Bikheris

Bicheris is the Hellenized form of the name of supposedly ancient Egyptian fifth king (Pharaoh) of the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. A reliable identification of the name with contemporary and / or archaeologically proven Horus - name cartridges and proves to be difficult, as is known, on which the original spelling " Bicheris " is based. You may, in the opinion of the majority of Egyptologists, Baka have envisaged that the but again this is not unchallenged.

Name and identity

The only possibly contemporary attributions come from the ascribed to him, remained unfinished pyramid complex in Saujet el- Arjan. In the local excavation several workers graffiti were discovered, containing a majority of royal cartouche. These same cartridges are the subject of lively controversy, as the excavator of the pyramid complex, Alexandre Barsanti, the graffiti did not reflect in his excavation publication as facsimiles, but merely as rough sketches. Thus, while the second character is clearly recognizable in the cartridges as Ka - symbol, the first character is, however, rendered so indistinct that it could not be clearly identified to date.

The now widespread reading is as Baka, and the first character as a stork with the phonetic value of Ba ( or Bi) is to be read. On this reading is also the equation of Bicheris with a son of Pharaoh Radjedef, which is called on a statue found in Abu Roasch this king. Although this king's son was called Baka, but his name was not written with a stork, but with a ram, but also has the phonetic value of Ba ( or Bi). The name Baka could then have been distorted in the course of Egyptian history to Ba -ka -Re, which is the Greek form of the name Bicheris derived. A similar proposal already made ​​George Andrew Reisner. He assumed that already Bicheris even his birth name Baka changed after the accession in Ba -ka -Re.

Aidan Dodson, in 1985 before a reading of the king 's name as Sethka. Accordingly, the controversial hieroglyph would be a Seth animal. After Dodson it would be possible that the name Sethka is only a modification of the similar-sounding Šetka. Under this name, another son of Radjedef is known.

Wolfgang Helck has tried, probably to identify Bicheris with the Prince Horbaef ( Baefhor ) a son of Khufu. This is said to have changed its name to Rabauef ( Bauefre ) to the throne. Under this name he would be known to have been in the Middle Kingdom, is to demonstrate how a rock inscription in Wadi Hammamat, on which the names of Cheops, Chephren, Radjedef, Bauefre and Hordjedef are written in cartridges. Helcks proposal is, however, largely rejected in research.

In addition, there are a number of other names readings that allow, however, no clear classification of Bicheris in the royal family of the 4th dynasty. So Kurt Sethe read the name as Nebka, Gaston Maspero as Nefer - Ka, Jean -Philippe Lauer Bikka or Hor -ka, Klaus Baer as Wehemka and Peter Kaplony as Schena -Ka.

In the grave shaft also the putative gold name Bicheris is called. However, reading and membership of this name are just as controversial. Kaplony for example, sees the possible Horus name of Huni.

Rule

The exact duration of Bicheris government is unknown. The Royal Canon of Turin, which originated in the New Kingdom, and is an important document to the Egyptian chronology is, at the appropriate place so badly damaged that neither the name nor the indication of the Government have received years. The 3rd century BC Egyptian priest Manetho writes Bicheris living to all the 22 years of rule. However, this is generally considered in modern research as a writing error and most researchers due to the very small number of contemporary monuments of a much shorter duration government. So other researchers goes from about Jürgen von Beckerath of seven years, even less. Wolfgang Helck only takes two years, and Peter Janosi also holds a government duration of less than one year possible.

Further evidence

Although the ancient chronicler Manetho lists in his History Bicheris ' name, but apparently knows nothing definite to report on him.

Tomb

→ Main article: Baka - pyramid

The unfinished pyramid of Zaujet el- Arjan is assigned Baka. Your base is 200 m x 200 m. In paved with blocks of granite foundation a 21 m deep shaft as grave chamber with inset sarcophagus is available. Traces of a funeral can be seen.