The First Intermediate Period, often described as a “dark period” in ancient Egyptian history, spans approximately one hundred years after the end of the Old Kingdom from ca.

2181-2055 BCE.

It includes the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and part of the eleventh dynasties.

Very little monumental evidence survives from this period, especially towards the beginning of the era.

The First Intermediate Period is a dynamic time in history where rule of Egypt is roughly divided between two competing power bases.

One of those bases resides at Heracleopolis in Lower Egypt, a city just south of the Faiyum region.

The other resides at Thebes in Upper Egypt.

It is believed that during this time, the temples are pillaged and violated, their existing artwork is vandalized, and the statues of kings ware broken or destroyed as a result of this alleged political chaos.

These two kingdoms will eventually come into conflict, with the Theban kings conquering the north, resulting in reunification of Egypt under a single ruler during the second part of the eleventh dynasty.