Pepi I Meryre was the third king of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt, ruling for more than 40 years around the second half of the 24th century BC. Pepi was the son of the dynasty's founder Teti, had at least six queens, and was succeeded by son Merenre Nemtyemsaf I. Confronted with the decline of the pharaoh's power at the expense of local officials, Pepi reacted with a vast architectural program involving the construction of temples and numerous chapels throughout Egypt, reinforcing his presence in the provinces. Egypt's prosperity allowed Pepi to become the most prolific builder of the Old Kingdom period. His external policy included military campaigns against Nubia, the Sinai and the southern Levant. Trade with Byblos, Ebla and the oases of the Western Desert flourished while Pepi launched mining and quarrying expeditions to Sinai and further afield. Pepi had a pyramid complex built for his funerary cult in Saqqara next to which he built at least a further six pyramids for his queens.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepi_I_Meryre

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1832:

John C. Calhoun became the first vice president of the United States to resign. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Calhoun

1918:

Irishwoman Constance Markievicz was elected to the House of Commons as the first female British member of Parliament, although she never took her seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constance_Markievicz

1943:

World War II: After eight days of brutal house-to-house fighting, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division captured the town of Ortona, Italy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ortona

2011:

Kurdish–Turkish conflict: Acting on information that Kurdish militants were crossing the border from Iraqi territory, two Turkish F-16 jets fired at a group of villagers, killing 34 people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roboski_massacre

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

forthcoming: 1. (not comparable) Approaching or about to take place. 2. Available when needed; in place, ready. 3. Willing to co-operate or provide information; candid, frank, responsive. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/forthcoming

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Forgiveness is one of the key ideas in this world. Forgiveness is not just some nebulous, vague idea that one can easily dismiss. It has to do with uniting people through practical politics. Without forgiveness there is no future.   --Desmond Tutu https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Desmond_Tutu