The son of Teti and Queen Ipwet was the third king of the 6th Dynasty. An innovative leader,
Pepi took the offensive military role. He attacked the Bedouins in Sinai and southern Palestine.
He also led a campaign in Nubia to establish garrisons and trading posts. His pyramid was so
impressive that its name, Mennefermare, was given to the area. The capital, originally named
Hiku-Ptah, was renamed Nennefer, then Menfi. The Greeks later transliterated it as Memphis.
Pepi built temples at Tanis, Bubastis, Abydos, Dendera and Coptos. Copper statues of Pepi
were discovered in Hierakonpolis, and are on display in the Cairo Museum. His first wife
disappeared soon after she was discovered in a harem plot to overthrow the throne.
Afterwards he married two daughters of a nomarch and named them both Ankhnesmeryre.
One of them was the mother of Pepi II.