First Dynasty of Egypt

Template:Short description Template:Infobox Former Country Template:Egyptian Dynasty list The First Dynasty of ancient Egypt (Dynasty I)Template:Sfnp covers the first series of Egyptian kings to rule over a unified Egypt. It immediately follows the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, by Menes, or Narmer,<ref>Template:Cite journal Available online {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and marks the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period, when power was centered at Thinis.

The date of this period is subject to scholarly debate about the Egyptian chronology. It falls within the early Bronze Age and is variously estimated to have begun anywhere between the 34th and the 30th centuriesTemplate:NbspBC. In a 2013 study based on radiocarbon dates, the accession of Hor-Aha, the second king of the First Dynasty, was placed between 3111 and 3045 BC with 68% confidence, and between 3218 and 3035 with 95% confidence.<ref name="Dee Wengrow">Template:Cite journal</ref> The same study placed the accession of Den, the sixth king of the dynasty, between 2928 and 2911 BC with 68% confidence,<ref name="Dee Wengrow"/> although a 2023 radiocarbon analysis placed Den's accession potentially earlier, between 3011 and 2921, within a broader window of 3104 to 2913.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The dynasty

Template:See also Information about this dynasty is derived from a few monuments and other objects bearing royal names, the most important being the Narmer Palette and Narmer Macehead, as well as Den and Qa'a king lists.<ref>Template:Citation.</ref><ref>The Narmer Catalog http://narmer.org/inscription/1553 Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>The Narmer Catalog http://narmer.org/inscription/4048 Template:Webarchive</ref> No detailed records of the first two dynasties have survived, except for the terse lists on the Palermo Stone. The account in Manetho's Aegyptiaca contradicts both the archeological evidence and the other historical records: Manetho names nine rulers of the First Dynasty, only one of whose names matches the other sources, and offers information for only four of them.<ref>Manetho, Fr. 6, 7a, 7b. Text and translation in Manetho, translated by W.G. Waddell (Cambridge: Harvard University, 1940), pp. 27–35</ref> Egyptian hieroglyphs were fully developed by then, and their shapes would be used with little change for more than three thousand years.Template:Fact

Alena Buis noted: Template:Quote

A study on First Dynasty crania from the royal tombs in Abydos generally demonstrated greater affinity with Kerma Kushites, and Upper Nile Valley groups.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Moreover, the analysis too found clear change from earlier craniometric trends, as "lower Egyptian, Maghrebian, and European patterns are observed also, thus making for great diversity". The gene flow and movement of northern officials to the important southern city may explain the findings.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

• Narmer Palette.jpg

  The Narmer Palette

• Mace-head of King Narmer.jpg

  Narmer Macehead

• Necklaces with different types of beads. Carnelian, coral, and garnet. 1st Dynasty, c. 3000 BCE. From the Tomb of Mena, Naqada or Abydos Cemetery B, Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg

  Necklaces with different types of beads. Carnelian, coral, and garnet.

• Pottery jar with integral strainer. 1st Dynasty, Early Dynastic Period. From Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg

  Pottery jar with integral strainer.

Human sacrifice

Template:Main articles Human sacrifice was practiced as part of the funerary rituals associated with all of the pharaohs of the first dynasty. It is clearly demonstrated as existing during this dynasty by retainers being buried near each pharaoh's tomb as well as animals sacrificed for the burial. The tomb of Djer is associated with the burials of 338 individuals.Template:Sfnp The people and animals sacrificed, such as donkeys, were expected to assist the pharaoh in the afterlife. For unknown reasons, this practice ended with the conclusion of the dynasty.

According to historian and linguist Christopher Ehret, the ritual practice of retainer sacrifice originated from the southern region in the Middle Nile. Ehret also stated that this cultural practice was shared with the Kerma kingdom of the Upper Nubian Nile region.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Rulers

Known rulers in the history of Egypt for the First Dynasty are as follows:

Name	Image	Comments	Start of Reign	Length of Reign	Family
Narmer	File:NarmerPalette-CloseUpOfNarmer-ROM.png {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Believed to be the same person as Menes and to have unified Upper and Lower Egypt. Possibly married Neithhotep.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}		Married with Neithotep, and father of Hor-Aha
Hor-Aha	File:GlazedFiaenceVesselFragmentNameOfAha-BritishMuseum-August21-08.jpg {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Greek form: Athotís. Led an expedition against the Nubians. Married Benerib and Khenthap.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}		Son of Narmer and Neithotep, spouse of Khenthap, Benerib, and father of Djer.
Djer	File:Djer cylinder seal.png {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Greek form: Uenéphes (after his Gold name In-nebw); His name and titulary appear on the Palermo Stone. His tomb was later thought to be the legendary tomb of Osiris.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Son of Hor-Aha, and father of Djet and Merneith.
Djet	File:Egypte louvre 290.jpg {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Greek form: Usapháis. Possibly married Ahaneith.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Spouse of Merneith, and father of Den
Den	File:Den label.jpg {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Greek form: Kénkenes (after the ramesside diction of his birthname: Qenqen<ref>William Matthew Flinders Petrie: The Royal Tombs of the Earliest Dynasties. Cambridge University Press, New York 2013 (reprint of 1901), Template:ISBN, p. 49.</ref>). First pharaoh depicted wearing the double crown of Egypt, first pharaoh with a full niswt bity-name.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Son of Merneith and Djet.
Merneith	File:Merneith stele.jpg	Possibly first female Pharaoh (or ruled as regent to her son Den or ruled as both king/queen and regent). Merneith was buried close to Djet and Den. Her tomb is of the same scale as the tombs of the (other) kings of that period.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	c. 2950 BC<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}		Mother of Den.
Anedjib	File:Anedjib Closeup.jpg {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Greek form: Miebidós. Known for his ominous nebwy-title.<ref>Nicolas-Christophe Grimal: A History of Ancient Egypt. Blackwell, Oxford UK/ Cambridge USA 1992, Template:ISBN, p. 53.</ref>	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Son of Den.
Semerkhet	File:PotterySherdWithNameOfSemerkhet-PetrieMuseum-August21-08.jpg {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Greek form: Semempsés. First Egyptian ruler with a fully developed Nebty name. His complete reign is preserved on the Cairo stone.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Son of Anedjib.
Qa'a	File:CroppedStelaOfQaa.JPG {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Greek form: Bienéches. Ruled a long time, his tomb is the last one with subsidiary tombs.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Son of Semerkhet, and father of Hotepsekhemwy.
Sneferka	File:Sneferka.png {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Very short reign, correct chronological position unknown.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
Horus Bird	File:BirdFraegment.png {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Very short reign, correct chronological position unknown.	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

See also

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• Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)
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• First Dynasty of Egypt family tree

References

Bibliography

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