Fifth Dynasty sun temples and the institutionalization of the solar cult (c. 2494–2345 BCE)

1. Userkaf builds first known Fifth Dynasty sun temple

   Jan 1, 2494 BCELabels: Userkaf, Nekhenre, Abusir

   • Digital Egypt
   • Userkaf Wiki
   • Userkaf Temple Wiki

2. Sun-temple complex form becomes standardized

   Jan 1, 2490 BCELabels: Sun-temple plan, Causeway, Obelisk

   • Britannica
   • Sun Temples UCL
   • Sun Temple Wiki

3. Sahure’s sun temple Sekhetre is attested

   Jan 1, 2487 BCELabels: Sahure, Sekhetre, Royal annals

   • Sahure Wiki

4. Neferirkare’s sun temple Setibre is recorded

   Jan 1, 2475 BCELabels: Neferirkare, Setibre, Royal foundation

   • Neferirkare Wiki
   • Sun Temple Wiki

5. Neferefre’s sun temple Hetepre is attested

   Jan 1, 2455 BCELabels: Neferefre, Hetepre, Solar foundation

   • Sun Temple Wiki

6. Nyuserre builds major sun temple at Abu Ghurab

   Jan 1, 2445 BCELabels: Nyuserre, Shesepibre, Abu Ghurab

   • Britannica
   • Sun Temples UCL
   • Sun Temple Wiki

7. Menkauhor’s sun temple Akhet-Ra is known by inscriptions

   Jan 1, 2421 BCELabels: Menkauhor, Akhet-Ra, Inscriptions

   • Menkauhor Wiki
   • Sun Temple Wiki

8. Djedkare Isesi ends the sun-temple building tradition

   Jan 1, 2414 BCELabels: Djedkare Isesi, Religious shift, Osiris

   • Djedkare Wiki
   • Sun Temple Wiki

9. Abusir papyri document institutional temple administration

   Jan 1, 2400 BCELabels: Abusir papyri, Temple administration, Neferirkare archive

   • Abusir Papyri
   • Sun Temples UCL

10. Pyramid Texts first appear in Unas’s pyramid

    Jan 1, 2345 BCELabels: Unas, Pyramid Texts, Saqqara

    • Britannica
    • Petrie UCL
    • Pyramid Texts

11. German excavations uncover Nyuserre’s sun temple remains

    Jan 1, 1898Labels: Borchardt, Abu Ghurab, German excavations

    • Sun Temples UCL

12. Renewed Abu Ghurab fieldwork exposes a valley temple sector

    Dec 16, 2025Labels: Abu Ghurab, Valley temple, Nyuserre

    • Live Science