King Userkaf is considered one of the high priests of Ra before his ascension to the throne and one of the founders of the Fifth Dynasty.
He ruled for seven to eight years in the early twenty-fifth century BC during the Old Kingdom, and he may have descended from one of the branches of the royal family from the Fourth Dynasty.
His father was King Menkaure and his mother was Queen "Khentkaus" and he had a brother, the last king of the Fourth Dynasty, King Shepseskaf
King Userkaf's sons / Sahure and Neferirkare
King Userkaf's activities
Userkaf built a sun temple known as the "Nekhenre" temple This temple is considered one of the most important temples built by Userkaf, as it is a funerary temple for the worship of the sun at sunset.
Userkaf also built a small pyramid in the Saqqara area near the Pyramid of Djoser, and this pyramid was characterized by prominent decorations and beautiful Pharaonic inscriptions. Construction and expansion of the temple of the god Montu in El Tod in Luxor Governorate now
Trade during the reign of King Userkaf
He established direct trade between Egypt and southern Europe in the Aegean Sea, where some Pharaonic inscriptions were found in the funerary temples, representing some commercial ships, referring to the commercial voyages during the reign of King Userkaf. A sea vessel with some Pharaonic inscriptions was also discovered in some Greek islands and the Anatolian Plateau.
A statue of the head of King Userkaf was found in the Abusir area, and this head represents the king wearing the red crown, the crown of the sea face.