Third dynasty of Egypt

Dynasties of Ancient Egypt Early Dynastic • 1st Dynasty (c. 3050 – 2890 BC) • 2nd Dynasty (2890 – 2686 BC) Old Kingdom • 3rd Dynasty (2686 – 2613 BC) • 4th Dynasty (2613 – 2498 BC) • 5th Dynasty (2498 – 2345 BC) • 6th Dynasty (2345 – 2181 BC) First Intermediate • 7th Dynasty (2181 – 2160 BC) • 8th Dynasty (2181 – 2160 BC) • 9th Dynasty (2160 – 2130 BC) • 10th Dynasty (2130 – 2040 BC) • 11th Dynasty (Thebes only) (2134 – 1991 BC) Middle Kingdom • 11th Dynasty (All Egypt) (2134 – 1991 BC) • 12th Dynasty (1991 – 1803 BC) • 13th Dynasty (1803 – 1649 BC) • 14th Dynasty (1705 – 1690 BC) Second Intermediate • 15th Dynasty (1674 – 1535 BC) • 16th Dynasty (1660 – 1600 BC) • 17th Dynasty (1650 – 1549 BC) New Kingdom • 18th (1549 – 1292 BC) • 19th (1292 – 1186 BC) • 20th (1186 – 1069 BC) Third Intermediate • 21st (1069 – 945 BC) • 22nd (945 – 720 BC) • 23rd (837 – 728 BC) • 24th (732 – 720 BC) • 25th (732 – 653 BC) Late Period • 26th (672 – 525 BC) • 27th (First Achaemenid Period) (525 – 404 BC) • 28th (404 – 398 BC) • 29th (398 – 380 BC) • 30th (380 – 343 BC) • 31st (Second Achaemenid Period) (343 – 332 BC)

For the Sumerian Renaissance, see Third Dynasty of Ur.

The Third Dynasty of ancient Egypt is the first dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Other dynasties of the Old Kingdom include the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth. The capital during the period of the Old Kingdom was at Memphis.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Rulers 3 Third Dynasty timeline 4 References

Overview

After the turbulent last years of the 2nd dynasty which may have included civil war, Egypt came under the rule of Djoser and this marks the beginning of the Third dynasty.^[1] Both the Turin King List and the Abydos King List record five kings^[2], while the Saqqara Tablet only records four.

• The Turin King List gives: Nebka, Djoser, Djoserti, Hudjefa and Huni
• The Abydos King List gives: Nebka, Djoser, Teti, Sedjes, and Neferkare
• The Saqqara Tablet gives: Djoser, Djoserteti, Nebkare and Huni

The archaeological evidence shows that Khasekhemwy, the last ruler of the 2nd dynasty, was succeeded by Djoser, who is usually attested by his Horus name Netjeriket. Djoser’s successor was Sekhemkhet who had the nebty name Djeserty. The last king of the dynasty is Huni. There are three remaining Horus names of known 3rd dynasty kings: Sanakht, Kaba and Qahedjet. One of these three went by the nebty name Nebka.^[2]

Dating the 3rd dynasty is similarly challenging. Shaw gives the dates as being approximately from 2686 to 2613 BC.^[3] The Turin King List suggests a total of 75 years for the third dynasty. Baines and Malek have placed the third dynasty as spanning the years 2650 – 2575 BC^[2], while Dodson and Hilton date the dynasty to 2584 – 2520 BC. It is not uncommon for these estimates to be off by more than a century.^[1]

Rulers

The pharaohs of Dynasty III ruled for approximately seventy-five years. The order of the kings is based on Wilkinson.^[2] The number of years as king, the regnal years, is based on Dodson and Hilton. They have the dynasty lasting only 64 years.^[1]

Dynasty III pharaohs

Horus-name	Personal Name	Regnal years	Burial	Consort(s)
Netjerikhet	Djoser	19	Saqqara	Hetephernebti
Sekhemkhet	Djoserty	6	Saqqara: Buried Pyramid	Djeseretnebti
Khaba	Teti	6	Zawyet el'Aryan: Layer Pyramid
Sanakht	Nebka	9	Abydos ?
Qahedjet	Huni	24	Meidum ?	Djefatnebti Meresankh I

While Manetho names Necherophes, and the Turin King List names Nebka (a.k.a. Sanakhte), as the first pharaoh of the Third Dynasty^[2], many contemporary Egyptologists believe Djoser was the first king of this dynasty, pointing out the order in which some predecessors of Khufu are mentioned in the Papyrus Westcar suggests that Nebka should be placed between Djoser and Huni, and not before Djoser. More importantly, seals naming Djoser were found at the entrance to Khasekhemwy's tomb at Abydos, which demonstrates that it was Djoser, rather than Sanakhte, who buried and succeeded this king.^[2] The Turin King List scribe wrote Djoser's name in red ink, which indicates the Ancient Egyptians recognition of this king's historical importance in their culture. In any case, Djoser is the best known king of this dynasty, for commissioning his vizier Imhotep to build the earliest surviving pyramids, the Step Pyramid.

Some authorities believe that Imhotep lived into the reign of the Pharaoh Huni. Little is known for certain of Sekhemkhet. However, it is believed that Khaba possibly built the Layer Pyramid at Zawyet el'Aryan.

Third Dynasty timeline

References