Djedkare Shemai

Djedkare Shemai was a ruler of the Seventh and Eighth Dynasties during the First Intermediate Period. He reigned about 2177 to 2175 BC, with dates subject to an uncertainty of approximately thirty years. Governing from Memphis, he held authority for around two years in a divided Egypt where provincial leaders operated with near autonomy.

No monumental structures, tombs, or contemporary administrative documents have survived from his reign. The historical record for this period is exceptionally sparse, reflecting the severe decline of royal resources. Scholars know of Djedkare Shemai almost entirely from the Abydos King List, which positions him between Neferkare Neby and Merenhor.

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