|
22 Feb 2008 03:51:01 | Dr. Sherin Elkhawaga
Egypt was divided into two kingdoms, Upper and Lower Egypt, or
the two lands. The first was founded in Lower Egypt, with Botu
as its capital, the Papyrus as its sign, and the snake as its
symbol. The Southern Kingdom had Nekhen as its capital, and the
Lotus as its sign. King Narmer was the first to unite Upper and
Lower Egypt giving birth to Egypt in 3100 B. c & laying the
foundation for the first pharaonic dynasty ,which is the
beginning of the first Egyptian Dynasty 0.
For reading more articles about ancient Egypt click on:
www.kingtutshop.com
He was the first king of the two lands wearing the White Crown
of Upper Egypt (looks like a bowling pin), and the Red Crown of
Lower Egypt. . His rule marked the beginning of written history
and the era of dynasties, which followed in succession until the
30th Dynasty. The Egyptian Dynasty ended with the suicide of
Cleopatra, and the Roman army under Octavian taking Egypt in 30
BC.
·The Old Kingdom (2980 BC-2475 BC): During this era, principles
of central government were established. Menes (Narmar) was
called "the King of Both Lands and Bearer of Both Crowns". The
unification of both kingdoms had a significant impact on the
development of Egypt in all aspects of life. Hieroglyphic
writing was devised.
Kings were actively involved in securing the country's borders.
Trade between Egypt and Sudan was developed. Egypt, then
embarked on a glorious period of its history, known as the
pyramid builder's age, where the first pyramid of Saqqara was
built. With the flourishing of agriculture, industry and trade,
the first river fleet was introduced by the Egyptians. With the
unification of Upper& Lower Egypt, it was necessary to establish
a strong army whose headquarter was the city of Menf. Narmar
also established the Egyptian first fleet in With the beginning
of the third Pharaonic Dynasty in 2686 B.C, Egypt was exposed to
manyraids by the nomads on its eastern borders, the thing that
urged king Zosar to establish army with its own military
traditions and its distinct banners. This army was regarded as
the first regular army in history, Later on, " Zosar " organized
Egypt into districts where he set, companies. Moreover, he
established his own royal army made up of corps, and established
a substantial fleet as well. King Narmer is thought to have
reigned c. 3150 BCE as first king of the 1st dynasty (and/or
last king of the 0 dynasty) of a unified ancient Egypt. The
rebus of his name as shown on his palette and on other
inscriptions is composed of a chisel, thought to be read mr,
above a catfish, thought to be read as n'r. King Narmer, or
Catfish as he could also be called, appears thus on seal
impressions from the 1st Dynasty tombs of King Den (tomb) and
King Ka (Tomb) at Abydos . Narmer's name and that of his
possible predecessor Scorpion have also been found on pottery
vessels from the site of Minshat Abu Omar in the eastern Delta.
Narmer's importance as the probable unifier of Lower and Upper
Egypt is indicated primarily by the Palette and the Macehead
which are attributed to him. His name-rebus appear on both. But
his power in the region must have extended further, since
Egyptian sherds inscribed with Narmer's name have also been
found . The Narmer Palette was discovered by J.E.Quibell at
Hierakonpolis in 1897-98. The obverse is divided into three
registers, uppermost of which gives his name in a serekh flanked
by human-faced bovines. The second register shows Narmer wearing
the White Crown of Upper Egypt smiting an enemy. The third
register shows dead, nude enemies. On the reverse the upper
register showing his name-serekh is repeated. The second
register shows Narmer now wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt,
inspecting rows of nude, decapitated enemies. The third register
shows a man mastering serpent-necked lions, and the fourth
register shows a bull destroying a town and trampling a dead
enemy. Narmer may have considered Buto as the central capital of
the Delta he had just conquered. On his palette is a
hieroglyphic group that could be read as Ta Mehu, the later name
for the Delta region. Since Narmer is shown with the Red Crown
he was thus the first to ascribe this Crown to the entire Delta
and thus Lower Egypt. He may have transferred the Red Crown from
Nubt/Naqada to represent the entirety of Lower Egypt. The Narmer
macehead, also discovered at Hierakonpolis, has had three
interpretations. Petrie's theory, also held by later scholars,
was that the mace head depicted the political marriage of
Nithotep, princess of the north, with Narmer. Other scholars
feel the macehead depicts a celebration by Narmer of his
conquest of the north, while still others regard the macehead as
commemorating a Sed-festival of the king. Nithotep's grave has
been found at Naqada, with Narmer's name as well as with King
Aha's name. Nithotep thus is linked with two kings as wife and
mother. Most recently, new studies of the images on the macehead
put forth the theory that the scenes are not primarily
commemorative but are simply pictorial versions of year-names.
The focus of the scene is the king's figure, seen sitting robed
in a long cloak enthroned under a canopy on a high dais, wearing
the Red Crown and holding a flail. The enclosure within which he
sits can be interpreted as a shrine or temple. He is attended by
minor figures of fan-bearers, bodyguards, with long
quarterslaves and an official who may be either vizier or
heir-apparent. In front of Narmer three men run a race towards
him, while above them stands four men carrying standards. Facing
the king is a cloaked and beardless figure, over whom is a
simple enclosure in which stands a cow and calf .
The running figures may represent Muu dancers, long associated
with Buto, presenting a welcome to the new lord of the Delta.
The seated figure facing Narmer may be the chief of Buto rather
than a princess of the Delta. Beneath these figures are symbols
of numbers. The numbers have been recently interpreted to
indicate 400,000 cattle, 1,422,000 small animals, and 120,000
men (not women and children, only males.) This would have
provided for a total human population of the Delta of perhaps
600,000. The macehead then commemorates the completion of the
conquest of Lower Egypt, not with a royal dynastic marriage etc,
but perhaps, with the first Appearance of the King of Lower
Egypt, by an actual census of the Delta people, similar to and a
precursor of the census taken by William the Conqueror after he
won England. Some scholars speculate that Menes and Narmer may
be the same person. Menes is the Greek form of the name of the
legendary first human king of Egypt as given by Manetho, the
historian living in Hellenistic times who constructed one form
of King Lists. Hor-Aha, the first king of the First Dynasty and
thus Narmer's probable successor and possibly his son by Queen
Nithotep, perhaps took the second royal name of Men, which means
"established", thus being the origin of the name Menes. Evidence
indicating all this is an ivory label from the tomb of Queen
Nithotep at Naqada. It shows the name Hor-Aha, and the name Men,
in front of it.
About Author :
Egyptian radiologist,interested in egyptology.
|