The First Dynasty of ancient Egypt (Dynasty I) 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, Available online 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 centuriesBC. 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. The same study placed the accession of Den, the sixth king of the dynasty, between 2928 and 2911 BC with 68% confidence, although a 2023 radiocarbon analysis placed Den's accession potentially earlier, between 3011 and 2921, within a broader window of 3104 to 2913.
The dynasty
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..The Narmer Catalog http://narmer.org/catalog.html#1553The Narmer Catalog http://narmer.org/catalog.html#4048 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.Manetho, Fr. 6, 7a, 7b. Text and translation in Manetho, translated by W.G. Waddell (Cambridge: Harvard University, 1940), pp. 27–35 Egyptian hieroglyphs at this point were in their early stages, used primarily for labels and names, as seen on the Narmer Palette.
Alena Buis noted:
Conflicts
Artifacts of the First Dynasty contain numerous depictions of captured foreigners, possibly alluding to the campaign to conquer Lower Egypt and the Nile Delta, and the accomplishment of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Various ethnic types seem to be represented: Asiatic-looking foreigners with full beards and straight hair, possibly alluding to vanquished people from the eastern parts of the Nile delta, or naked individuals with curly hair, possibly Libyan tribes from the western Nile delta. Depiction of West-Asiatic-looking foreigners were found in the tomb of Pharaoh Qa'a, and the Narmer Palette also exhibits similar scenes of conquest over alien people.
Human sacrifice
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. 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.
Anthropological data and cultural affinities
A study on First Dynasty crania from the royal tombs in Abydos generally demonstrated greater affinity with Kerma Kushites, and Upper Nile Valley groups. Keita noted the predominant pattern was "Southern" or a "tropical African variant" (though others were also observed), which had affinities with Kerma Kushites. 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.
Archaeologist Bruce Williams has advanced the view that Nubian elites participated with their first dynastic counterparts in the development of the pharaonic civilization. Williams also clarified in 1987 that his discovery of the Qutsul incense burner proposed no claim of a Nubian origin or genesis for the pharaonic monarchy but that excavations had shown Nubian linkages and contributions. He maintained that detailed, archaeological evidence had found cemeteries of tombs situated in Qustul, Nubia which were described to be vastly wealthier and greater in size than the Abydos tombs of the first dynastic rulers.
According to American historian and linguist, Christopher Ehret, the ritual practice of retainer sacrifice found in the first dynastic royal tombs of Abydos 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.
Rulers Known rulers in the history of Egypt for the First Dynasty are as follows: Name Image Comments Start of ReignLength of Reign Family Narmer/ Menes Believed to be the same person as Menes and to have unified Upper and Lower Egypt. Possibly married Neithhotep. Married with Neithotep, and father of Hor-Aha Hor-Aha Greek form: Athotís. Led an expedition against the Nubians. Married Benerib and Khenthap. Son of Narmer and Neithotep, spouse of Khenthap, Benerib, and father of Djer. Djer 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. Son of Hor-Aha, and father of Djet and Merneith. Djet Greek form: Usapháis. Possibly married Ahaneith. Spouse of Merneith, and father of Den Den Greek form: Kénkenes (after the ramesside diction of his birthname: QenqenWilliam Matthew Flinders Petrie: The Royal Tombs of the Earliest Dynasties. Cambridge University Press, New York 2013 (reprint of 1901), , p. 49.). First pharaoh depicted wearing the double crown of Egypt, first pharaoh with a full niswt bity-name. Son of Merneith and Djet.MerneithPossibly 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. Mother of Den. Anedjib Greek form: Miebidós. Known for his ominous nebwy-title.Nicolas-Christophe Grimal: A History of Ancient Egypt. Blackwell, Oxford UK/ Cambridge USA 1992, , p. 53. Son of Den and Seshemetka . Semerkhet Greek form: Semempsés. First Egyptian ruler with a fully developed Nebty name. His complete reign is preserved on the Cairo stone. Son of Anedjib and Betrest. Qa'a Greek form: Bienéches. Ruled a long time, his tomb is the last one with subsidiary tombs. Son of Semerkhet, and father of Hotepsekhemwy. Sneferka Very short reign, correct chronological position unknown. Horus Bird Very short reign, correct chronological position unknown.
Comparison of regnal lists The surviving ancient king lists like Turin, Abydos and Saqqara, all from the New Kingdom of Egypt, provide a list of kings of this dynasty and are in broad agreement on the order of the kings in this dynasty. + Historical Pharaoh Abydos King List Turin King List Manetho Narmer Meni Meni Menes Aha Teti Teti Athotís Djer Iti Iti Kénkenes Djet Ita Itui Uenéphes Den Septi Qenti Usapháis Anedjib Meribiap Meribiapen Miebidós Semerkhet Semsu Semsen Semempsés Qa'a Qebeh Qebeh Bienéches
See also
Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)
First Dynasty of Egypt family tree
References Citations
Bibliography .