Although in the Old Kingdom the Egyptians erected giant pyramids made
of stone for their pharaohs, their gods’ temples in the provinces were still
constructed of nondurable mudbricks. It is considered that building in stone
was initiated in provincial temples at the behest of the early XI Dynasty
kings, Wahankh Intef and Nakht-Nebtepnefer Intef (XXI century BC). But
what could be their incentive for such a grand and labour-intensive
innovation, especially as it happened amidst the First Intermediate Period
turmoil at the very moment when their fledgeling Theban monarchy only
controlled ten of the southernmost nomes?