Nynetjer

Ninetjer (actually: Ni- netjer, also Hor -ni - netjer ) was the third Egyptian King (Pharaoh) of the second dynasty in the Early Dynastic period. Jürgen von Beckerath dated his reign from about 2785 to 2742 BC

Thomas Schneider sees Ninetjer also as the third king of the second dynasty, but not commits itself to a particular period within this period, which he dated to 2850-2740 BC.

Ninetjer is the best documented of the King 2 Dynasty. From almost any other ruler so many stone vessels and clay seals were found. Most of the information about his reign provides line 4 of Palermosteins that the cultural and religious events chronologically lists for 14 years of his reign period. Ninetjer also was the ruler with the longest reign in the 2nd Dynasty.

• 6.1 standard works
• 6.2 Special literature

Name and identity

Ninetjer is occupied as the third ruler of the 2nd dynasty by contemporary artefacts from his grave system at Saqqara and the king lists as the successor of King Nebre. As a direct successor, is considered based on the Ramesside king lists, King Wadjenes, although it remains unclear what is archaeologically documented Horus name of this cartridge name to link.

Both his Horus and the throne name was " Ninetjer ". This feature is typically observed for the 2nd dynasty, and also in the name of Peribsen and Sechemib.

Evidence and finds

Ninetjer is contemporary occupied mainly by numerous stone vases and clay seals from his grave system at Saqqara.

More stone vessels and clay seal with his name were discovered in large numbers in the galleries of the Djoser pyramid complex at Saqqara. However, the temporal allocation of inscriptions, which are made of black ink, debatable. The Egyptologist Ilona Regulski the ink inscriptions dated to the time of Khasekhemwy to Djoser and believed also that the label with ink vessels originate from Abydos. In fact, a few vessel fragments were discovered in stone with Ninetjers name in the grave of Peribsen in Abydos.

From Memphis the statuette of a priest redjit, on whose backs both the name Ninetjers as well as its two predecessors are carved comes from. The figure thus confirms Ninetjers chronological position and is therefore particularly important for Egyptology.

From a private art collection (Collection George Michailidis ) the statuette of a king with the White Crown of Upper Egypt comes. The figurine is 13.5 cm tall and is made of pale, greenish shimmering alabaster. The figure is depicted seated on a throne and dressed in a skin-tight Sed - festival garb. In the sides of the throne, the throne name of Ninetjer is engraved.

The artistic execution raises questions among Egyptologists. Researchers such as WK Simpson date the king figure in the 4th Dynasty, doubt other Egyptologists such as Günter Dreyer, Dietrich Wildungsmauer and Hourig Sourouzian as to its authenticity.

Rule

Longevity and events

Most of what is known from Ninetjers reign, is described on the Palermostein. The broken edge of the stone runs exactly diagonally through the window 7 and 21; therefore lack the remnants of the described event. However, be assumed that here the usual livestock census is called.

The government years on the Cairo stone to get additional 36 to 44. The Palermostein lists the following events:

The name of the Ninetjer found himself as a rock inscription at Abu Handal in Nubia. This may indicate a military expedition to Nubia, but can not be proven.

Over the duration of Ninetjers rule, there are different information. The Turin Royal Canon gives him an high number of government 96 years ago, the ancient chronicler Manetho, however, speaks of 47 years. Modern research approves Ninetjer to at least 43 years. This estimate is supported by the inscriptions on the stone Cairo whose recordings immediately after the " 21 Time terminate the livestock census " ( 42 year of reign ). Wolfgang Helck speaks Ninetjer to as many as 45 years. Under Ninetjer the Horus escort was supplemented by a count. This suggests a new form of tax collection. The count remained in the aftermath exist. The Horus convoy was abandoned in the 3rd Dynasty.

Government at the end

The troubled times after Ninetjers death have attracted at Egyptologists such as Wolfgang Helck, Nicolas Grimal and Barbara Bell the suspicion that the Egyptian empire could have split after Ninetjers death in two, and for a time was long governed separately by two different kings.

It remains unclear, however, exactly when Egypt split into two halves of the country. Referred to in Ramesside king lists ruler Wadjenes and Sened are presented both in Thinite as well as in Memphis annals as a direct successor of Ninetjer, so they will probably have still reigns over Upper and Lower Egypt alike. The division of the kingdom can therefore have only the earliest place under King Sened.

Grave system

The grave of the plant Ninetjer located at Saqqara under the causeway of Unas Pyramid and consists of several galleries that are connected through a complex transition system. The DAI resulted in the meantime by another five excavation campaigns. The grave galleries of Ninetjer show great similarities with the tombs of Nebre and Hetepsechemui, which suggests that Ninetjer had built his grave system after which it was modeled. In Saqqara are also the private tombs high nobleman who are also from the reign of Ninetjer.

The unusually large grave of Ruaben ( mastaba S2302 ) contained numerous clay seals of Ninetjer, so that was assumed earlier, the mastaba S2302 is the grave of Ninetjer. In 2008, the fifth excavation led to the discovery of further grave chambers in the grave complex of Ninetjer. North of Unas Aufweges there was the mastaba of Nebkauhor, which was built over the entrance ramp of the grave system of Ninetjer.

The entrance ramp has a length of about 25 m and leads to three galleries with widely branched ductal system in east-west direction. Other suspected grave chambers are to be uncovered during the excavations next. The northern gallery, with a height of 1.7 m and an area of ​​13.5 m × 1.35 m, has seven more small side chambers of different sizes. The smaller side chambers make an unfinished impression, and were filled with sand, the einrieselte partially into the chambers. The wooden coffins found there belong to the later burials. In the transition to the middle gallery is bier mummies, among which were grave goods of Ninetjer, such as wine jars, clay pots and caps were. In addition, 56 were able to Flint, 44 and 44 razor blades are small safe. The discovery in the southern gallery, with an area of 6.4 m × 1.4 m, brought surprisingly mostly complete and original features of grave goods to the fore, for example, more than 50 wine jars with sealable closures of Ninetjer, carrying nets, transport objects made ​​of wood, beer bottles and strip polished oval vessels.

Studies of seal impressions newly found evidence that they come from Ninetjer. Some pitchers probably date from the late 1st dynasty. Found in previous excavations objects, a wife and nine coffin mummy masks and images of deceased in festive costume during his lifetime, the Ramesside period could be attributed. The actual grave chamber of the Ninetjer located on the southwestern end of the installation, the roof of which, however, is broken. The remaining passages and chambers are acute danger of collapse. Overall, the grave complex has a range of 94 × 106 m.

Reception

The ancient chronicler Manetho called Ninetjer Binôthris and reported that this reigned 47 years, and he forgave the right of the women to be allowed to govern as kings. Egyptologists suspect that it could be explained by an echo from the 0th and 1st Dynasty, since two queens, Neithhotep and Meritneith as possible autocrat inner occurred at this time in appearance.