Horus Name: Den Golden Horus: Iaretnubshen, Sepati, Qenenti Praenomen: Khasty
House
Tjenu
Dynasty
Narmerian Dynasty
Father
Djet
Mother
Merneith
Religion
Kemetism
Den, also known as Hor-Den, was the Horus name of a pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period who ruled during the First Dynasty of Egypt. He is the best archaeologically-attested ruler of this period, credited with bringing prosperity to his realm.
Den was the first to use the title "King of Upper and Lower Egypt" and the first depicted as wearing the double crown (red and white). Notably, the floor of his tomb at Upokre, near Abydos, was constructed using red and black granite, making it the earliest known use of this hard stone as a building material in Egypt with a flight of stairs leading to it. During his long reign, he established many of the customs of court ritual and royalty drawn on by later rulers and was held in high regard by his immediate successors.
Den's serekh name is well attested on earthen seal impressions, on ivory labels and in inscriptions on vessels made of schist, diorite and marble. The artifacts were found at Abydos, Mekhattawy and Rawer. Den's name is also attested in later documents. For example, the Medical Papyrus of Berlin (the Ramesside era) discusses several methods of treatment and therapies for a number of different diseases. Some of these methods are said to originate from the reign of Den, but this statement may merely be trying to make the medical advice sound traditional and authoritative. Similarly, Den is mentioned in the Papyrus of Ani (also dated to Ramesside times) in chapter 64.
Reign[]
Beginning[]
According to archaeological records, at the very beginning of his reign, Den had to share the throne with his mother Meritneith for FIVE years. It seems that he was too young to rule himself. Therefore, Meritneith reigned as a pharaoh for five years. Such a course of action was not unusual in ancient Egyptian history. Queen Neithhotep took on a similar role before Meritneith, while queens such as Sobekneferu I and Hatshepsut I were later female Egyptian rulers. Den's mother was rewarded with her own tomb of royal dimensions and with her own mortuary cult.
Events[]
An important innovation during Den's reign was the introduction of numbering using hieroglyphs. Prior to this, important year events were merely depicted in signs and miniatures, sometimes guided by the hieroglyphic sign rnpt "bald palm panicle", meaning “year”. From Den's reign onwards, the Egyptians used numbering hieroglyphs for a range of purposes including calculating tax collections and for annotating their year events.
Den is the first Egyptian king attested with rock reliefs in the Biau Peninsula. Two or perhaps even three reliefs are showing the standing king and some of his officials.
Most religious and political happenings from Den's reign are recorded in the numerous ivory tags and the Palermo Stone inscription. The tags show important developments in typography and arts. The surface is artistically parted into sections, each of them showing individual events. For example, one of these tags reports on an epidemic then affecting Egypt. The inscription shows the figure of a shaman with an undefined vessel or urn at his feet. A nearby inscription begins with “Henu...” but it is unclear, if that means “provision” or if it is the first syllable of the name “Henu-Ka” (a high official).
Another tag, known as the “MacGregor Label”, shows the first complete depiction of an Egyptian king with the so-called nemes headdress. The picture shows Den in a gesture known as "smiting the enemy". In one hand Den holds a mace, in the other hand he grabs a foe by his hair. Thanks to the braids and the conic beard the foe has been identified as of Asian origin. The hieroglyphs at the right side say "first smiting of the east". At the left side the name of the high official Iny-Ka is inscribed. It seems that Den sent troops to the Biau Peninsula and the eastern desert a number of times. Plundering nomads, known by the early Egyptians as jwntj.w "people with hunting bows”, were regular foes of Egypt, often causing trouble. They are again mentioned in a rock inscription in the Biau Peninsula under Semerkhet, one of Den's successors.
More events are reported on the Palermo Stone fragments. The Oxford fragment records the following events:
4th year: First time for counting gold.
5th year: Escort of Horus; 2nd census of cattle count.
6th year: ...(section damaged)... of the Rehyt.
7th year: Escort of Horus; 3rd census of cattle count.
The Cairo-Stone fragment C5 reports:
18th year: The making of a statue for Wer-Wadjet.
19th year: Smiting of the Setjet people.
20th year: Creation of the Mafdet-fetish; raising of the Sentj-pillars.
21st year: Smiting of the Tjesem people.
22nd year: Visit to the royal domain of Semer-Netjeru; first celebration of the Hebsed.
The Palermo Stone main fragment reports:
28th year: Visit to the temple of Ptah... (rest is missing).
29th year: Smiting of the Iuntju people.
30th year: Appearance of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt; 2nd celebration of the Hebsed.
31st year: Planning for the construction of the eastern and western canals through the districts of the Rehyts.
32nd year: 2nd celebration of the Djet-festival.
33rd year: Stretching the cords (a foundation ceremony) for the divine fortress Isut-Netjeru (“thrones of the gods”).
34th year: Stretching the cords for the royal palace of the divine fortress Isut-Netjeru by the high priest of Seshat.
35th year: Inauguration of the sacred lakes at the divine fortress Isut-Netjeru; royal hippopotamus hunt.
36th year: Residing at Nenj-nesw (Heracleopolis Magna) and at the lake of the god Heryshaf.
37th year: Sailing trip to Sah-Setni; foundation/destruction of the city Wer-Ka.
38th year: Creation of a statue for the god Sed.
39th year: Appearance of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt; 1st race of the Apis-Bull.
40th year: Creation of a statue for the goddesses Seshat and Mafdet.
41st year: Appearance of the king of Lower- and... (rest is missing)
The second celebration of the Sed Festival (a throne jubilee) is affirmed by several stone vessel inscriptions from Den's necropolis.
Tomb[]
Den was interred within a tomb ("Tomb T") in the Umm El Qa'ab area of Abydos, which is associated with other First Dynasty kings. Tomb T is among the largest and most finely-built of the tombs in this area, and is the first to feature a staircase and a floor made of granite.
His was the first tomb to have a flight of stairs leading to it, those of earlier kings being filled directly above from their roofs. It is possible the tomb was used as a storehouse for surplus produce during the king's lifetime, while also making it easier to add grave goods for later use in the afterlife by Den.
Tomb T is also the first tomb to include architectural elements made of stone rather than mud-brick. In the original layout for the tomb, a wooden door was located about halfway up the staircase, and a portcullis placed in front of the burial chamber, designed to keep out tomb robbers. The floor of the tomb was paved in red and black granite from Aswan, the first architectural use of such hard stone on a large scale.
Twenty labels made of ivory and ebony were found in his tomb, 18 by Flinders Petrie in the spoil heaps left by the less thorough Émile Amélineau. Among these labels are the earliest known depictions of a pharaoh wearing the double-crown of Egypt (see above), as well as running between ritual stele as part of the Sed festival. Also found are seal impressions that provide the earliest confirmed king list.
Tomb T is surrounded by the burial sites of 136 men and women who were buried at the same time as the king. Thought to be the king's retainers, an examination of some of the skeletons suggests they were strangled, making this an example of human sacrifice which is considered to be common with the pharaohs of the First Dynasty. This practice seems to have ceased by the end of the dynasty, with ushabtis taking the place of the bodies of actual people to aid the pharaohs with the work expected of them in the afterlife.
Aker - Finger Snail - Fish - Elephant - Stork - Canide - Bull - Scorpion I - Shendju - Iry Hor - Ka - Scorpion II
000
Hapu I - Seka I - Khayu - Tiu - Thesh - Neheb - Wazner - Mekh - Seka II - Hedju Hor - Ny Hor - Ny Neith - Hat Hor - Herui - Wash
Minor
Neferhor I - Neferhor II - Iry Hor I - Horhotep I - Horhotep II - Horhotep III - Iry Hor II - Neferhor III - Neferhor IV - Neferhor V - Usirenakht I - Usirehotep I - Neferusire I - Usirenakht II - Usirenakht III - Usirehotep II - Usirehotep III - Usirenakht IV - Usirenakht V - Usirenakht VI - Usirenakht VII - Neferusire II - Usirenakht VIII - Usirehotep IV - Usirenakht V - Neferusire III - Neferusire IV - Usirehotep V - Meridjehuty I - Neferdjehuty I - Meridjehuty II - Meridjehuty III - Neferdjehuty II - Meridjehuty IV - Meridjehuty V - Djehutyhotep I - Meridjehuty VI - Djehutyhotep II - Djehutyhotep III - Merydjehuty VII - Neferdjehuty III - Minhotep I - Nefermin I - Ankhmin I - Minhotep II - Nefermin II - Minhotep III - Minhotep IV - Minhotep V - Nefermin III - Ankhmin II - Minhotep VI - Neferanuket I - Neferkhnum I - Nefersatet I - Neferkhnum II - Neferkhnum III - Neferanuket II - Nefersatet II
I
Narmer I - Neithhotep - Teti I - Djer - Djet - Merneith - Den - Adjib - Semerkhet - Qa'a - Sneferka - Hor Ba I
II
Hotepsekhemwy I - Nebra - Nynetjer - Wadjenes - Hor Ba II - Hor Sa - Weneg - Neferkara I - Neferkasokar I - Neferkasokar II - Senedj I - Nubnefer - Perenmaat - Peribsen I - Khasekhemwy I
Khety I - Khety II - Neferkara VII - Khety III - Senenhapi - Merikara I - Shedtawy - Huni II - Khuiqer - Imhotep - Isu - Khety IV - Khety V - Userkara II
X
Meryhathor I - Khety VI - Neferkara VIII - Khety VII - Khety VIII - Merikare II - Khety IX
Sobekhotep I - Amenemhat V Sonbef - Sobekhotep II - Amenemhat VI - Qemau - Sehotepibra I - Iufni I - Amenemhat VII - Nebnuni - Sehotepibra II - Sewadjkara I - Nedjemibra - Sobekhotep III - Amenemhat VIII - Hor I - Khabaw - Djedkheperew - Sebkay - Amenemhat IX - Wegaf - Userkara III Khendjer - Imyremeshaw I - Intef IV - Seth I - Sobekhotep IV - Neferhotep I - Sihathor I - Sobekhotep V - Sobekhotep VI - Sobekhotep VII - Wahibra I Ibiau - Ay I - Ini II - Sewadjitu - Neferhotep II - Sewadjkara III Hori - Sobekhotep IX - Ini III - Dedumose I - Amenemhat X - Sankhptahi I - Hor II - Imyremeshaw II - Userkara IV - Awibra II - Merkheperra - Merkara - Sobekhotep X - Mentuhotep V - Dedumose II - Ibi II "The Quiet" - Webenra Hor III - Sewadjkara IV - Sankhptahi II - Nubkaura Webenra III - Senebmiu
XIV
Yakbim - Ya'ammu - Qareh - Ammu - Sheshi I - Nehesy - Khakhereura - Nebefaura - Sehebra I - Merdjefara I - Sewadjkara II - Nebdjefara I - Webenra I - Awibra I - Nebdjefara II - Webenra II - Heribra - Nebsenra - Sankhibra I - Merdjefara II - Sekheperenra - Djedkherewra - Sankhibra II - Nefertumibra - Sekhemibra - Kakemura - Neferibra - Ienkara - Khakara - Akara - Semenenra - Djedkara III - Bebnum - Semqen - Hapu II - Anetrira - Nubankhra - Nikara II - Nikara III - Nikara IV - Nikara V - Seneferibra - Menibra - Djedkara IV - Yakareb - Hapi - Aped - Inek - Apepi I - Apepi II - Nuya - Sheneh - Shenshek - Wazad - Khamura - Apepi III - Yaqub Her - Hibe - Webenra IV
XV
Sharek - Semqen - Aperanat - Khyan - Yanassi - Sakir Har - Apepi IV - Khamudi
Minor
Woseribra I - Woseribra II - Woseribra III - Sehebra II - Upuatemsaf I - Woseribra IV Senebkay - Upuatemsaf II - Woseribra V - Woseribra VI - Woseribra VII - Sehebra III - Upuatemsaf III - Pantjeny - Snaaib - Sehebra IV - Webenra V - Ini IV - Seth II - Sunu - Hor IV - Nibra - Merkheperenra - Penensetensepet - Khutawykhemet - Seketra - Arenra - Djednianhur - Smenkhkara I - Sihathor II - Herhemutshepsesut - Khuhemutshepsesut
XVI
Pepi IV - Djehuti - Sobekhotep VIII - Neferhotep III - Mentuhotepi - Nebiriau I - Nebiriau II - Semenra - Bebiankh - Shedwaset - Dedumose III - Dedumose IV - Montuemsaf - Mentuhotep VI - Senusret IV
XVII
Rahotep I - Djehutyaa I - Sobekemsaf I - Sobekemsaf II - Intef V - Intef VI - Intef VII - Ahmose I - Djehutiaa II - Kamose I
Herihor Siamun I - Piankh - Pinedjem I - Masaharta - Djedkhonsuefankh - Menkheperra - Nesbanebdjed II - Pinedjem II - Pasebakhaenniut II
XXII
Paihuty I - Shoshenq I - Nimlot I - Shoshenq II - Osorkon II - Shoshenq V - Shoshenq VI - Harsiesi I - Takelot I - Osorkon IV - Shoshenq VIII - Shoshenq X - Pami II - Shoshenq XI - Osorkon VIII
XXIII
Takelot II - Pedubast II - Iuput II - Shoshenq IX - Osorkon V - Takelot IV - Rudamun I - Shoshenq XII - Ini V
Minor
Iuput I - Shoshenq III - Iuwelot - Nesbanebdjed III - Harsiesi II - Pedubast I - Nimlot II - Osorkon VI - Harsiesi IV - Shoshenq IV - Osorkon III - Shoshenq VII - Merenptah II - Takelot III - Pediese I - Peftjauawybast I - Harsiesi III - Ankhefensekhmet I - Nimlot IV - Djehutyemhat I - Pedinemty II - Gemenefkhonsbak - Pedubast III - Pepi V - Peftjauawybast II - Pediese III - Paihuty II - Ankhefensekhmet II - Amenemope II - Amunemnesu II - Nesbanebdjed V - Siamun IV - Nesbanebdjed VI - Nesbanebdjed IV - Siamun III - Pasebakhaenniut III - Pasebakhaenniut IV - Iuput III - Penamun I - Penamun III - Pedinemty I - Penamun II - Djehutyemhat II - Bokennife I - Pediese II - Bokennife II - Ienheru I - Inamunnifnebu - Niumateped - Tjerpahati - Ker - Rudamun II - Ankhhor - Pimay - Pami I - Nimlot III - Osorkon VII
Ptolemy I Soter I - Ptolemy II Philadelphus I - Ptolemy III Epigonos - Ptolemy IV Euergetes I - Ptolemy V Philopator I - Ptolemy VI Epiphanes - Ptolemy VII Philometor I - Ptolemy VIII Eupator - Ptolemy IX Euergetes II - Ptolemy X Neos Philopator - Ptolemy XI Memphites - Ptolemy XII Soter II - Ptolemy XIII Apion - Ptolemy XIV Alexander I - Ptolemy XV Alexander II - Ptolemy XVI Neos Dyonysus - Ptolemy XVII Philadelphus II - Seleucus Kybiosactes - Archelaus Epiphanes - Ptolemy XVIII Theos Philopator - Ptolemy XIX Philopator II - Ptolemy XX Philometor II - Marcus Antonius - Alexander III Helios - Ptolemy XXI Philadelphus III - Eurydice - Berenice I - Arsinoe I - Arsinoe II - Berenice II - Arsinoe III - Cleopatra I Syra - Cleopatra II Soteira I - Cleopatra III Philometor I - Cleopatra IV Soteira II - Cleopatra V Selene I - Berenice III Epiphaneia I - Cleopatra VI Tryphaena - Berenice IV Epiphaneia II - Cleopatra VII Tryphaena II - Cleopatra VIII Philometor II - Arsinoe IV - Cleopatra IX Selene II
Rebels
Horwennefer - Ankhwennefer - Harsiesi V
XXXIV
Ahmose IV - Nakhthorheb II - Psamtik VII - Nefaarud III - Psamtik VIII - Ahmose V - Kamose II
XXXV
Pausir II - Harsiesi VI - Thanuro II - Ienheru III - Sobekneferu II
5° Intermediate and Roman Kingdom
Dynasty
Pharaohs
XXXVI
Amunirdisu IV - Merenptah III - Intef VIII - Mentuhotep VII - Sobekhotep X - Mentuhotep VIII - Siptah III
XXXVII
Harsiesi VII - Pedubast V - Teti V - Khafra II - Sobekemsaf III - Khety X - Amenemope III - Iufni II - Amunmesses III - Khety XI - Amenemope IV - Amunemnesu III - Khety XII - Setnakht II - Amunemnesu IV - Merikara III - Khety XIII - Neferkara IX - Khety XIV - Merikara IV - Neferkara X - Setnakht III - Neferkara XI - Alexander IV - Amunmesses III - Setnakht IV - Amenemope V - Amunemnesu V - Djehutyemhat III - Amunmesses IV - Amunmesses V - Djehutyemhat IV - Djehutyemhat V - Amunmesses VI
Minor
Sausir I - Sausir II - Sausir III - Usirhotep I - Sausir IV - Usirhotep II - Simentu I - Usirhotep III - Shuhotep I - Gebmose I - Shuhotep II - Shuhotep III - Gebmose II - Gebmose III - Shuhotep IV - Gebmose III - Anhurhotep I - Anpumose II - Anhurhotep II - Upuatemsaf IV - Anhurhotep III - Upuathotep I - Anpuemsaf I - Upuathotep II - Upuathotep III - Anpuemsaf II - Anpumose III - Upuathotep IV - Nefaarud IV - Anpumose I - Khnumhotep I - Sobekhotep XI - Khnumhotep II - Sobekhotep XIII - Rahotep II - Ramose I - Menkaura II - Menkaura III - Shepseskaf II - Intef IX - Intef X
XXXVIII
Nakhthorheb III - Wahibra III - Anhurhotep IV - Wahibra IV - Ay III - Hakor II - Nakhthorheb IV
XXXIX
Nefaarud V - Nakhtnebef II - Nakhthorheb V - Horemheb II - Seti III - Horemheb III - Ramesses XII - Tutankhensetamun I - Pepi VI - Teti VI
6° Intermediate and Medieval Kingdom
Dynasty
Pharaohs
XL
Rahotep III - Ramose II - Khety XV - Sneferu III - Sehotepibra III - Nyuserra II - Sehotepibra IV - Tefnakht III - Bakenranef II - Khety XVI - Pepi VII - Gebmose IV - Khety XVII - Neferkasokar III - Neferkamin III - Qakara III - Ini VI - Tefnakht IV - Psamtik X - Yuya I - Amunherkhepeshef I - Yuya II - Amunherkhepeshef II - Itamun I - Khaemwaset I - Amunherkhepeshef III - Khaemwaset II - Itamun II - Yuya III - Khety XIX - Yuya IV - Khaemwaset III
Minor
Upuatemsaf V - Tutankhensetamun II - Upuatemsaf VI - Tutankhensetamun III - Tutankhensetamun IV - Psamtik IX - Ahmose VI - Necho III - Wahibra V - Necho IV - Psamtik XI - Djedefra II - Djedefptah II - Djedefhor II - Sobekhotep XIV - Sobekhotep XV - Dedumose VI - Siatum I - Simentu II - Siatum II - Simentu III - Djehutyemhat VI - Senamun I - Djehutyemhat VII - Djehutyemhat VIII - Senamun II - Senamun III - Nikara VI - Djoser III - Ramesses XIV - Menkaura V - Siptah VI - Siamun VII - Nesbanebdjed VII - Menkaura VI - Menkauhor II - Menkauhor III - Merenhor II - Userkaf II - Djedkara VI - Neferefra II - Neferirkara VII - Shepseskara II - Nebiriau III - Nefaarud VI - Nebiriau IV - Nefaarud VII - Nebiriau V - Khnumhotep I - Sobekmose I - Neferhotep IV - Sobekmose II - Sobekmose III - Khnumhotep II - Djedefra III - Twosret II - Hatshepsut II - Sobekneferu III - Hatshepsut III - Sobekneferu IV - Hatshepsut IV - Sobekneferu V - Twosret III - Twosret IV - Khentkaus VI - Sobekneferu VI - Hatshepsut V - Ay IV - Nakhtmin I - Nakhtmin II - Nakhtmin III - Ay VI - Nemtyemsaf III - Pasebakhaenniut V - Nemtyemsaf IV - Ay V - Nemtyemsaf V - Pasebakhaenniut VI - Nemtyemsaf VI - Pasebakhaenniut VII - Nemtyemsaf VII - Pasebakhaenniut VIII - Nemtyemsaf VIII - Hakor III - Hakor IV - Mentuhotep IX - Dedumose V - Pasherienmut II - Hakor V - Pasherienmut III - Horemheb VIII - Horemheb IV - Seti IV - Horemheb V - Horemheb VI - Horemheb VII - Nakhtmin IV - Merenptah IV - Ahmose VII - Hakor VI - Ramesses XVI - Ramesses XVII - Ramesses XVIII - Ramesses XIX - Pepi VIII - Nebiriau VI - Ramesses XIII - Ramesses XV - Nyuserra IV - Ramesses XX - Ramesses XXI - Ramesses XX - Akhenaten V - Tutankhamun IV - Amenemope VI - Tutankhamun II - Tutankhamun III - Merenptah VI - Sahura II - Merenptah V - Sahura IV - Unas IV - Nyuserra III - Hotepsekhemwy II - Akhenaten II - Neferneferuaten II - Akhenaten III - Akhenaten IV - Amunemnesu VI - Amenemope VII - Amunemnesu VII - Amunemnesu VIII - Amenemope IX - Thanuro III - Amunirdisu V - Thanuro VI - Ienheru IV - Pinedjem VI - Djehutiaa IV - Djehutiaa III - Amunirdisu VI - Kamose V - Pinedjem VIII - Djehutiaa V - Thanuro IV - Amenemope VIII - Thanuro V - Pinedjem VII - Amenemope X - Kamose III - Kamose IV - Ienheru V - Ienheru VI - Pinedjem III - Siptah V - Setnakhte V - Khety XX - Rahotep IV - Anhurhotep V - Rahotep V - Pinedjem IV - Anhurhotep VI - Anhurhotep VII - Pinedjem V - Siamun VI - Neferkara XII - Anhurhotep VIII - Neferkara XIV - Meryhathor II - Khentkaus III - Khentkaus IV - Khentkaus V - Siptah IV - Siamun V - Neferkara XIII - Khety XVIII - Neferirkara III - Neferirkara IV - Djedkara V - Khasekhemwy II - Hotepsekhemwy III - Neferirkara V - Shepseskaf II - Neferirkara VI - Djedkara VII - Khasekhemwy III - Hotepsekhemwy IV - Neferirkara VIII - Shepseskaf III
XLI
Sahura V - Narmer II - Nyuserra V - Thutmose V - Khufu III - Khafra III - Senusret V - Senusret VI - Seti V - Siamun VIII - Nesbanebdjed VIII - Pasebakhaenniut IX - Sihathor III - Sobekemsaf IV - Seti VI - Seti VII - Amenhotep V - Amenhotep VI - Amenhotep VII - Thutmose VI - Thutmose VII - Horemheb IX - Sneferu III - Ay VII
Sobekemsaf V - Senedj II - Dedumose IX - Later Dedumose IX - Thutmose VIII - Amenhotep VIII - Shumose I - Thutmose IX - Horemheb X - Khafra IV - Djoser IV-Hor - Unas V - Mentuhotep XI - Neferhotep VII