Anth.309: Ppt. lecture-7: Dynasties 0-2 introduction to the process of unification, reconstructing...

ANT 309:

Egypt in the Age of the Pyramids

(Predyn.–Second Intermediate Period: 5,000-1550 BC)

Lecture 7: Early Dynastic Egypt: Dyns.0-2

© Notes & images compiled by Gregory Mumford 2016

Questions regarding Dynasty 0 - Early Dynastic (Archaic/Thinite Dyns.1-2):

• How do we reconstruct a “HISTORY” for Dyns. 0-2 with minimal data?

- Various contemporary inscriptions (minimal detail): dockets, stelae, etc.

- Pictorial renditions of events with minimal to no captions

- Varying archaeological data and inferences from such data

- Various later histories (varying reliability: Palermo Stone; King Lists; Manetho)

• We gain a series of possible to probable, to a few known events, etc., per

ruler.

• On-going discoveries, re-assessments, new technology, and other new

approaches are changing our interpretations continuously:

- Mostly refinement of information

- Sometimes ground-breaking new information

Early Egyptian “history” tends to be a blend of history, archaeology, art, etc.

In search of Egypt’s founder:

• 3rd cent. BC: Manetho relates,

via variously preserved excerpts

from his original Aegyptiaca,

that the first king of Dynasty 1

was “Menes of This (whom

Herodotus named Min)”

• 450 BC: Herodotus relates that

“the priests told me it was Min,

the first king of Egypt.”

• 1300-1200 BC: Ramesside King

Lists venerate the cartouche-name

of an early King Meni who is placed

at the advent of a list of ancestor

kings: e.g., Sety I Abydos List.

• 3000-2900 BC: a contemporary

clay sealing, listing Dynasty 1 kings,

places Narmer at the beginning.

• A docket naming Narmer’s successor

notes King Aha & Mn: Aha vs. Narmer





















= King M-n-i

= King Meni

or Menes

or Min

or Mn





















Clay sealing of King Qa‘a, who lists

his predecessors from most recent

going back to (King) Narmer.

i.e., he is acknowledging Narmer

as the “first” king in his royal lineage.

Horus-name of

King Narmer.





















Docket of Aha (Narmer’s successor)

Horus-name: Aha; Nbty-name: Mn

Horus-name of King Narmer = also found beside the name Mn

Clay sealing fragments of Narmer with Mn-sign

Identity of Menes / Min still debated:

• King Narmer - Well-attested founder

of Dynasty 1 lineage

at Abydos (tombs)

- Not really attested at

Saqqara (Memphis)

• King Aha - Well-attested son or

successor of Narmer

at Abydos (tombs)

- Attested activity at

Saqqara (Memphis)

Regardless of who was really “Menes”,

if Greek tales of Menes are even true,

what = known about Egypt’s unification?

We need to look at both contemporary

Predynastic through Early Dynastic

evidence and later legends & accounts

regarding: …

1. Brief overview of Predynastic

and trends toward cultural and

political unity in Egypt

2. An overview of the Protodynastic,

especially the few known kings.

3. Overview of Dynasty 1 rulers

4. Overview of Dynasty 2 rulers

5. Next day: details on Protodyn./Dyn.0

Abydos royal tombs & cult.

THE UNIFICATION OF

EGYPT

ca. 3200 - 3000 BC

and

EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD

(ca. 3000 - 2700 BC)

Unification: • Egypt’s political unification occurred

- no earlier than late Naqada II,

- no later than late Naqada III (Dyn.0)

• How unification took place = unknown.

Review:

• Naqada II culture reaches Fayum (Gerza).

• Naqada IIc: Site of Maadi disappears.

• Naqada IIc-III: Buto-Maadi culture becomes

increasingly dominated by Naqada culture:

E.g., Buto; Tell Farkha.

• Naqada III: Graves at Minshat Abu Omar

now change to Naqada funerary customs:

E.g., rectilinear, larger, frequently mud-lined,

bodies on left side facing East, wealthier

(also stone containers; cosmetic items;

jewellery; copper utensils).

Implications of Naqada items & customs N:

• Trade? Colonization? Influence? Conquest?

BUTO

NAQADA

Trends towards unification:

Theoretical mechanisms of unification:

• a. Wet-Dry trend Neolithic “revolution”

• b. Initially small egalitarian settlements

• c. Emerging agricultural communities

• d. Proto-states (Hierakonpolis; Naqada; Abydos)

• e. Proto-kingdom in Upper Egypt (Not LE)

• f. Political unification

NB: Delta lacks evidence for Proto-kingdom

Other ideas:

• Agriculture more sedentary life

• Need/desire for non-indigenous resources,

• More craft specialization export items,

• Trade & traders (filling a needed niche),

• Resource rich areas (gold) becoming

wealthier soc. stratification rulers,

• Agency? 1 ruler? (e.g., Napoleon; Shaka)

• Cutting out less organized middleman?

(i.e., UE kingdom(s) vs. Delta city states?)

• NB: Naqada II culture in S. Egypt displays

much greater soc. stratification, trade, etc.

B.J. Kemp theory / model

behind Egypt’s unification.

Why didn’t the delta “win”?: = Major trading intermediary with East Med. - Fewer resources; Many Nile branches & poorer contact may have encouraged disunity.

Trends towards unification:

Theoretical mechanisms of unification:

• a. Wet-Dry trend Neolithic “revolution”

• b. Initially small egalitarian settlements

• c. Emerging agricultural communities

• d. Proto-states (Hierakonpolis; Naqada; Abydos)

• e. Proto-kingdom in Upper Egypt (Not LE)

• f. Political unification

NB: Delta lacks evidence for Proto-kingdom

Other ideas:

• Agriculture more sedentary life

• Need/desire for non-indigenous resources,

• More craft specialization export items,

• Trade & traders (filling a needed niche),

• Resource rich areas (gold) becoming

wealthier soc. stratification rulers,

• Agency? 1 ruler? (e.g., Napoleon; Shaka)

• Cutting out less organized middleman?

(i.e., UE kingdom(s) vs. Delta city states?)

• NB: Naqada II culture in S. Egypt displays

much greater soc. stratification, trade, etc.

Upper

Egypt

Delta trading

intermediaries

Syria

Mesopot-

amia

Red

Sea

trade?

GOLD

PROTO-KINGDOM AT ABYDOS:

Further trends towards unification:

Evidence for emergence of Southern kings:

• Late OK Egypt recognizes pre-Dyn.1 rulers

(Abydos recognized as birthplace of kingship)

• Predynastic yields early royal iconography:

- Red Crown (Naqada I)

- Smiting motif & painted tomb at Hrknpls (N-II)

- Sceptre & royal tombs at Abydos (N-III)

- Writing & royal iconography A & H (N-III)

The role of warfare(?) in unification:

• Naqada III items contains many motifs of

battle, (southern) kings dominating Northland,

slain enemies, royal tours, oaths of allegiance,

etc.

- King Scorpion smiting (Gebel Tjauti [Luxor])

- Narmer palette (Hierakonpolis)

- Narmer macehead (Hierakonpolis)

- Narmer on carved items (Hierakonpolis; etc.)

- Narmer smiting (Abydos Cem.B ivory piece)














etc.






Naqada II:

Painted Tomb

N III:

Narmer

palette














etc.






Abydos:

Cemetery U

Tomb U-j










(Abydos & Hierakonpolis).





etc.





- Narmer smiting (Abydos Cem.B ivory piece) King Scorpion

macehead














etc.

- King Scorpion? (Gebel Tjauti [Naqada IIIA])


















etc.

- King Scorpion smiting (Gebel Tjauti)


















etc.




- Narmer on carved items (Hierakonpolis;etc.)















etc.






Rise of Southern Proto-kingdoms:

- In N-III: Naqada/Nubt loses its

former power (no wealthy tombs)

- Abydos and Hierakonpolis remain

powerful towns and centres.

- Hierakonpolis becomes a centre

for falcon-god Horus (a symbol of

the kingship and living king).

- Abydos emerges as a centre for

royal burials (N-III Dyn.2) &

cult of Khentimentiu (later Osiris:

a symbol of the deceased king).

- Naqada-3 Cemetery U at Abydos:

Tomb U-j: 200 dockets; early writing

King “Scorpion”<a> (= diff. one)

- Late Naqada-3 Cemetery-B Abydos:

Pit-tomb: Iri-hor (seals; etc.)

Pit-tomb: Ka (seals; etc.)

Pit-tomb: Narmer (seals; etc.)

Pit-tomb: Aha (1st king of Dyn.1)





















Hierakonpolis:

Dyn.6: gold

Horus votive





















Dyn.18: Tomb

of Tutankhamun

Abydos:





















Abydos:

Tomb

U-j





















Abydos: cemetery B

PROTODYNASTIC -

EARLY DYNASTIC:

Ca. 3,200 - 2686 BC

“Historical” Overview

The Unification of Ancient Egypt: Protodynastic–Early Dynastic Egypt.

The rise of the Thinite Dynasty (Abydos).

Protodynastic rulers Dynasty “0”/late Naqada III a-b

3,200-3,000 BC Kings Tomb Uj?, Iry-Hor, Ka, “A”,“B”,“Scorpion/Crocodile”

Early Dynastic (also Archaic/Thinite period [Naqada IIIc]):

• Dynasty 1 Kings Narmer, Aha, Djer, Djet, Queen Merneith, Den,

3,000-2,890 BC Anedjib, Semerkhet, Qa’a, *(and Ba and Sneferka).

• Dynasty 2 Kings Hetepsekhemwy, Raneb, Nynetjer, Weneg, Sened,

2,890-2,686 BC *(Nubnefer), *(Sekhemib-Perenmaat), Peribsen, and

Khasekhem/Khasekhem(wy).

Other aspects of the Early Dynastic period:

• Kingship Evolving iconography, regalia, titles, royal tombs, etc.

• Administration Controlling former independent regions, polities, the delta

• Society People’s place in a new and changing social structure

• Religion The rise of national/major deities and cult centres

Naqada III/Dyn.0 (Protodynastic period): 3,200 – 3,000 BC ABYDOS Ancestral town of Dyns.1-2 kings in southern Egypt (UE)

Series of Protodynastic – Dyns.1-2 elite/royal tombs

Exact sequence of rulers = uncertain

1. “Ruler” (?) owner of Tomb U-j (Abydos)

2. King Iry-Hor owner of Tomb B0/1/2 (Abydos)

3. King “B” (name?) represented by items bearing his royal serekh-name [x?]

4. King “A” (Akhedji?) represented by items bearing his royal serekh-name [x?]

5. King “Scorpion” possible owner of Tomb B50 (Abydos?)

and/or “Crocodile”

6. King Ka equated with Tomb B7/9 (Abydos)

beside known Dyn.1 tombs

* King Narmer Probable founder of a unified Egypt in Dynasty 1

GOLD

PROTO-KINGDOM AT ABYDOS:

Naqada III/Dyn.0 (Protodynastic period): Ca. 3,200 – 3,000 BC.

1. “RULER” (?) owner of Tomb U-j (ABYDOS)

• Name “Scorpion”(?) -Item bearing scorpion

-sign from this tomb

• Leader/king(?) a. Largest tomb in Protodyn.

portion of cemetery.

b. Wealthiest tomb: over

400 Palestinian-style jars

(local clays & imported)

•Earliest writing -Early Egyptian hieroglyphs


2. KING Iry-Hor owner of Tomb B0/1/2 (ABYDOS)

• Name Iry-Hor -Associated with items from Tomb B0?1/2

-Many intact & broken pottery vessels bearing his name

• King(?) -Royal Horus-falcon on Egyptian “r”-sign (a “mouth”).

-Later evolves into Serekh-name (one of 5 royal titles).

-Horus-falcon is intimately connected to kingship.

• Kingdom? -Abydos

• Placement in Dyn.0 a. Relative position to other elite

= uncertain: graves = earlier than King Ka

b. Early form of Serekh-name.

*Later

Serekh of

King “B”

*


3. KING “B” (name?) represented by items bearing his royal serekh-name [x?]

• Name Difficult to read

“B” in sequence

• Placement Poorly drawn, may

be first serekh-name

• Kingdom? Name found at Armant

and Hierakonpolis

a. Southern Kingdom?

b. Abydene Kingdom?

King “B”s serekh:

Earlier than A?

Armant

Hierakonpolis

ABYDOS

Later

Dyn.1:

Dijet


4. KING “A” represented by items with his royal serekh-name [x?]

• Name? 3 maceheads signs (Akhedji)

• Placement? Serekh-name more developed

• Kingdom? Name on items at Tura (Cairo)

and in East delta

Is he from Abydos?

(Naqada III culture now

dominates all Egypt)

Protodyn.:

King A (Akhedji?)

* Tura

* E. Delta

ABYDOS Earlier King B serekh


5. KING Scorpion (and/or “Crocodile”)

• Name Scorpion

• Placement Close to Narmer (based on

stylistic similarities)

Precedes lists with Narmer+

• Kingdom/ Attested in Main Hoard of

influence votives at Hierakonpolis

Not found at Abydos (may

have owned Tomb B50?)

Tarkhan; E.Delta; Palestine?

Hierakonpolis

ABYDOS

SW Palestine?

Minshat Abu Omar

Tarkhan

5. KING Scorpion

(continued …)

• Macehead of King Scorpion from a hoard of royal items found in the Main

Deposit at Hierakonpolis (including items of King Narmer).

• It reveals: King Scorpion opening an irrigation channel

Defeated peoples (rekhyt-birds hanging from standards (polities)

Echelon perspective (figure size arranged by ranking)

Early royal iconography -White Crown (southern/Upper Egypt)

-Royal Bull’s tail (hanging from kilt)

-Name introduced by a rosette

-King followed by retainers (fan-bearers)


6. KING Ka equated with Tomb B7/9 (Abydos) beside known Dyn.1 tombs

• Name Ka

• Placement Many items bearing his name

in Tomb B7/9 at Abydos

(closest to Nrmr-Dyn.1 tombs)

• Kingdom/ Occurs elsewhere at Abydos,

influence Tarkhan, Helwan, Ibrahim

Awad & SW Palestine.

ABYDOS

*KA Narmer

Ibrahim Awad

Helwan

Tarkhan

SW Palestine

DYNASTY 0 / 1: ca. 3,000-2,890 BC

Historical background:

Rulers *. Narmer

1. Aha

2. Djer

3. Djet

4. Qn Merneith

5. Den

6. Anedjib

7. Semerkhet

8. Qa’a

9. *Ba

10.*Sneferka

Dynasty 0:

1. King Narmer.


7. KING Narmer

• Narmer The “Striking/nasty catfish”

• Placement Precedes King Aha

a. Sealings of Den & Qaa

provide sequence of rulers

b. Abydos tomb sequence

• Kingdom/ Serekh in Egypt & S.Palestine

influence

• Identification Is he Manetho’s “Menes”?

Menes later cited as unifying

Upper & Lower Egypt.

Narmer’s other names = ???

Tell Erani

Tell Arad

Nahal Tillah

M. Abu Omar Buto

Z. el-Aryan

Tura

Helwan

Tarkhan

W. Qash

ABYDOS

Naqada

Hierakonpolis

Narmer name distribution:

Late Naqada III/Protodynastic: Narmer.

• Cow goddesses (Bat or Hathor)

• Serekh-name of Narmer (striking catfish)

• Narmer: largest figure (echelon perspective)

• White Crown of Upper Egypt (= south)

• Royal beard

• Royal Bull’s tail behind kilt; front apron

•Smiting enemy (royal smiting motif)

• Royal Horus-falcon symbolically seizing

anthropomorphised delta (Ta-mehw).

Note: Appearance of a register line

• Fleeing/slain enemy (with place names)

• Accompanied by sandal-bearer

Protodynastic: Narmer palette

Horus falcon = symbolizing

King (Narmer), as the living Horus

Son of Osiris, Lord of the Dead.

Anthropomorphized arm holding

Rope to which captive is bound.

Emblematic marsh plant of Lower

Egypt (= Delta / North) and glyph

T3-mhw for Lower Egypt.

Anthropomorphized as a bearded

Captive.

essentially the message is clear:

The Horus-King of Egypt has subjugated

the peoples of the Delta/North.

Egypt’s Initial Imperialism:

Southern Egypt versus the North.


Echelon perspective:

(1) Narmer, (2) two officials; (3) standard

bearers.

Narmer wearing the Red Crown (the

traditional crown of Lower Egypt [North]) in

his role as ruler of Northern Egypt

Southern standards: falcons, jackal, etc.

Reviewing bodies of decapitated enemies

Presence of boat implies riverine campaign

Two animals with entwined necks

a. Symbolizing unification of the two lands

b. Symbolizing restraint of chaos

c. Motif parallels from Mesopotamia

Bull breaching fortified town & trampling

an enemy = symbolizes the king (Narmer).

The king is often linked with the strength of

a bull (e.g., later epithet: “Strong Bull Rising

In Thebes”) and has a kilt wears a Bull’s tail.

PROTODYNASTIC IN GENERAL:

TOWNS PALETTE:

Protodynastic walled towns:

Simple depictions of

housing inside

Early allusions

To siege warfare

From a cache of votives in a

temple deposit at Hierakonpolis

(South of Abydos)


• Commodity labels from Abydos reveal Narmer:

a. as a catfish (his name) striking enemies

b. as a catfish striking a bearded man with

a marsh plant on his head (= T3-mhw: delta)

• Plaque with bound prisoners.

• Note: Protective vulture (Mwt) above Narmer

found throughout pharaonic art & iconography.

*

*

Late Naqada III/Protodynastic: Narmer. Ceremonial macehead of Narmer: Main Deposit at Hierakonpolis

Main figure:

• Narmer wearing Red Crown on a raised throne with

a protective vulture, fan-bearers, & his regular attendants

Rows 1-3: “diplomatic marriage”(?) vs. other scenario.

• Animal pen and same four standards (on Narmer palette)

• Cult statue?/princess? in carrying chair & 3 attendants

• Quantities of tribute (animals, etc.)

End panel:

• Heron-shrine (Djebaut at Buto, Delta); North-type shrine

• Pen with wild animals

Hierakonpolis

Aha

Narmer

Early Dynastic period:

Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

King Narmer

ROYAL TOMB at Abydos

Narmer

Aha

Dynasty 0 / 1:

*. King Menes

(Narmer vs. Aha)

Dyn.1: Menes = Horus Narmer? or Aha! Herodotus (ca. 450 BC) relates that

• “Menes of This (Abydos) reigned for 60 years.

• He made a foreign expedition and won renown,

but was carried off by a hippopotamus.”

• Menes changed the Nile’s course to found a

new capital at Memphis.

Later excerpts from Manetho (3rd cent. BC):

• Menes = first king of Dyn.1

• Menes = renown in governing his kingdom

• Menes = reigned 30 years / 62 years

• Menes = conducted campaign outside Egypt

• Menes = killed by hippopotamus

Diodorus Siculus:

• Menes = miraculously saved from a crocodile

Herodotus and Josephus:

• Menes’ successor built a palace at Memphis

(Athothis/Uchoreus = Horus Aha?/Djer?)

Many of these later histories remain unsubstantiated

No monuments with Narmer’s name at Dyn.1 Memphis; Dyn.3 Saqqara = Narmer’s name

But, Narmer’s name appears on items throughout Egypt and in SW Palestine.

Note: Hunting hippopotami and other

wild game was a favourite sport of

pharaohs; hence, it is not unlikely that

Menes (Narmer?/Aha?) met his end in

an accident.

Ca. 450 BC tale recounted by

Herodotus regarding King Min:

“The priests told me that it was Min,

the first king of Egypt, who raised

the dam which protects Memphis

from the floods.

The river used to flow along the base

of the sandy hills on the Libyan border,

and this monarch, by damming it up

at the bend about a hundred furlongs

(12.5 miles; 7.8 km) south of Memphis,

drained the original channel

and diverted it to a new one half-way

between the two lines of hills.

To this day the elbow which the Nile

forms here, where it is forced into its

new channel, is most carefully watched

by the Persians, who strengthen the

dam every year; for should the river

burst it, Memphis might be completely

overwhelmed. …” NEXT PAGE

Memphis

Coring showing c.3000 BC Nile course

Herodotus cont. (Min / Menes):

“On the land which had been drained

by the diversion of the river,

King Min built the city

which is now called Memphis

-- it lies in the narrow part of Egypt–

and afterwards on the north and west

sides of the town excavated a lake,

communicating with the river,

which itself protects it on the east.

In addition to this the priests told me

that he built there the large and very

remarkable temple of Hephaestus.”

Manetho’s excerpts on Memphis:

- No mention of Menes at Memphis,

but equates Menes with King Min

in Herodotus (Narmer also absent!)

- Relates via all three versions that

King Athothis (Menes’ son; Aha?),

built a (royal) palace at Memphis. Kitchen’s plan of OK - NK Memphis

ED cemetery

Early Dynastic Memphis:

• The “White Walls”

• Lies beneath Nile flood plain

to the east of a modern village

Abusir, near the mastaba tombs

of Dynasties 1-2.

• Coring has located the Middle

Kingdom levels.

• ED-FIP Memphis = not located …

Dynasty 1:

1. King Aha.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Aha.

1. KING Aha. “The fighting Horus” • Fragmentary entry in Palermo Stone

records biennial cattle census (tax):

The dispatch of officials every 2 years

• North Saqqara cemetery:

Mastaba (= tomb) of an official has many

clay sealings with Aha’s name.

• Queen may be Benerib (an ivory box bears

Aha’s name alongside her name).

• His mother may be Queen Neith-hotep

(buried at Naqada; name = northern: Sais)

Naqada

Abydos

Abu Roash

Zawiyet el-Aryan

Saqqara

Hewan

SW Palestine

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Aha. Serekh-name: Horus Aha; Nebty-name: = Menes?

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Aha.

KING Aha (continued …).

Connections with delta shrines:

• shrine of goddess Neith (NW Delta) depicted

on a docket with a fleet of ships

Suggested human sacrifice (?):

• uncertain interpretations based on a few

depictions (versus execution?; other?)

Military campaign against Lower Nubia(?)

• Ta-Sety (“land of the bow”)

(also name assoc. with southernmost Egypt)

Events in King Aha’s reign – poss. connections with Neith of Sais (NW Delta)


Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

King Aha ROYAL TOMB at Abydos

= first large / substantial tomb

AHA

Dynasty 1:

2. King Djer.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Djer.

2. KING Djer. “Horus who succours”

Excerpts from Manetho: if Athothis = Djer(?):

• called a son of Menes

• 27 or 57 year reign (Eusebius; Africanus)

• Renown for anatomical works

Domestic affairs:

Palermo Stone:

• Fluctuating Nile flood heights (1 - 3.21 m)

• Festivals:

a. various deities

b. the union of the two lands

c. “Circuit of the Wall”

• Cult:

a. making & dedicating a statue

Abydos

Saqqara

Tura

Helwan

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Djer.

KING Djer. (continued …)

Abydos:

• labels alluding to connections with Buto (delta)

(shrine of the Heron [Djebaut; older name])

Palermo Stone:

• festival of Djet (Uto/Wadjet = Buto)

International affairs(?):

His serekh-name = initially believed to be at

Gebel Sheikh Suleiman in Nubia (N. Sudan):

• BUT this Serekh name = misread as “Djer”

• Previously cited as evidence for Djer

campaigning into Nubia

• Now = read as an earlier, late Predynastic

inscription.

Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

KING Djer • Old idea that his serekh-name

= at Gebel Sheikh Suleiman

in Lower Nubia;

• Now = read as an earlier,

late Predynastic inscription.

ASWAN

Second

cataract


Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

King Djer ROYAL TOMB at Abydos and

*plus Funerary Enclosure/Palace

*

*

Dynasty 1:

3. King Djet.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Djet.

3. KING Djet. “The Cobra”

Excerpts from Manetho:

• 23 years (Africanus)

• 42 years (Eusebius)

• Later references to a great famine in Egypt

More contemporary ancient sources:

• closer to 20 year reign length

Domestic affairs:

• Dedicated statuary at cultic centres

(e.g., limestone statue base at Hierakonpolis)

International relations:

• Canaanite pottery in tombs Hierakonpolis

Nazlet Batran

Tarkhan

Abydos

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Djet.

KING Djet. (continued …)

King Djet depicted in the Double Crown

in a rock-cut text.

• White Crown of Upper Egypt (= South)

• Red Crown of Lower Egypt (= North)

• Earliest occurrence of this combination

• The concept of both Upper and Lower

Egypt combined into one!

• Implies a conscious effort, beginning

as early as Djet, visibly promoting the

unity of two lands as one.

• Further implication that there is a need,

or desire, to promote unity (unrest?).

King Djet:

• Reportedly had a “Double

Crown” on the Horus Falcon

accompanying his serekh-

name in a rock-cut text

in Western Desert (near

Edfu).

• Otherwise, his successor,

King Den, is well-illustrated

wearing a Double Crown in

various images.


Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

KING Djet ROYAL tomb at Abydos

* Funerary enclosure/Palace

Dynasty 1:

4. Queen Merneith.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): Queen Merneith.

4. QN Mer-neith. “Beloved of Neith”

• May have been a senior wife of King Djet

• Possibly the daughter of King Djer

• Her Abydos tomb has features

found in kings’ tombs, showing

her importance and probable

independent reign.

• Called “King’s mother” on a

sealing (regent of Den?) Abydos

Saqqara

Dynasty 1:

5. King Den.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Den.

5. KING Den. “Horus who strikes”

Excerpts from Manetho:

• assign 20 years to Den


• more likely over 30+ years

• Vessel fragment notes Den celebrated a 2nd

Sed festival (re-affirming right to rule and

rejuvenation rites; after 30 years of rule)

• 40 year reign (Palermo Stone)

Name distribution:

• Throughout Egypt, Sinai and in SW Palestine.

SW Palestine

Abu Roash

Helwan

Saqqara

Abydos

S. Sinai


KING Den. (continued …)

Domestic affairs:

Palermo Stone:

• King’s attendance at cultic festivals

•

•Celebration of Sed-festival (as king of

Upper Egypt & king of Lower Egypt)

• Hippopotamus hunting

•Commissioning building of a temple

•Opening irrigation basins for a temple:

(“Mansion-called-Seat-of-the-Gods”)

Main Deposit at Hierakonpolis:

• Inscribed ivory and stone vessels from

votive (= cultic) offerings dedicated by Den.


KING Den. (continued …)

Royal hunting motif:

Hippo hunting scene.

International affairs:

Palermo Stone:

• Smiting of the Iwnw-peoples

(perhaps in South Sinai, where

iwnwt-tribes are noted later)

Ivory dockets/labels:

• Military action against Asiatic-

style persons.

Archaeological evidence:

• inscribed sealing bearing Den’s

name in SW Palestine (En-Besor)

name also in Southwest Sinai


Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

King Den ROYAL TOMB at Abydos

Dynasty 1:

6. King Anedjib.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Anedjib

6.KING Anedjib “Slaughterer of hearts”

Later excerpts from Manetho:

• reign of 26 years (Africanus; Eusebius)

Ancient contemporary sources:

• stone vessel fragments note a Sed festival

(= 30+ years)

Domestic Affairs:

• may have dedicated statues (depicted on

vases)

International relations:

• Possibly on clay sealings from En-Besor

Abydos

Saqqara

Helwan

SW Palestine?


Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

King Anedjib


Dynasty 1:

7. King Semerkhet.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Semerkhet.

7. KING Semerkhet “Thoughtful friend”

No


• A great disaster befell Egypt

(e.g., pestilence)

Palermo Stone:

• Commissioning statues for temples

• Building a structure (his funerary enclosure?)

• Flood levels regular

• Biennial cattle census (tax)

Contemporary ancient evidence:

• Semerkhet accepted as legitimate successor

(versus a debate over him being a usurper)

• Continued pottery imports from Palestine

Saqqara

Abydos


Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

Semerkhet


Dyn.1 examples of imported Syrian jars.

Dynasty 1:

8. King Qa‘a.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Qa’a.

8. KING Qa’a. “His arm is raised”


• 26 year reign (Africanus; Eusebius)

Contemporary ancient records:

• Stone bowl citing 2nd Sed-festival (30+ years)

Domestic Affairs (Palermo Stone):

• Commissioned building a shrine/temple

• Attended festivals

• Officials collecting lumber for royal workshop

International Affairs:

• Ivory rod depicting Asiatic (Palestine)

perhaps reflecting a campaign? Symbolic?

Abydos

El-Kab

Saqqara

Abu Sir

Helwan


Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC):

King Qa’a ROYAL TOMB at Abydos

Late Dynasty 1:

(After King Qa‘a)

Late Dynasty 1 (ca. 2890 BC):

Probable civil strife!

Palermo Stone:

• records a significant drop in the average

height of the Nile at the end of Dynasty 1.

• Low floods low crop yield famine

probable political turbulence.

(especially prolonged low Niles, removing

long-term grain supplies & seed grain?)

Contemporary ancient sources:

• There is some evidence for two late Dyn. 1

rulers based at Saqqara (northern Egypt)

King Ba

King Sneferka

King (?)

SAQQARA

ABYDOS

? Saqqara

Abydos

Dynasty 1:

9. King Ba.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Ba.

9. KING Ba.


• Serekh-name on a stone vessel later placed

in the Step Pyramid complex (Dyn.3: Djoser)

• stone vessel usurped from Qaa (Dyn.1)

• King Ba not attested in later King Lists

• Very meagre evidence (brief reign)

Saqqara

Dynasty 1:

10. King Sneferka.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 1 (3,200-2,890 BC): King Sneferka.

10. KING Sneferka.


• Serekh-name on stone vessels from North

Saqqara and the Step Pyramid complex

(Dyn.3: Djoser)

• Stone vessels retain name of Qaa (Dyn.1)

• King Sneferka not attested in later King Lists

• His name is restricted to North Egypt

However:

• Prior to Ba and Sneferka, King Qaa’s

Abydos tomb (late Dyn.1) has jar sealings

of the first king of Dyn.2 (Hetepsekhemwy),

suggesting a peaceful transition Dyns.1-2

--at least in Southern Egypt.

Saqqara

DYNASTY 2: ca. 2,890 – 2,686 BC

Historical background:

Rulers 1. Hetepsekhemwy

2. Raneb

3. Nynetjer

4. Weneg

5. Sened

6. *Nubnefer

7. *Sekhemib-Perenmaat

8. Peribsen

9. Khasekhem/Khasekhem(wy)

Dynasty 2:

1.King

2. Hetepsekhemwy.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Hetepsekhemwy.

1. KING Hetepsekhemwy.


• 38 year reign.

• possible earthquake


• Inscribed materials throughout Egypt

• Reunified

Domestic affairs:

• Meagre evidence


• Palestinian pottery continues to be imported

(= wine, etc.)

Royal burial: change to Saqqara!

Abydos

Badari

Giza

Saqqara

Helwan


Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC):

Hetepsekhemwy. ROYAL TOMB at Saqqara

Early Dyn.2: Saqqara.

• Possible combination of 2 pairs of

(a). Eastern subterranean tomb

(b). Western funerary enclosure

• Royal candidates for tombs & encl.

E.g., King Hetepsekhemwy

E.g., King Nynetjer

• Duplicates Abydos royal complex.

Entry to the subterranean galleries

of Hetepsekhemwy’s Saqqara tomb

Dynasty 2:

2. King Raneb.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Raneb.

2. KING Raneb. “Ra is [my] lord”

(others: Nebra: “Lord of the Sun”)


• assign 39 years (Africanus; Eusebius)

• references to various cults

(Apis & Mnevis Bulls; Ram-god)


• Items found throughout Egypt


• pottery continues to be imported

from Palestine.

Royal Tomb:

• unlocated,

• but = a royal stela in Memphite region Armant

Saqqara

Dynasty 2:

3. King Nynetjer.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Nynetjer.

3. KING Nynetjer.



• said to allow women to hold office of king

(= unsubstantiated)

Palermo Stone:

• 17 biennial census 34+ years

• very low flood levels

• festivals; building a shrine/temple

• biennial tax

• destruction of towns (no details)

Years 13-15 =turbulence (civil strife)

Year 19 attending festival of Djet at Buto

festival of Nekhbet at El-Kab

Royal Tomb:

• Saqqara

Giza

Saqqara

Helwan

Statue!


Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC):

Nynetjer.

ROYAL TOMB at Saqqara

Early Dyn.2: Saqqara.

• Possible combination of 2 pairs of

(a). Eastern subterranean tomb

(b). Western funerary enclosure

• Royal candidates for tombs & encl.

E.g., King Hetepsekhemwy

E.g., King Nynetjer

• Duplicates Abydos royal complex.

E.g., Hetepsekhemwy’s subterranean tomb: Nynetjer = similar

Dynasty 2:

4. King Weneg.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Weneg.

4. KING Weneg.


• 17 years (Africanus; Eusebius)

Domestic affairs:

• Little known

• Recognized by later rulers as legitimate king

• name occurs at N. Saqqara & Step Pyramid

• Probably controlled area around Memphis


• Little known (pottery exports continued)

Royal Tomb: unlocated.

Saqqara

Dynasty 2:

5. King Sened.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Sened.

5. KING Sened.


• assigned 41 years

• remembered in the Late Period (6th cent BC)

through a statuette bearing his name

Egyptian King Lists:

• place Sened as second successor to

Nynetjer

Dynasty 4:

• Tomb of Shery (Saqqara) mentions King

Sened in connection with local mortuary cult.

Domestic and International Affairs:

• Little known; controlled Memphite area

Royal Tomb:

• unidentified

Saqqara

Dynasty 2:

6. King Nubnefer.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Nubnefer.

6. KING Nubnefer.


• If Nubnefer = “Chaires”, he is ascribed 17

years.


• Nesw-bity name Nub-nefer appears on

stone vessels at Saqqara

Domestic and


• little known

• Controlled at least

the Memphite area

Royal Tomb:

• unlocated

Saqqara

Dynasty 2:

7. King

Sekhemib-Perenmaat

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Sekhemib ….

7. KING Sekhemib-Perenmaat.

(“Horus is powerful of heart”)



• Nile flows with “water & honey for 11 days”

(= later folklore)

Identity and placement:

• remain uncertain, but Egypt appears united


• Some contextual evidence suggests this may

represent the first name of King Peribsen (the

“next” king), before Peribsen adopted the

Seth-deity for his serekh-name.

Manetho: Nephercheres

(Aufrere says = [?]) Elephantine

Abydos

Saqqara

Elephantine

Abydos

Saqqara

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Sekhemib ….

KING Sekhemib-Perenmaat (cont…)

Domestic affairs:

• The broader distribution of his name on items

throughout Egypt suggests a return to

prosperity (in contrast to the preceding five

reigns).


• Stone vessels with his name, from Saqqara,

have the epithet “tribute of foreign lands”

* Similar to Peribsen’s epithet “tribute of Setjet”

No royal tomb:

i.e., It remains unlocated

Conclusion:

May very well be an earlier form of the name

for King Peribsen “NEXT” KING

Dynasty 2:

8. King

Peribsen.

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Peribsen.

8. KING Peribsen. Later excerpts in Manetho:

• Perhaps Manetho’s Sesochris: 48 years

(Aufrere makes no suggestion here)

Domestic Affairs:

• Peribsen returns the location of the royal

tomb to Abydos, restoring or creating a link

with the birthplace of kingship.

• Dyn.4 Saqqara Tomb of Shery: Peribsen cult

Serekh-names:

a. Sekhem-ib = Horus

b. Peribsen = Seth

RADICAL break with

Tradition; Horus had

always been on serekh

Abydos

Saqqara (Dyn.4) ?

Early Dynastic period: Dyn.2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Peribsen.

8. KING Peribsen (continued …)

Horus versus Seth:

• In Egyptian mythology

Seth is the traditional

enemy of Horus:

Story of the Contendings

of Horus and Seth:

• Seth kills his brother Osiris

& takes throne!

• Osiris’ son, Horus, fights

with his uncle for his right

to rule. Horus later wins.

Radical selection of Seth:

• Peribsen’s choice of Seth

= not a whim.

• Choosing Seth = political

statement

• Does it reflect a rebellion?

• Did he usurp control of S?

SETH HORUS

Who did it: Khasekhem Khasekhemwy (?)

Peribsen

Seth =

later

erased


Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC)

Peribsen


Dynasty 2:

9. King Khasekhem

(& Khasekhemwy).

Early Dynastic period: Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC): King Khasekhem(wy)

9. KING Khasekhem.

Horus: “The power has appeared”

KING Khasekhemwy.

Horus-Seth: “The two powers have appeared”


• If Khaserkhem(wy) is Cheneres, he may have

reigned 30 years.


• The presence of Sed-festival style clothing

on statues of Khaserkhem(wy) suggests a

30+ year reign.

Domestic affairs:

• Probable rival kingdoms early in reign

Abydos

Hierakonpolis

Hierakonpolis

Hierakonpolis Gebelein

Abydos

Northern foes?


9. KING Khasekhem (continued …)

Domestic affairs:

• King Khasekhem initially adopts the Horus

serekh with only the White Crown (UE)

• This directly contrasts Peribsen (his

predecessor, or an early contemporary?)

This suggests a change in policy

(but both kings are buried at Abydos)

• Khasekhem builds in S. Egypt


Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC):

King Khasekhem

Domestic affairs (continued …)

• Statues of Khasekhem at Hierakonpolis

depict slain enemies

cite “47,209” northern enemies

• A votive (cultic) offering bears the caption:

“The year of fighting the northern enemy”

• At El-Kab (Southern Egypt) the vulture-

goddess (Nekhbet of Nekheb) stands

over a ring enclosing the word “besh”

for “rebel”

Hence:

• King Khasekhem, as King of Upper Egypt,

apparently fought and defeated northern

foes (whoever they might have been).


Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC):

King Khasekhem

Reconciliation?

• Khasekhem’s victory may not have

been absolute.

• Khasekhem apparently changes

his Horus-name to hold both

the Horus and Seth deities

• His name is apparently changed to

Khasekhemy “The Two Powers

have Appeared” = Horus & Seth

• A new epithet appears:

“The Two Lands are at Peace in

him” (nbwy htp im.f)

• Seth is acknowledged, but Horus

retains his place as well.

Hence:

• There appears to be a definite

reconciliation with followers of Seth.

• Khasekhemwy is attempting to

reconcile a formerly split kingdom

• Both Peribsen & Khasekhem(wy)

= buried at Abydos.

Problem(s):

• Both Peribsen and Khasekhem’s

serekh names are attested mainly

in southern Egypt.

• Did Peribsen gain control of the

South?

• Could Peribsen actually have been

Khasekhem’s enemy?

• Were both simply fighting the North


Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC):

King Khasekhem


Dynasty 2 (2,890 – 2,686 BC):

9. KING Khasekhemwy (continued …)

Domestic affairs:

• Building projects throughout Egypt

-Stone temple (Hierakonpolis)

-Stone temple (Gebelein)

-Building a stone temple (Palermo Stone)

-Making a copper statue (Palermo Stone)

-Shipbuilding


• Khasekhemwy’s name appears on a stone

vase at Byblos (diplomatic relations/trade)

a. Seth has Red Crown (= North)

b. Horus has Double Crown (= Both Lands)

• Shipbuilding noted in Palermo Stone

= maritime shipping?

• Title “Overseer of foreign lands” appears.

• Raid into Nubia?:

“Humbling the foreign land” + Ta-Sety)

Byblos

Saqqara

Abydos

Gebelein

Hierakonpolis

Nubia?


9. KING Khasekhemwy (continued …)

Gisr el-Mudir at Saqqara:

• Survey & excavation reveal late

ED (i.e., Dyn.2) pottery & design

• May = Khasekhemwy enclosure

LATE PREDYNASTIC

TO EARLY DYNASTIC:

Ca. 3,200 - 2686 BC

EARLY DYNASTIC

PERIOD:

Early Dynastic State:

• Kingship = well-established in Dyns.1-2

• Administration evident via writing

(e.g., dockets; commemorative items; +)

• Capital = established at Memphis

(apex of the delta; strategic location)

• Provincial capitals/centres are apparent

• Taxation inferred via agricultural produce

livestock, labour large, wealthy cities.

• Royal court appears to foster & maintain

artisans, etc., prod. set royal art styles

i.e., standardized royal iconography.

• Established an ideology of divine kingship:

- Legitimizing Abydos rulers (vs. others?)

- Promoting unity under one ruler

- Visible state deities (e.g., Horus)

versus local ones (e.g., Min of Koptos)

Dyn.1 Saqqara: Stela of Merka.

Seated official with titles.


















Buto: ED building

Buto

Buto:

















versus local ones (e.g., Min of Koptos;

Satet at Elephantine; etc.)

Other emerging features in ED:

• Capital at Memphis yields a cemetery

for high officials at adjacent N.Saqqara

• Royal cemetery at Abydos lacks burials

for high officials (only retainers).

• Infer conscripted labour (tax) to build

state, temple, and public structures.

• Less evidence for a military force,

- other than Dyn.1 fortifications,

- military name/epithets in kings’ names

- textual-pictorial sources portraying

battles, executions, captives, etc.

• Long-distance trade increasing:

- Cedar from Lebanon

- Copper: E. Desert, Sinai, etc.

- Gold: E. Desert (Egypt-Nubia)

- Stone: diff. areas of Egypt & desert

- Obsidian: from Ethiopia (via Red Sea)

- Turquoise: South Sinai

- Lapis lazuli: Afghanistan, etc. Saqqara mastaba tombs

Abydos

royal

tombs




• Royal cemetery at Abydos mostly lacks

burials for high officials (only retainers).















- Lapis lazuli: Afghanistan, etc.





















Lapis lazuli

Ethiopian

obsidian

LATE PREDYNASTIC

TO EARLY DYNASTIC:

Ca. 3,200 - 2686 BC

SUMMARY:

Dyn.”0” to Early Dynastic Summary:

Foundation of a “unified” kingdom:

• Who is King “Menes”? (i.e., the later, traditional “founder” of a unified Egypt)

• Is Menes: … King Narmer? King Aha? Another ruler? None (i.e., fictitious)?

• How did Egypt become a unified state?

- Ultimately, perhaps beginning with climate change Neolithic revolution

urbanization social stratification trade & warfare alliances etc.???

- Population pressures, warfare, etc.

- Hydraulic civilization theories? Rise of organized irrigation for crops initiating

centralized authorities, administration, etc. rise of state.

Evidence for a Proto-Dynastic (Naqada III / Dyn.0) unified(?) Kingdom:

• 6-7 early kings buried in cemetery U at Abydos

• They have serekh names, which are traditional titles found in pharaonic times

• No other site has tombs or rulers with such serekh names: i.e., Abydos seems

to be the home town of the earliest kings (southern Egypt unified state)

• Naqada III pottery slowly dominates the Delta: 40% 98% at Buto.

• The serekh names of these rulers spread increasingly throughout Egypt and

later into Palestine: does this reflect political control? trade? both? More? Less?


History and other data on Early Dynastic Egypt:

Understanding political control:

• Serekh name dispersal = possible areas of control, or influence.

• Royal-private monuments and/or burial place associated with a given ruler

i.e., = area of allegiance and influence.

• Concentration of elite tombs (e.g., courtiers) at traditional national capital:

Memphis: i.e., Saqqara burial field to immediate West of Memphis (buried)

• Comparison of other sites to capital (Memphis) and royal hometown burial site

(Abydos).

• Foundation of national capital: Narmer? Versus Aha? (Menes): prob. = Aha.

• Rise and fall of custom for sacrificial burials (of retainers) near royal tombs of

Dynasty 1: indicates a certain degree of control over retainers.

• Allusions to raids into Nubia: dockets, labels, and rock texts in Nubia (vs. trade)

• Allusions to raids into Palestine: dockets, labels, and finds in Palestine (trade?)

• Potential civil strife and war: limited dispersal of royal name, Saqqara burial site

and two contemporary rulers in North versus South; other data (Horus & Seth

figures on serekh-name: does this reflect later Contendings of Horus & Seth?).


History and other data on Early Dynastic Egypt:

Activities during a typical king’s reign:

• Palermo Stone and dockets/labels, clay sealings, etc., allude to …

Temples:

(a). Temple construction –including in stone in late Dynasty 2 (some blocks)

(b). Conducting rites in temples

(c). Providing gifts, etc., to temples throughout Egypt

(d). Commissioning cult statues for temples

Royal activities:

(a). Sed festival (after 30 years): renewing kingship, vitality, oaths of allegiance

from provincial officials and deities, etc. (Dyns.1-2); biennial cattle taxation

(b). Marriages? –alluded to in dockets & tombs (perhaps diplomatic marriages)

(c). Royal hunting: scenes of hippo hunt; later ref. to king being killed in a hunt.

(d). Adoption of Double Crown (temp. King Djet [Dyn.1]): --symbolism?

Unification of two distinct kingdoms? Fictitious? Trying to forge unity? Impl.?

(e). Maritime trade with Byblos (Lebanon): royal names etc. found there.

Trends:

• Increasingly elaborate royal subterranean tombs & enclosures; wealth & food;

mounded superstructures; pair of royal stelae. Rock-cut tombs at Saqqara

• Some isolated plagues noted.

• Low Niles recorded: famines (in late Dyn.1). Actually = sporadic, but grad. trend

Anth.309: Ppt. lecture-7: Dynasties 0-2 introduction to the process of unification, reconstructing...

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