoser , and if this was indeed the same man as this pharaoh, it is possible that Huni came to the throne at a very venerable age. He is credited with a 24-year reign in theTurin King List .Huni is sometimes credited with building a great stepped pyramid at
Meidum (larger than that ofDjoser ), which was supposedly left unfinished at the time of his death, thus his successorSnofru , it is said, completed it near the beginning of his reign. However, this theory comes out of a simple desire to have a significant monument attributed to Huni; there is no evidence whatsoever that the Meidum pyramid was his burial place. The name of Snofru, however, has been found at Meidum, and many of Snofru's children, particularly princes Nefermaat and Rahotep, have been buried inmastaba s at the Meidumnecropolis . Thus it seems more likely that it was Snofru who had the pyramid built and, later on during his reign, transformed it from the stepped pyramid into a true pyramid by having its sides smoothed. The pyramid has since collapsed, leaving only its core.Another pyramid exists which was very likely built by Huni, but this is a small ceremonial pyramid the ruins of which have been found at Elephantine island. This pyramid was not a tomb, nor did it have a surrounding necropolis or temple complex: its real function and religious significance remain unknown. However, many of such small, ceremonial, pyramids have been found, built by
Old Kingdom pharaohs throughout the kingdom of Egypt.Notes
External References
* [http://www.virtual-egypt.com/newhtml/pyramids/meidum/meidum.htm Meidum: Site of the Broken Pyramid & Remnants of the First True Pyramid- Virtual-Egypt]
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