Figure femminili e gestione del potere durante la VI Dinastia: le donne della corte di Pepi I

The kingdom of Pepi I (6th Dynasty) is characterized by a series of female characters who had important roles at the court of the king and, apparently, some of these seem to have played a part in the future of the Dynasty. In this paper, particular attention will be given to the cases of the anonymous bride of Pepi I, to Nebet vizier of Upper Egypt, to Ankhenespepi I, to Ankhenespepi II and to the role played by some princesses married to vizir or to high-ranking officers. The suggestion – founded on the analysis of epigraphic and archaeological evidence – is that these women were more than just vehicles for marriage alliances. In fact, what emerges is that several of these female characters, with the approval of the king, would exercise a power similar to that of their male counterparts.