Khendjer

Userkare Khendjer was a minor king of the early Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt during the Middle Kingdom.¹ Khendjer possibly reigned for four to five years, archaeological attestations show that he was on the throne for at least three or four years three months and five days. Khendjer had a small pyramid built for himself in Saqqara and it is therefore likely that his capital was in Memphis.

Reign

The highest attested date for Khendjer's reign is Year 5 IV Akhet day 15 (season of the Inundation). Kim Ryholt notes that two dated control notes on stone blocks from his unfinished pyramid complex give him a minimum reign of 3 or 4 years 3 months and 5 days.² The aforementioned control notes are dated to Year 1 I Akhet day 10 and Year 5 IV Akhet day 15 of his reign.³ In these control notes, the names of three officials involved in building the pyramid are also identified. They are the Interior Overseer of the Inner Palace, Senebtyfy {jmj-rꜣ ꜥẖnwtj (n) kꜣp snb.tj⸗fj}, the Interior Overseer Ameny {jmj-rꜣ ꜥẖnwtj jmnjj} and the Interior Overseer, Craftsman, Shebenu {jmj-rꜣ ꜥẖnwtj; ḫrp ḥmww šbnw}.⁴ The latter is also attested by other sources.⁵

Attestations

At Saqqara South, the Pyramid of Khendjer may have been completed as it was found with a pyramidion during excavations by G. Jequier.⁶ There was found a fragment of a canopic jar, which offers a partial name for his queen, "which may be restored as Sonb[henas]." There are also some notes and marks of people working at the pyramid.