![SecondDynastyKingLists](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/SecondDynastyKingLists.png)
The Second Dynasty of
ancient Egypt (or Dynasty II, c. 2890 – c. 2686 BC) is the latter of the two dynasties of the
Egyptian Archaic Period, when the seat of government was centred at
Thinis
Thinis (Greek: Θίνις ''Thinis'', Θίς ''This'' ; Egyptian: Tjenu; cop, Ⲧⲓⲛ; ar, ثينيس) was the capital city of the first dynasties of ancient Egypt. Thinis remains undiscovered but is well attested by ancient writers, includ ...
. It is most known for its last ruler,
Khasekhemwy, but is otherwise one of the most obscure periods in
Egyptian history.
Though archaeological evidence of the time is very scant, contrasting data from the
First
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
and
Third Dynasties indicates important institutional and economic developments during the Second Dynasty.
Rulers
For the first three pharaohs, sources are fairly close in agreement and the order is supported by an inscription on the statuette of Hetepdief, who served in the mortuary cults of these three kings.
But the identity of the next few rulers is unclear. Surviving sources might be giving the
Horus name
The Horus name is the oldest known and used crest of ancient Egyptian rulers. It belongs to the " great five names" of an Egyptian pharaoh. However, modern Egyptologists and linguists are starting to prefer the more neutral term: the "serekh na ...
or the
Nebty name
The Nebty name (also called the Two-Ladies-name) was one of the " great five names" used by Egyptian pharaohs. It was also one of the oldest royal titles. The modern term "Two-Ladies-name" is a simple derivation from the translation of the Egyptia ...
and the birth names of these rulers. They may also be entirely different individuals, or could be legendary names. This might never be resolved.
It has been theorised that following the reign of
Nynetjer
Nynetjer (also known as Ninetjer and Banetjer) is the Horus name of the third pharaoh of the Second Dynasty of Egypt. The length of his reign is unknown. The Turin Canon suggests an improbable reign of 96 yearsAlan H. Gardiner: ''The Royal Canon ...
, the country was split and ruled by two successors due to the overly complex state administration of the whole of Egypt.
[Nicolas Grimal: ''A History of Ancient Egypt''. Wiley-Blackwell, Weinheim 1994, , p. 55.]
The following list contains various king names from different sources:
With the last ruler, the sources return to an agreement:
Manetho states
Thinis
Thinis (Greek: Θίνις ''Thinis'', Θίς ''This'' ; Egyptian: Tjenu; cop, Ⲧⲓⲛ; ar, ثينيس) was the capital city of the first dynasties of ancient Egypt. Thinis remains undiscovered but is well attested by ancient writers, includ ...
was the capital, as in the First Dynasty, but the first three kings were buried at
Saqqara
Saqqara ( ar, سقارة, ), also spelled Sakkara or Saccara in English , is an Egyptian village in Giza Governorate, that contains ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty, serving as the necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis ...
, suggesting the center of power had moved to
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
. Beyond this, little can be said about the events during this period as the annual records on the
Palermo stone only survive to the end of the reign of
Nebra and for parts of
Nynetjer
Nynetjer (also known as Ninetjer and Banetjer) is the Horus name of the third pharaoh of the Second Dynasty of Egypt. The length of his reign is unknown. The Turin Canon suggests an improbable reign of 96 yearsAlan H. Gardiner: ''The Royal Canon ...
's. One important event, the unification of
Upper and
Lower Egypt, might have occurred during the reign of
Khasekhemwy as many Egyptologists read his name as "the Two Powers arise".
See also
*
*
Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Second Dynasty Of Egypt
States and territories established in the 3rd millennium BC
States and territories disestablished in the 3rd millennium BC
02
29th century BC in Egypt
28th century BC in Egypt
27th century BC in Egypt
3rd-millennium BC establishments in Egypt
3rd-millennium BC disestablishments in Egypt
3rd millennium BC in Egypt