The Egyptian history podcast, episode 11. It's off to Puntwego.

Welcome back. Last episode, we ended the fourth dynasty and began our transition into the fifth.

Overseen by the royal mother, Kandykaus, a new king named Userkaf had stabilized the Royal Succession

and brought new policies into the government.

The establishment of a temple devoted exclusively to Ray at Abusia, northwest of the capital city of Memphis, heralded a new theological paradigm.

No longer would the kings of Egypt devote their resources solely to their own glorification,

and to spectacular monuments for their solar apotheosis.

Temples to the great god Ray would now complement the pyramids and ensure that the

solar deity was given the veneration which he deserved. Of course the king still retained pretty strong control over the Sun Temple. The priests and attendance were probably still appointed by him personally and the material goods that the temple required, such

as linen, bread, beer and meat for offerings, came from the royal palace.

They were harvested at the extensive royal domains throughout Egypt, then brought to the main

administration buildings in Memphis, and finally redistributed to both the Sun Temple and the temples attached to the pyramid itself.

As long as this system functioned smoothly, the temple operated pretty comfortably

while still being within the control of the king.

If he wanted, he could cut off the supplies at any time, but of course he would never want to

do that.

Risking the Sun God's displeasure just to spite a few priests?

Unthinkable. Of course, I'm describing it colorfully when I say that there even was a possibility

of spiteful relations between the king and the priesthood.

After all, with 4,000 years of history behind us, it is well ingrained in anyone with a smattering

of historical knowledge that clergy and monarchy can often be at loggerheads.

Whether this happened in the Fifth Dynasty is total speculation and probably says more about the historian proposing it

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