Neferkare VI Pepiseneb was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Eighth Dynasty during the early First Intermediate Period (2181–2055 BC). According to the Egyptologists Kim Ryholt, Jürgen von Beckerath and Darrell Baker, he was the twelfth king of the Eighth Dynasty.
Attestations
The name Neferkare VI Pepiseneb is attested on the Abydos King List (number 51) but not elsewhere. Both of these sources are dated to long after the eighth dynasty, to the 19th dynasty and later, and there are no contemporary attestations of this period. However, Jürgen von Beckerath has proposed that Neferkare Pepiseneb be identified with a “Neferkare Khered Seneb” appearing in the Turin canon. As such, Neferkare Pepiseneb would be the first king of the Eighth Dynasty, following Ntyiqrt (who might be Neitiqerty Siptah), whose name appears on the Turin canon, a significant lacuna in the document affecting the intervening kings of the dynasty.
Epithet
The epithet Khered given to Neferkare Pepiseneb in the Turin canon means “child” or “young”. Consequently, “Neferkare Khered Seneb” is translated as Neferkare The Child is Healthy.
Egyptologists concerning this epithet have put forth several hypotheses. Hratch Papazian proposes that the fact that the king was called Khered in the Turin canon hints at his young age upon ascending to the throne. In reality, however, the epithet Khered always indicates that he had the same name as his father, making the only candidate for his father Neferkare II (as crown prince Neferkare (eldest son of Pepi II Neferkare), Neferkare III Neby, Neferkare IV Khendu, and Neferkare V Tereru all died unmarried and Pepi II Neferkare and crown prince Neferkare were members of the 6th dynasty).
Reign
According to Ryholt’s latest reading of the Turin canon, Neferkare VI Pepiseneb reigned for at least one year. As all pharaohs from Menkare until Neferkahor had very short reigns (all within the year 2181 BC) and Neferkare VI Pepiseneb died in 2171 BC, he must have reigned ten years (2181-2171 BC).
