Egyptian History 23 September 2015
The Early Dynastic Period The Narmer Pale e: a simplified narra ve of the birth of Egypt
Objects from the Hierakonpolis “Main Deposit” The Scorpion Macehead (also from the Main Deposit) Seal impressions from Umm el-Qaab with “king lists” of the 1st Dynasty
Narmer Aha Djer Djet (King’s Mother) Meretneith Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qa’a
Tomb of Aha: Main chambers (above) Subsidiary graves (right) Anedjib
Meretneith (Peribsen)
Den
Qa’a Djet Djer Narmer Semerkhet
Aha
First Dynasty Royal Tombs at Umm el-Qaab Royal and private stelae from Abydos Tomb of Djet, showing king’s chamber and subsidiary graves Anedjib
Meretneith (Peribsen)
Den
Qa’a Djet Djer Narmer Semerkhet
Aha
First Dynasty Royal Tombs at Umm el-Qaab The tomb of Meretneith Tomb of Den, Umm el-Qaab Label from the tomb of Den, Umm el-Qaab
Sdjawy-bjty = royal scribe, Serekh Hemaka of Den Heb-sed pavilion (?) and race
Golden rnpt = year building of the oil press
Hwt nswt = royal Opening of palace the fortress “beau ful door” Offerings
Oil from thnw (Libya), highest quality Anedjib
Meretneith (Peribsen)
Den
Qa’a Djet Djer Narmer Semerkhet
Aha
First Dynasty Royal Tombs at Umm el-Qaab
“Funerary Enclosure” or temple of Khasekhemwy, Dynasty 2
Funerary Enclosures of Aha
The newly discovered enclosure: Did Narmer build the first monumental royal building in Egypt? Order of First Dynasty rulers with known enclosures:
Aha Djer Djet Meretneith
No First Dynasty ruler builds north-west of earlier enclosures
The new enclosure is the farthest north- west; it should be the earliest
Subsidiary Graves around Funerary Enclosures (reign of Aha) Saqqara and Helwan in the First Dynasty: the necropoleis of Memphis
Loca ons of known Early Dynas c monumental architecture Elite “mastaba” tombs at Saqqara Mastaba of Sabu, mid 1st Dynasty Saqqara (S3111) Stela and mastaba of Merka, Saqqara, late 1st Dynasty
Stela of king Raneb (Nebra); statue of the mortuary priest Hetepdjef lis ng three 2nd Dynasty kings: Hetepsekehmewy, Raneb and Ninetjer