The reign of Saahoure was a spectacular one, filled with great achievements that make the ruler stand out from the long litany of pyramid builders we've met thus far. His expedition to Punt was an act of great

celebration and his royal fleet immortalised him as a king of unusual

splendour in life.

From the Royal Court of Memphis, Sahoura could look out over a domain that was wealthy, stable,

and peaceful.

His campaigns to Libya and the Sinai are attested only briefly, but they tell us that he made an effort to ensure the stability of Egypt's borders and protect it from nomadic incursions,

the expedition to Punt had brought back exotic goods and luxuries

and enhanced the material splendour of the Royal Court and household.

Increasing the visible wealth of the family paid power. Court and

Sahure's

Sahore's legacy in the actual power the king wielded. And Sahore's legacy in Egyptian annals

is particularly splendid among the rulers of late dynasty 4 and early dynasty 5.

His pyramid complex at Abbousia was used as a template for the rest of the dynasty,

with many kings attempting to imitate its form and design to the letter.

Because the Fifth Dynasty is the last era where pyramids are still splendid monuments, unlike the declining standards which follow.

This makes Sahoura's pyramid complex essentially the perfected form of a royal monumental structure. For the rest of the dynasty the rulers

would imitate but never surpass the work built during his reign. Following

Dynasty 5 the efforts to match Sahurade's complex and elegance will become weaker and weaker,

eventually bringing pyramid building into the state of a habit rather than an enterprise of great prestige. But this was all in the future, and

Sahore's reign should be considered as one of the peaks of old kingdom culture. His royal fleet was immortalised in the causeway of his pyramid,

and the King's daily life was recorded in sumptuous detail upon the walls.

Thanks to the well-preserved images of's court, his family and his lifestyle,

...