Den (pharaoh)

The (aka Hor - den), also called Dewen or Udimu, is the Horus name of an ancient Egyptian King (Pharaoh) of the 1st dynasty ( Early Dynastic period ), which ruled from around 2870 to around 2820 BC.

The reigned about 42 years, and brought his country peace and prosperity. Under his rule, many innovations were introduced.

Name and identity

Among The first is the throne name is, with the reading of the dens Horus and throne name so far is proving to be problematic. For example, while the Egyptologist Kurt Sethe and Alan Henderson Gardiner the Horus name of the " The water bearer " and the throne name Chasti with translates to " The Bedouin ," others such as Hermann Schlögl prefer the translation " The spreading its wings " ( Horus name) and " The hunting Nomad "or" The exotic " ( throne name ) with respect to dens triumph over several desert peoples.

Manetho calls the Usaphâidós once and another time Kênkenés. The name Usaphaidos is simply a translation of the throne name ( Nesu -bit), the king had introduced the yes. The name Kenkenes other hand, could be the euphemism for Chasti.

Origin and family

Modern research sees the son of the Wadji, however, this thesis gives far only from the fact that Wadji its predecessor. His mother was Meritneith. Was married with the Semat, Nachtneith and possibly also with a certain Qa - Neith. The latter is controversial. Possible descendants the Pharaohs Anedjib and Semerkhet be considered.

Rule

The introduced the title of king Nesu -bit. He identified himself as " Lord of Upper and Lower Egypt." Parallel to this was found in his grave the first representation of an Egyptian ruler with double crown.

Also, under the first count the years covered with hieroglyphic figures, after the government earlier years were only provided with the naming of the main event.

In the first years of his reign probably still underage the shared rule with his mother Meritneith that in Abydos received a royal grave proportions as Queen later.

In Dens rule falls an event in the 31 year of reign, which was interpreted in the past by misreadings as " national census ". The exact translation of the entry is difficult, which is why two proposals were drawn on the short list. Certainly, however, a census could be excluded. Furthermore, it is noted on several ivory plaques of victory over an alien force that is designated in the inscriptions as the " first defeat of the East". The hostile strangers as " Iuntiu " (in German about arch people ) called. The " Iuntiu " were predatory nomads who came from the Sinai Peninsula and among other things, in a relief inscription of King Sekhemkhet ( 3rd Dynasty ) are mentioned. From the King, there are also two or three reliefs in Sinai. It is the first in a series of royal representations and inscriptions in the Sinai.

A well-known ivory tablets, which presents such a triumph over enemies from the East figuratively, the so-called " MacGregor badge " is.

Several ivory plaques (mostly broken ) reported an epidemic in the Nile Delta. The inscription also includes the representation of a shaman with indistinct vessel being played on. Whether the inscription Henu stand for " supply " or to represent the name of the beginning of the senior officials Henuka, due to corruption of plaques remains controversial.

From the Bruck pieces of Annals stone of the fifth dynasty go several years records show: Oxford fragment ( years 4-7 ), Cairo fragment ( years 18 to 22) and on the Palermostein, the second larger fragment of the same stone ( years 28 to 41).

Vessel fragments from Dens grave investment in Abydos confirm the commission of the second Sed festival.

From the time of Dens reign numerous high officials have been handed down, especially Ipka, Anchka, Hemaka, Nebitka, Amka, Ini -ka and Kasa are archaeologically documented. From another side, the graves grave stelae of dance and Hofzwergs Serinpu come.

Later traditions

From Ramesside era comes the Medical Papyrus P Berlin 3038, are described in which treatment methods and therapies that are of which ( here called " Hesepti " ) some on the back. These statements, however, are to be regarded as unhistorical as the Papyrus King in the same reign as King puts Sened. The latter, however, ruled during the 2nd dynasty.

In the 64th chapter of the Book of the Dead of Ani Dens is also mentioned throne name, here it is called Semti.

The grave of the

The grave of the located in the necropolis of Umm el- Qaab at Abydos under the name Tomb T. The grave is a total of a further development of the royal tombs by introducing a leading down from the outside, 24 meters long staircase that widens upwards. Further down, in the entrance, are slots for the case stone in the side walls. The bottom of the grave system is designed with red Aswan granite. Grave T has no side chambers, but numerous side tombs and a large Talbezirk in which probably took place the death cult of the ruler.

Also at Saqqara, there are tombs from the time of the: . S 3506, S 3035 and S 3036 Mastaba No. 3506 at Saqqara is the grave of the royal sealer Hemaka, a senior official who is well known from other sources forth policy. The superstructure is built in the " palace facade style." As in the grave of the Abydos in a staircase leads to the burial chamber.