First dynasty of Egypt
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The First dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with the Second dynasty under the group title, Early Dynastic Period of Egypt. The capital at that time was Thinis.
[edit] Rulers
Known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for the First Dynasty are as follows:
| Name | Comments | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Narmer | - probably Menes in earlier lists | c. 3100–3050 BC |
| Hor-Aha | c. 3050 BC | |
| Djer | - | 41 years (Palermo Stone) |
| Merneith | Regent for Den | - |
| Djet | - | - |
| Den | - | 30 to 50 years |
| Anedjib | - | 10 years (Palermo Stone) |
| Semerkhet | - | 9 years (Palermo Stone) |
| Qa'a | - | 2916?–2890 BC |
Information about this dynasty is derived from a few monuments and other objects bearing royal names, the most important being the Narmer Palette. No detailed records of the first two dynasties have survived, except for the terse lists on the Palermo stone. The hieroglyphs were fully developed by then, and their shapes would be used with little change for a little more than three thousand years.
Large tombs of pharaohs or kings at Abydos and Naqada, in addition to cemeteries at Saqqara and Helwan near Memphis, reveal structures built largely of wood and mud bricks, with some small use of stone for walls and floors. Stone was used in quantity for the manufacture of ornaments, vessels, and occasionally statues. Human sacrifice, later discontinued, was evidently practiced during this first dynasty, in addition to hundreds of retainers being buried in each pharaoh's tomb with him when he died.
