Neferirkare (Kakai)

Neferirkare ("beautiful is the Soul of Re") was the first king to have his birth-name (Kakai) made part of the official titulary adding a second cartouche, a custom maintained by later Pharaohs. He was the brother of his predecessor, Sahure and married his mother's namesake, Khentkaus II (who probably fathered the future Pharaohs Neferefre and Niuserre). Despite his long reign (estimated at about 50 years) we know little about him, partly because the Palermo Stone cuts off at year five and the relevant section of the Turin list has been destroyed.

We know that he completed (or modified) Userkaf's solar-temple at Abusir and constructed his own solar-temple (called Set-ib-Re) but it has never been found. His pyramid complex remained unfinished, and his son Niueserre later incorporated the valley temple and causeway into his own pyramid complex.

A limestone block was found in the village of Abusir but thought to have originally come from Neferirkare's mortuary temple depicts Neferirkare with his wife Khentkaues II and his eldest son, Neferre. It is generally agreed that Neferre ("Re is beautiful") changed his name and is one and the same as the pharaoh Neferefre ("Re is his beauty").

Over 300 scraps of papyrus were discovered in Neferirkare's pyramid complex in 1893. The ink written documents are the earliest known example of hieratic script, a cursive form of hieroglyphics.The archive details the complex administration of the temple, including rotas for all temple duties, records of monthly inspections and audits, and maintenance records.