Pharaohs - Kings and Queens of Egypt

With so many Pharaohs spread over 31 Dynasties I have just given a hint of a few that stand out, that are not covered in more detail on my other pages. Little is currently known of many, but knowledge grows daily. The attached page gives a full list. If you get interested there are thousands of books to choose from. My library grows constantly. No web site currently gives more than a glossary of this vast topic, so if interested, you must consult a library or begin to invest in your own collection.

     Lower Egypt                               Upper Egypt                             Upper & Lower Egypt

The ancient maps of Egypt were in reverse of what we now use, with the Delta area emptying into the Mediterranean at the bottom and the source of the Nile at the top, against the Horizon across which the stars rotated in the heavens. Thus Upper Egypt is in the higher lands of the south, beginning just below modern Cairo and Lower Egypt is towards what we now call the northern Delta area.

"Ra has placed the king on the earth of the living for ever and eternity, in order to judge humankind, to satisfy the gods, to make Right happen and to annihilate Wrong, such that he gives divine offerings to the gods, funerary offerings to the blessed dead. The name of the king is in the sky like that of Ra, he lives in joy like Ra-Horakhty. Nobles rejoice when they see him; the populace gives him praise in his role of 'the Child'."

Huge cities existed in Egypt as early as 4000 or 5000 BCE but the date of unification of Upper and Lower Egypt is generally set around 3100 BCE and continued with some small interruptions (intermediate periods) for 3000 years. However recent work seems to indicate that unification was set in motion around 3250 BCE when Horus (King) Scorpion first conquered and united Upper Egypt, began monumental construction (in mud brick) and may have also ordered the creation of writing, setting in motion all that allowed the eventual unification of the whole country. This is referred to as Dynasty 0.

The first Pharaoh of Upper and Lower Egypt being Narmer or Menes.

The Narmer Palette is the first evidence of a Pharaoh wearing the crown of Upper Egypt on one side and that of Lower Egypt on the other indicating the unification of the land. He is shown smiting the enemy, which is an image first used by Scorpion and subsequently by all rulers. The King List named Menes (family name meaning established) as the first king, but they are presumed to be the same person.

Djoser (Zoser) of the Stepped Pyramid (2667-2648 BC)

The first king of the 3rd. Dynasty. His architect Imhotep constructed the first pyramid at Saqqara, it being the first large stone building in Egypt or perhaps the world. A series of six mastaba built on top of each other to a height of 204 feet (62m) in a vast walled complex about 125,000 sq m. I spent many hours there in 1998 exploring the complex alone and untroubled by the usual hordes of tourists as many do not venture out to this relatively remote site.

The Pharaohs of the Pyramids at Giza

Khufu (2589-2566 BC) son of Sneferu the founder of the 4th Dynasty built the Great Pyramid at Giza, the largest stone structure on earth. His Son Khafre (2558-2532 BC) became Pharaoh after the brief reign of his step brother who was once called the usurper Redjedef (Djedefra). Some suggest the Sphinx which sits in front of his Pyramid has the head of Khafre, but a new theory cites the mostly ignored and forgotten Djedefra as the builder with the face being that of his father Khufu and it actually sits in profile at the approach to the Great Pyramid. The third and smaller pyramid was constructed, but not finished by Menkaure (2532-2503 BC) son of Khafre.

Khufu (Cheops)                                    Khafre                                                Menkaure

Pepi I and Pepi II (the Longest Reign) - 6th Dynasty (2345-2181BC)

Pepi 1st. reigned for about 50 years 2332 - 2283 BC. He was the second of the four Pharaohs of the sixth Dynasty. The statue below left is the first existing copper statue discovered. His pyramid called Mn-nfr (established and good) gave the name to Memphis in a corruption of the words by classical writers. He probably came to the throne very young and was followed by his son Merenre for six years before the six year old Pepi II ascended the throne of the Two Lands. Merenre and Pepi II were both sons by different wives of Pepi I. Pepi II had the longest reign of 94 years 2278 - 2184 and this saw the downfall of the Old Kingdom.

  Pepi I                                          Pepi II     

Extracts from a copy of a letter inscribed on the tomb at Aswan of the honoured Harkhuf on his fourth voyage to Yam. The 8 year old King's excitement and anticipation of seeing a pygmy.

"Year 2 , third month of the first season (reign of Pepi II).......Royal decree to the sole companion, the ritual priest and caravan-conductor Harkhuf... .... Thou hast said in this thy letter, that thou hast brought a dancing dwarf of the god from the land of spirits, like the dwarf which the treasurer of the god Burded brought from Punt in the time of Isesi. Thou hast said to my majesty: 'Never has one like him been brought by any other who has visited Yam'........ (young Pepi II's instruction) Come northward to the court immediately: thou shalt bring this dwarf with thee, which thou bringest living, prosperous and healthy from the land of spirits, for the dances of the god to rejoice and gladden the heart of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Neferkere (Pepi's throne name) who lives forever. When he goes down with thee into the vessel appoint excellent people, who shall be beside him on each side of the vessel; take care lest he fall into the water. When he sleeps at night appoint excellent people, who shall sleep beside him in his tent; inspect ten times a night. My majesty desires to see this dwarf more than the  gifts of Sinai and of Punt. If thou arrivest at court this dwarf being with thee alive, prosperous and healthy, my majesty will do for thee a greater thing than that which was done for the treasurer of the god Burded in the time of Isesi according to the heart's desire of my majesty to see this dwarf......"

The Great Female Pharaoh Hatshepsut (1473-1458 BC)

18th Dynasty - daughter of Tutmosis I and wife of half brother Tutmosis II. Her daughter Neferura was married to the heir, her step son Tutmosis III. On the death of Tutmosis II she became Regent, but eventually named herself King and was depicted with  male clothing and a false beard. She was linked closely (perhaps lovers) with the chief steward and architect of her grand temple, Senenmut. One of her most famous endeavours was the outstanding trade expedition to the land of Punt to collect many goods including much valued exotic incense. When Tutmosis III had succeeded as a general and reached maturity he took over the throne and Hatshepsut disappeared. Women were allowed to rule Egypt from as early as the first or second Dynasty although records and identification are still difficult to confirm. I visited her great and beautiful Temple at Deir el Bahri in 1998. A stunning site but unfortunately our guide pointed out marks in the temple pillars left by bullets from a sad and fatal attack on visitors just twelve months before.

The Warrior Tutmosis III (1505-1450 BC)

Tutmoses III became king when a child, but his aunt Hatsheput was regent and then King herself. He finally took the throne alone around the age of 25. He embarked on many campaigns and had great victories at Kadesh, Megiddo, Syria, Crete, Cyprus and expanded the empire. He conquered over 350 cities and brought great wealth to Egypt. Eventually he destroyed all evidence of Hatshepsut, erasing her name and face and burying her monuments at Karnak. Some say that he hated his aunt and others that he did this later only to remove the memory to prevent similar confusing power grabs by females trying to usurp power from his son. He was one of the greatest of the Pharaohs and lived well into his eighties.

Ramses II (1279 - 1213 BC)

Ramses the Great of the 19th Dynasty, died around 90 years of age having reigned for 67 years. He is said to have had 100 sons, over 200 children in all of which he outlived about half. Some suggest that adoption was also a reward for the children of palace favourites. Ramses II built more monuments then any other king and expanded the empire and its power. He is credited with arranging the first known peace treaty with the Hittites, after his battles at Kadesh. Even though he did not win the battle it was propagandised throughout the land as the greatest of victories. His 13the son Merenptah was in his 60's when he followed to the throne. 

Rameses III (1198 - 1188 BC)

The mummy (Left) of Ramses III became the model for Boris Karloff's characterisation in the film 'The Mummy' (Right)

Cleopatra VII Queen (69-30 BC) The last Pharaoh

Cleopatra the Macedonian Queen of Egypt, while a teenager, married two of her brothers, then Julius Caesar, then another brother, Poisoned him, ruled with her son and had an affair with Mark Antony, while still remaining chaste much of her life. She had several children and finally suicided and ended the rule of the Pharaohs. No wonder! Intelligent and ambitious, she spoke nine languages and was the only Ptolemy to speak Egyptian, but did not bother to learn Latin.

 Updated April 23, 2007