Semerkhet
Semerkhet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Semempses, Mempses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() Alabaster vase of Semerkhet, the inscription readsKing Iry-Nebty visits the house-of-the-pleased-king, oil jars for it,National Archaeological Museum (France) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pharaoh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reign | 8½ years, ca. 2920 BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Predecessor | Anedjib | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Successor | Qa'a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Father | Anedjib?Den? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mother | Betrest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burial | Tomb U,Umm el-Qa'ab | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dynasty | First Dynasty |
Semerkhetis theHorus nameof anearly Egyptiankingwho ruled during theFirst Dynasty.This ruler became known through a tragic legend handed down by the historianManetho,who reported that a calamity of some sort occurred during Semerkhet's reign. Thearchaeologicalrecords seem to support the view that Semerkhet had a difficult time as king and some early archaeologists questioned the legitimacy of Semerkhet's succession to the Egyptian throne.
Length of reign
[edit]Manetho named SemerkhetSemêmpsésand credited him with a reign of 18 years,[2]whilst theRoyal Canon of Turincredited him with an implausibly long reign of 72 years.[3]Egyptologistsand historians now consider both statements as exaggerations and credit Semerkhet with a reign of 8½ years. This evaluation is based on theCairo Stoneinscription,where the complete reign of Semerkhet has been recorded. Additionally, they point to the archaeological records, which strengthen the view that Semerkhet had a relatively short reign.[4]
Name sources
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Abydos_KL_01-07_n07.jpg/170px-Abydos_KL_01-07_n07.jpg)
Semerkhet is well attested in archaeological records. His name appears in inscriptions on vessels made ofschist,alabaster,breccia,andmarble.His name is also preserved onivorytags and earthen jar seals. Objects bearing Semerkhet's name and titles come fromAbydosandSakkara.[4][5]
Semerkhet'sserekh nameis commonly translated as "companion of the divine community" or "thoughtful friend". The latter translation is questioned by many scholars, since thehieroglyphkhet(Gardiner-signF32) normally was the symbol for "body" or "divine community".[4][5][6]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/PotterySherdWithNameOfSemerkhet-PetrieMuseum-August21-08.jpg/170px-PotterySherdWithNameOfSemerkhet-PetrieMuseum-August21-08.jpg)
Semerkhet's birth name is more problematic. Any artefact showing his birth name curiously lacks any artistic detail of the used hieroglyphic sign: a walking man with waving cloak or skirt, anemeshead dress, and a long, plain stick in his hands. The reading and meaning of this special sign is disputed, since it doesn't appear in this form before association with king Semerkhet. Indeed, the hieroglyph of the cloaked man is extremely rare. It appears only twice in relief inscriptions depicting ceremonial processions of priests and standard bearers.[4][5]Egyptologists such asToby Wilkinson,Bernhard Grdseloff,andJochem KahlreadIry-Netjer,meaning "divine guardian". During theOld Kingdom period,this word is written withuniliteral signsof anetjerflag (Gardiner-signR8) and a human eye (Gardiner-signD4) nearby theideogramof the man. Some contemporary ivory tags show the Nebty name written with the single eye symbol only. Thus, the scholars also read Semerkhet's throne name asIry(meaning "guardian" ) and the Nebty name asIry-Nebty(meaning "guardian of theTwo Ladies"). This reconstruction is strengthened by the observation that Semerkhet was the first king using theNebtytitle in its ultimate form. For unknown reason Semerkhet did not use theNebuytitle of his predecessor. It seems that he felt connected with the 'Two Ladies', a title referring to the goddessesNekhbetandWadjet,the patron deities of the Ancient Egyptians who were worshiped by all after the unification of its two parts,Lower Egypt,andUpper Egypt.The Nebty title in turn was thought to function as an addition to theNisut-Bitytitle.[5][6][7]His prenomen is Nisut-Bity-Nebty-Iry,nsw.t-bty-nb.ty-irymeaning,King of Upper and Lower Egypt, he of the two ladies, and he who belongs to themorHe whom the two ladies guard.[1]
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Scribes and priests of theRamesside erawere also confused, because thearchaicideogram that was used during Semerkhet's lifetime was very similar to the sign of an old man with a walking stick (Gardiner signA19). This had been read asSemsuorSemand means "the eldest". It was used as a title identifying someone as the head of the house. Due to this uncertainty, it seems that the compiler of theAbydos king listsimply tried to imitate the original figure, whilst the author of theRoyal Canon of Turinseems to have been convinced about reading it as the Gardiner-signA19and he wroteSemsemwith uniliteral signs. TheSaqqara King Listomits Semerkhet's throne name. The reason for that is unknown, but all kings fromNarmerup to king Den also are missing their throne names.[5][6][7]
Identity
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/NebtySemerkhet.png/170px-NebtySemerkhet.png)
Virtually nothing is known about Semerkhet's family. His parents are unknown, but it is thought that one of his predecessors, kingDen,might have been his father. Possibly, Semerkhet was born to queenBetrest.On the Cairo Stone she is described as his mother, but definite evidence for that view has not yet been found. It would be expected that Semerkhet had sons and daughters, but their names have not been preserved in the historical record. A candidate as a possible member of his family line is his immediate successor, kingQa'a.[9]
Reign
[edit]An old theory, supported by Egyptologists and historians such asJean-Philippe Lauer,Walter Bryan Emery,Wolfgang Helck,andMichael Riceonce held that Semerkhet was a usurper and not the rightful heir to the throne. Their assumption was based on the observation that a number of stone vessels with Semerkhet's name on them, originally were inscribed with kingAdjib's name. Semerkhet simply erased Adjib's name and replaced it with his own. Furthermore, they point out that no high official and priest associated with Semerkhet was found at Sakkara. All other kings, such asDenandAdjib,are attested in localmastabas.[4][10][11]
Today this theory has little support. Egyptologists such asToby Wilkinson,I. E. S. Edwards,andWinifred Needlerdeny the 'usurping theory', because Semerkhet's name is mentioned on stone vessel inscriptions along with those of Den, Adjib, and Qa'a. The objects were found in the underground galleries beneath thePyramid of Djoserat Saqqara. The inscriptions show that king Qa'a, immediate successor of Semerkhet and sponsor of the vessels, accepted Semerkhet as a rightful ancestor and heir to the throne. Furthermore, the Egyptologists point out that nearly every king of First Dynasty had the habit of taking special vessels (so-called 'anniversary vessels') from their predecessor's tomb and then replacing their predecessor's name with their own. Semerkhet not only confiscated Adjib's vessels, in his tomb several artefacts from the necropolis of queenMeritneithand king Den also were found. The lack of any high official's tomb at Saqqara might be explained by the rather short reign of Semerkhet. It seems that the only known official of Semerkhet,Henu-Ka,had survived his king: His name appears on ivory tags from Semerkhet's and Qaa's tomb.[5][9]
Seal impressions from Semerkhet's burial site show the new royal domain,Hor wep-khet,(meaning "Horus, the judge of the divine community" ) and the new private householdHut-Ipty(meaning "house of the harem" ), which was headed by Semerkhet's wives. Twoivorytags show the yearly 'Escort of Horus', a feast connected to the regulartaxcollections. Other tags report thecultcelebration for the deity of the ancestors,Wer-Wadyt( "the Great White" ). And further tags show the celebration of a first (and only)Sokarfeast.[5][12][13]
While the Cairo Stone reports the whole of Semerkhet's reign, unfortunately, the surface of the stone slab is badly worn and most of the events are now illegible. The following chart follows the reconstructions by Toby A. H. Wilkinson,John D. Degreef,andHermann Alexander Schlögl:
Cairo Stone, main fragment:
- Year of coronation:Appearance of the king of Lower- and Upper Egypt; unifying the two realms; circumambulation of the White Wall of Memphis
- first year:Escort of Horus;destruction of Egypt
- second year:Appearance of the king; creation of a statue forSeshatandSed
- third year:Escort of... (rest is missing)
- fourth year:Appearance of the king of Upper Egypt; creation of... (rest is missing)
- fifth year:Escort of... (rest is missing)
- sixth year:Appearance of the king of Upper Egypt... (rest is missing)
- seventh year:Escort of... (rest is missing)
- eighth year:Appearance of the king of Lower- and Upper Egypt... (rest is missing)
- year of death:The...th month and...th day. (damaged)
Egyptologists and historians pay special attention to the entry"Destruction of Egypt"in the second window of Semerkhet's year records. The inscription gives no further information about that event, but it has a resemblance toManetho's report. The Eusebian version says: "His son, Semémpsês, who reigned for 18 years; in his reign a very great calamity befell Egypt." The Armenian version sounds similar: "Mempsis, 18 years. Under him many portents happened and a great pestilence occurred." None of the documents from after Semerkhet's reign provide any details about this "calamity".[2][7][13]
Tomb
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Grab_semerchet.svg/220px-Grab_semerchet.svg.png)
Semerkhet's burial site wasexcavatedin 1899 by archaeologist and Egyptologist SirWilliam Matthew Flinders Petrieat Abydos and is known as "Tomb U". While excavating, Petrie found no stairways as he did at the necropolis of Den and Adjib. He found a ramp, four metres wide and leading straight into the main chamber. The ramp starts approximately ten metres east outside the tomb and has a base slope of 12°. Inside the tomb the ramp shows irregular graduations. Petrie was also confused by the small number of clay seals. Only 17 seals were found. For archaeologists and Egyptologists, the complete arrangement of the burial site suggests that the builders were pressed for time. When Petrie freed the ramp from sand, he found that the complete ramp was thickly covered in aromatic oil, which still gave off a scent. Beside the ramp several wooden and hand-made baskets and earthen jars were found. These were dated to theRamesside era.Scholars now think that Semerkhet's tomb was re-opened and restored when Ramesside priests and kings saw the tomb of kingDjeras the ritual burial ofOsiris's head. The findings inside the main chamber included precious objects such as inlays and fragments of furniture (especially pedestals), copper-made armatures, and jewelry made ofebony,amethyst,andturquoise.Some vessels originating from theLevantwere also found. They once containedBeschaoil, which was of great value to the Egyptians. Outside the tomb, close to the entrance, a damaged tomb stela made of blackgranitedisplaying Semerkhet's serekh name was excavated.[5][11][16][17][18]
The burial chamber measures 29.2 × 20.8 metres and is of simple construction. Petrie found that the king'smastabaonce covered the whole of the subsidiary tombs. Now the royal burial formed a unit with the 67 subsidiary tombs. Egyptologists such as Walter Bryan Emery and Toby Wilkinson see this architectural development as proof that the royal family and household were killed willingly when their royal family head had died. Wilkinson goes further and thinks that Semerkhet, as the godlike king, tried to demonstrate his power over the death and life of his servants and family members even in their afterlife. The tradition of burying the family and court of the king when he died was abandoned at the time of kingQaa,one of the last rulers of the First Dynasty. The tombs ofSecond Dynasty founder,Hotepsekhemwy,onward have no subsidiary tombs.[11][16][18]
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Calcite dish, from Royal Tomb "U", Semerkhet, at Abydos, Egypt, First Dynasty, The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
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Pottery shard bearing Semerkhet's serekh, on display at theMusée du Louvre
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Clay jar incised with Semerkhet's serekh,Musée du Louvre
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Fragment of a vessel of white marble bearing the serekh of Semerkhet, at the left of the serekh aper bja,meaning "brazen house" or "house of ore", is mentioned,Egyptian Museum,Cairo
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Tomb stela of Semerkh
References
[edit]- ^abcNicolas Grimal,Ian Shaw (translator):A History of Ancient Egypt,1992, Oxford: Blackwell publishing,ISBN978-0-63-119396-8,p. 54
- ^abWilliam Gillan Waddell:Manetho (The Loeb Classical Library, Volume 350).Harvard University Press, Cambridge (Mass.) 2004 (Reprint),ISBN0-674-99385-3,page 33–37.
- ^Alan H. Gardiner:The royal Canon of Turin.Griffith Institute of Oxford, Oxford (UK) 1997,ISBN0-900416-48-3;page 15 & Table I.
- ^abcdeWolfgang Helck:Untersuchungen zur Thinitenzeit.(Ägyptologische Abhandlungen, Volume 45), Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1987,ISBN3-447-02677-4,page 124, 160 - 162 & 212 - 214.
- ^abcdefghToby A. H. Wilkinson: Early Dynastic Egypt. Routledge, London 1999,ISBN0-415-18633-1,page 78, 79 & 275.
- ^abcJochem Kahl, Markus Bretschneider, Barbara Kneissler:Frühägyptisches Wörterbuch,Band 1. Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2002,ISBN3-447-04594-9,Seite 46.
- ^abcdToby A. H. Wilkinson:Royal Annals of Ancient Egypt: the Palermo Stone and its Associated Fragments.Kegan Paul International, London 2000,ISBN0-7103-0667-9,page 76.
- ^Pierre Lacau,J.-Ph. Lauer:La Pyramide a Degrees.Band 4:Inscriptions gravées sur les vases.Fasc. 1:Planches.Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, Kairo 1959, Abb. 37.
- ^abIorwerth Eiddon Stephen Edwards:Early History of the Middle East (The Cambridge Ancient History; Vol. 1, Pt. 2).Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2006,ISBN0-521-07791-5,page 27–31.
- ^Michael Rice:Egypt's Making: the Origins of Ancient Egypt, 5000-2000 BC.Taylor & Francis, London/New York 1990,ISBN0-415-05092-8,page 127.
- ^abcWalter Bryan Emery:Ägypten, Geschichte und Kultur der Frühzeit, 3200-2800 v. Chr.Fourier, Wiesbaden 1964,ISBN0-415-18633-1,page 15–17 & 94–95.
- ^Eva-Maria Engel:The Domain of Semerkhet.In: Stan Hendrickx:Studies in Memory of Barbara Adams: Proceedings of the International Conference „Origin of the State, Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt “, Krakow, 28th August - 1st September 2002.Peeters, Leuven 2004,ISBN90-429-1469-6,page 705–710.
- ^abcHermann A. Schlögl:Das alte Ägypten.Beck, München 2008,ISBN3-406-48005-5,page 71–72.
- ^Ian Shaw & Paul T. Nicholson:The Dictionary of Ancient Egypt.Harry N. Abrams, New York 2003,ISBN0-8109-9096-2,page 202.
- ^Dieter Arnold: Lexikon der ägyptischen Baukunst, Patmos Verlag, 2000, S. 11
- ^abIan Shaw:The Oxford history of ancient Egypt.University Press, Oxford (UK) 2003,ISBN0-19-280458-8,page 69.
- ^G. Dreyer, A. Effland, U. Effland, E.M. Engel, H. Hartmann, R. Hartung, Lacher, Müller, Pokorny:Excavations in the Tomb of Semerkhet.In:Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Institut Kairo,vol. 62. von Zabern, Mainz 2006, page 95-97.
- ^abGünter Dreyer:Zur Rekonstruktion der Oberbauten der Königsgräber der 1. Dynastie in Abydos (Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts Kairo 47).von Zabern, Mainz 1991, page 56.
External links
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