Djet |
First Egyptian Dynasty
Aha/Menes/Aka(?) 3100 BCE c. 32nd century (?) Mainstream opinion identifies Narmer with Menes, however a minority of scholars identify Menes with Hor-Aha.
Hor-Aha(Attah) starting 3080 ± 30 BCE (p = 0.32)[4]
Djer (Gani Eri) 3073–3036 BCE 41 years
Djet (Bag Eri) 3008–2975 BCE?
Merneith (mother of Den) 3008? 2946–2916 BCE
Den/Dan/Dun(Dunu)/(Dunu Idu) 2975–2935-2911 BCE or 2928–2911 BCE 19 to 50 years (42 years)
Anedjib 2916–2896 BCE 20 years
Semerkhet 2912–2891 BCE? 20 years
Qa'a 2906–2886 BCE? 30 years
He sent ambassadors to Canaan and Byblos in Phoenicia to establish peaceful commercial trade links. He founded the city of Crocodilopolis and built the first temple to the god Ptah. Legend has it, that he died at the age of sixty three, killed by wild dogs and crocodiles near Fayum. According to Manetho he was killed by a hippopotamus after a 62 year reign.
Merneith |
Djer, married to Herneith, ruled from Memphis during fifty years, building palaces and conducting military expeditions against Asiatics in the Sinai desert. An inscription with his name south of the first cataract points to the extent of the realm. Of Djet (Wadj), who succeeded him little is known. His limestone stela was found near Abydos where he was buried.
Queen Merenith ruled Egypt as regent when Den became king as a child. There are, however, many scholars who think that Merenith was a ruler in her own right. Stone vessels and sealings bearing her name were found at Saqqara, as was a stela with her name written in an archaic form with crossed arrows signifying the name of Neith. Merenith has two burial sites, one at Abydos and one at Saqqara (Mastaba 3503). The Saqqara tomb contains some artifacts that show the the name of a high court official called Seshemka. The Abydos burial complex is amongst those of the kings of her dynasty.
He was buried at Saqqara, even though he built his mortuary complex in Abydos.
Semerkhet |
Semerkhet reigned for only nine years, and is thought by some to have been a usurper. According to Manetho disasters occurred during his reign. He may have caused the unrest during Anendjib's reign. He is responsible for erasing Anendjib's name from stone vases. A little black stela bearing his name is the only direct evidence found. Qa'a is mentioned on jar sealings and two damaged stela.
One one of these stela he is shown wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt and being embraced by the God Horus.
Hor/Aha |
Until the reign of Den Egypt seems to have enjoyed stability and prosperity. Order broke down during Anendjib's reign, when conflicting factions caused changes that would end this great dynasty. The practice of subsidiary burial where retainers were killed in order to serve the ruler in the afterlife ceased after the reign of Qa'a.
Sources: Egyptian, Indian and Sumerian King lists' transcriptions, Herodotus and Manetho