Ka (pharaoh)

King Ka ( Egyptian name of Hor -ka or Hor - Sechen ) was an Egyptian ruler (Pharaoh) of the pre-dynastic period (so-called 0 dynasty ), who reigned about 3100 BC. In the history of the Egyptian Empire King Ka was one of those rulers who could obtain a temporary unification, which must remain open, which areas were united by King Ka precisely because the Egyptian empire was divided to his time differently.

From Ka King himself numerous artifacts and written records have survived, valuable insights could be gained through the cultural, economic and political changes of his time. Its exact chronological position, however, remains unclear as how long he reigned.

Fund position

Ka is mainly known through numerous vessel inscriptions, but also by rock carvings. In addition to the kings Narmer and Scorpion II, he is the ruler of the bestbezeugte Vordynastien, even outside of Egypt. His name was found on objects at Tell Ibrahim Awad in the Nile Delta, in Helwan ( at Memphis ) and Tarkhan. Further evidence comes from the excavation areas at Tell Erani and Nahal Tillah in the southwest of the Levant.

Name and identity

The reading of the name of this ruler is problematic. There are inscriptions vessel on which both have name seals and hieroglyph in the same direction and a reading as " Ka " comes into question. But there are also vessels on which the Serech is running in the correct direction, the supposed Ka symbol but definitely is upside down, which is why a reading is taken as " Sechen " into consideration. It was also suspected that it might be in "Ka " at the Ka - name of Narmer. Just because the reading of the name, written is so uncertain, suggests the Egyptologist Ludwig D. Morenz as a neutral reading in front of the name 'King ' open arms '. "

Ka is the early dynastic rulers of Egypt, under which the royal Serech finally penetrated as name seals, although already used some rulers before him the Serech now and then. Under Ka was consolidated the tradition to lead the Falcon of Horus as the divine patron of the Serechs.

Kas exact chronological position can so far only be estimated. Evaluations of font designs on vessels as well as the architectural dating his possible grave investment in Abydos lead to the assumption that Ka either reigned at the same time as King Scorpion II and Narmer or its immediate predecessor was.

Reign

Already under Ka are clearly first cultural and ideological changes and innovations. In the state ideology of the latter expressed not only by the increased merging of various districts and small states, but also by the ever more complex and more intensive agricultural and trading economy. Under Ka is first offices and hierarchies have developed that bring an effective and reliable collaboration and functionality with it. More and more provinces and principalities merged and expanded. You obviously recognized the unmatched value in the cohesion and the growing strength. Ideological changes are reflected in the evidence of extensive barter trade between the small kingdoms. Thus, in the Nile Delta vessels were found with typical oberägyptischem decor and vice versa. This not only economically, but also ideologically motivated, permanent exchange between the kingdoms eventually led to a unification of the spiritual value conceptions and material cultures. At least under King Narmer is evident in the vessel inscriptions and in the findings in abydenischen and Thinite grave sites, such as layered and complex hierarchical class system since protodynastischen times must have been. Taking into account the fact that each kingdom to Scorpion times had its own central administration and center of power of this format, it seems to have been only a question of leadership, which the early dynastic rulers eventually was able to complete the unification.

Numerous vessel inscriptions in black ink, executed in the simplest form, provide interesting information on taxes and a thriving trade economy. Here a brisk trade seems to have been mainly operated between Upper and Lower Egypt, which shows that there was a growing centralization and functionality of taxes and trade economy during the 0 dynasty.

One of the biggest economic and power factors in this time will probably have been the irrigation systems, their development and use may have reached its first climax with Scorpio II. Michael Allan Hoffman refers citing the dissertations by Karl W. Butzer on the increase of references to application and use of irrigation systems; not only on the royal mace pommel. Irrigation systems allowed an extended cultivation of cereals, vegetables and rearing of livestock. This factor was for the just -forming state of the utmost importance, since the power was closely linked to the control of the harvesting areas. Food shortage and / or lack of space have always been common triggers for unrest. To make matters worse, that areas with controlled irrigation were obviously limited to very small areas. This is surprising, since archaeological evidence of controlled irrigation to the Naqada I - epoch rich, the method of application of simple irrigation systems known to the Egyptians was so amazingly long. It therefore remains to be clarified whether the Irrigationsareale may have been deliberately kept short, in order to secure those in power.

Grave system

In Abydos, there is a grave (B. 7/9), which can be assigned to Ka well. It consists of two different sizes, each 1.90m deep chambers. B.7 chamber measures 6.0 x 3.2 m, while chamber B.9 is only slightly smaller at 5.8 x 3.0 m. The system has grave to the south. In both chambers of more than forty vessels were found with inscription.