Dynasty:

King Unas was one of the kings of the 5th dynasty . Although some historians believed that he was the founder of the 6th dynasty .

History:

The most important point that existed during the reign of king Unas is the religious texts which were existed on the walls of his Pyramid and were called the pyramid texts. These texts have never been existed before him and even after his reign. One of the most important things that existed during the time of king Unas is that the rise of the Osiris legend which was the most famous during the Egyptian history .

The relationship of Unas with his predecessors or successors is not known. He was married to Khenut and to Nebit, but their relationship to Unas' predecessors is not known either, nor are the names of any children that he would have had with them. It has sometimes been proposed, though, that Iput I was a daughter of Unas.

Both of Unas' Queens were buried in mastaba tombs outside of Unas' pyramid complex, which, in itself is unusual since often in this period the Queens would be buried in smaller pyramids near their husband's.

According to the Turin King-list , Unas ruled for 30 years, or perhaps slightly more, which is confirmed by Manetho , who recorded 33 years. The highest recorded year from this reign, however, refers to the year of the 8th cattle count, which isa regular biennial census, would be the 15th year of Unas' reign.

Despite his supposed long reign, not much is known about Unas. His name has been found in Elephantine , at the Southern border of Egypt ( Aswan ), and also on an alabaster vessel found in Byblos, the latter perhaps indicating some commercial or diplomatic activities between Egypt and the Near East during this period. He seems not to have left any apparent heirs after his death, which may have resulted in some political instability following his death.

Monuments:

Unas is mostly known from his pyramid complex, which he built to the North-west of Djoser's at Saqqara . It is the oldest known royal tomb to have contained religious texts, the so-called Pyramid Texts, which are a collection of spells, litanies, hymns and descriptions of the King's life after death. These texts are the oldest known religious writings known to mankind!

Unas was adored in the Saqqara region for many centuries after his death. Although his pyramid is the smallest among the 5th dynasty’s pyramid , it reflects his long reign in the hieroglyphic texts that exists in the inner chambers. The pyramid was excavated by Alexander Barsanti on behalf of Maspero.