Dynasties of ancient Egypt

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In ancient Egyptian history, dynasties are series of rulers sharing a common origin. They are usually, but not always, traditionally divided into 33 pharaonic dynasties; these dynasties are commonly grouped by modern scholars into "kingdoms" and "intermediate periods".

Contents

The first 30 divisions come from the 3rd century BC Egyptian priest Manetho, whose history Aegyptaiaca was probably written for a Greek-speaking Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt but survives only in fragments and summaries. The names of the last two, the short-lived Persian-ruled 31st Dynasty and the longer-lasting Ptolemaic Dynasty, are later coinings.

While widely used and useful, the system does have its shortcomings. Some dynasties only ruled part of Egypt and existed concurrently with other dynasties based in other cities. Some dynasties like the Abydos Dynasty weren't counted as part of the traditional numbering of the dynasties. The 7th might not have existed at all (or may have been a continuation of the 8th), the 10th seems to be a continuation of the 9th, and there might have been one or several Upper Egyptian Dynasties before what is termed the 1st Dynasty.

List of dynasties in ancient Egyptian history

Late Period of ancient EgyptThird Intermediate Period of EgyptNew Kingdom of EgyptSecond Intermediate Period of EgyptMiddle Kingdom of EgyptFirst Intermediate Period of EgyptOld Kingdom of EgyptEarly Dynastic Period (Egypt)Dynasties of ancient Egypt

Dates for the first dynasties are highly uncertain; all dates and terms should be treated as approximates.

DynastySeatPeriod of ruleRulers
StartEndTermFirst to ruleLast to rule List / Family tree
Early Dynastic Period
Dynasty I Thinis 3100 BC2900 BC200 years [a] Narmer Qa'a (list) (tree)
Dynasty II Thinis 2900 BC2700 BC150 years [b] Hotepsekhemwy Khasekhemwy (list)
Old Kingdom
Dynasty III Memphis 2700 BC2600 BC60 years [c] Djoser Huni (list)
Dynasty IV Memphis 2600 BC2500 BC120 years [d] Sneferu Shepseskaf [e] (list) (tree)
Dynasty V Memphis 2500 BC2400 BC150 years [f] Userkaf Unas (list)
Dynasty VI Memphis 2400 BC2200 BC180 years [g] Teti Merenre Nemtyemsaf II (list)
First Intermediate Period
Dynasty VII / VIII [h] Memphis [14] : 396 2200 BC30 years [i] Netjerkare Siptah [j] Neferirkare II (list)
Dynasty IX / X Heracleopolis 2200 BC2100 BC100 years [k] Meryibre Khety [l] Merikare (?(list)
Middle Kingdom
Dynasty XI [m] Thebes 2120 BC1990 BC130 years [n] Intef Mentuhotep IV (list) (tree)
Dynasty XII Itjtawy 1990 BC1800 BC180 years [o] Amenemhat I Sobekneferu (list) (tree)
Dynasty XIII [p] Itjtawy 1800 BC1650 BC150 years Sobekhotep I Unknown(list)
Second Intermediate Period
Dynasty XIV Avaris 1800 BC1650 BC150 years Yakbim Sekhaenre [q] Unknown(list)
Dynasty XV (Hyksos) Avaris 1700 BC1540 BC150 years [r] Salitis Khamudi (list)
Dynasty XVI Thebes/Avaris 1650 BC1540 BC60 years Anat-her Unknown(list)
Abydos dynasty [s] Abydos UnknownUnknownUnknown(list)
Dynasty XVII Thebes 1580 BC1550 BC30 years Rahotep Kamose (list)
New Kingdom
Dynasty XVIII Thebes 1550 BC1292 BC258 years Ahmose I Horemheb (list) (tree)
Dynasty XIX Thebes [t] 1292 BC1190 BC102 years Ramesses I Twosret (list) (tree)
Dynasty XX Pi-Ramesses [u] 1190 BC1077 BC113 years Setnakhte Ramesses XI (list) (tree)
Third Intermediate Period
Dynasty XXI Tanis 1076944 BC132 years Smendes Psusennes II (list) (tree)
Dynasty XXII Tanis/Bubastis 943 BC746 BC197 years Shoshenq I Osorkon IV (list) (tree)
Dynasty XXIII [v] Disputed Harsiese A Rudamun (list) (tree)
Dynasty XXIV Sais 736 BC723 BC13 years Tefnakht Bakenranef (list) (tree)
Dynasty XXV (Nubian) Memphis/Napata 744 BC656 BC88 years Piye Tantamani (list) (tree)
Late Period
Dynasty XXVI Sais 664 BC525 BC139 years Psamtik I Psamtik III (list) (tree)
Dynasty XXVII (Persian) Babylon 525 BC404 BC121 years Cambyses II [w] Darius II [x] (list) (tree)
Dynasty XXVIII Sais 404 BC398 BC6 years Amyrtaeus Amyrtaeus (list)
Dynasty XXIX Mendes 398 BC380 BC18 years Nepherites I Nepherites II (list)
Dynasty XXX Sebennytos 380 BC343 BC37 years Nectanebo I Nectanebo II (list)
Dynasty XXXI (Persian) Babylon 343 BC332 BC11 years Artaxerxes III [y] Darius III [z] (list) (tree)
Greco–Roman Period
Argead (Greek) Pella [aa] 332 BC305 BC27 years Alexander III Alexander IV (list) (tree)
Ptolemaic (Greek) Alexandria 305 BC30 BC275 years Ptolemy I Soter Caesarion (list) (tree)
Egypt was incorporated into the Roman Republic in 30 BCE.
(see Roman Egypt, Roman pharaoh and List of Roman dynasties)


Reigning times of the 31 Egyptian Dynasties.png
The 31 pre-Ptolemaic dynasties by the length of their rule (in 25-year bins), [ab] each dynasty being a coloured box. The early dynasties and the three Kingdoms are blue, with darker colours meaning older. Intermediate periods are red, orange, and yellow. Note that multiple dynasties could reign from different cities simultaneously in intermediate periods and at the end of the Middle Kingdom. Dynastic reigning times are often very approximate; the above uses the dates of the Egyptian dynasty list template.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ It is virtually impossible to establish the exact chronology of the early dynasties. According to the most recent reconstruction of the Palermo Stone, the First Dynasty lasted a minimum of 150 years, and only the reigns of Aha and Narmer remain unspecified. [1] While most authors give c. 3000 BC as the beginning of Dynastyc Egypt, radiocarbon dating studies yield earlier dates, possibly as early as c. 3200 BC. [2] The Turin King List implies a date c. 3100 BC.(± 150 years). [3] Proposed dates: c. 3007–2828 (179 years), [4] c. 2920–2770 (150 years), [5] c. 3000–2750 (250 years), [6] c. 3000–2890 (110 years), [7] c. 2900–2730 (170 years) [8]
  2. ↑ The chronology of the Second Dynasty is even more uncertain because Egypt was divided during most of its duration. The Turin King List does not acknowledge co-regencies for the Twelfth Dynasty, [9] and thus likely did not for the Second Dynasty either. This must have resulted in an inflated total of years, meaning that the "955 years" given for the duration of the first eight dynasties [10] must also be inflated. Proposed dates: c. 2828–2682 (146 years), [4] c. 2770–2649 BC (121 years), [5] c. 2750–2650 BC (100 years), [6] c. 2890–2686 (204 years), [7] c. 2730–2590 BC (140 years) [8]
  3. ↑ According to radiocarbon dating, the Old Kingdom began sometime around the mid-27th century BC, possibly between 2676 and 2643 BC, but with more certainty between 2691 and 2625 BC. [11] The dynasty ruled 74 years according to the Turin Canon, although the actual number could be as low as 50. [12] Proposed dates: c. 2682–2614 BC (68 years), [4] c. 2649–2575 BC (74 years), [5] c. 2686–2600 BC (86 years), [6] c. 2686–2613 BC (73 years), [7] c. 2592–2544 BC (48 years) [8]
  4. ↑ The exact chronology of the Fourth Dynasty is heavily disputed, as scholars disagree whether cattle counts were made annually or biennially at this time. Proposed dates: c. 2614–2479 BC (135 years), [4] c. 2575–2465 BC (110 years), [5] c. 2600–2450 BC (150 years), [6] c. 2613–2494 BC (119 years), [7] c. 2543–2436 BC (107 years) [8]
  5. ↑ The existence of Thamphthis is not archaeologically attested.
  6. ↑ Radiocarbon dating provides the accession of Userkaf in the range of 2548–2468 BC. Proposed dates: c. 2479–2322 BC (157 years), [4] c. 2465–2323 BC (142 years), [5] c. 2450–2300 BC (150 years), [6] c. 2494–2345 BC (149 years), [7] c. 2435–2306 BC (129 years) [8]
  7. ↑ Radiocarbon dating provides the accession of Teti in the range of 2423–2335 BC. Proposed dates: c. 2322–2191 BC (131 years), [4] c. 2323–2150 BC (173 years), [13] c. 2300–2181 BC (150 years), [6] c. 2345–2181 BC (164 years), [7] c. 2305–2118 BC (187 years) [8]
  8. ↑ The only historical account of Dynasty VII was found in Aegyptiaca by Manetho. Some historians consider Dynasty VII to be fictitious. [14] : 393  [15] : xiii 
  9. ↑ The Turin King List records a lacuna of 6 years in the sumation of the Seventh Dynasty. This likely corresponds to the 10 additional rulers recorded only in the Abydos King List. [16] This line of king is thought to have ruled for only one generation, or roughly 30 years. [17]
  10. ↑ Netjerkare Siptah is sometimes listed as the last monarch of Dynasty VI, but only because some scholars equate him with the fictitious Queen Nitocris recorded by Manetho at the end of that dynasty.
  11. ↑ Dynasties IX and X are very likely one and the same.
  12. ↑ Some historians consider Meryibre Khety to be the founder of Dynasty IX, [18] [19] [20] [21] while others believe that Meryibre Khety reigned during Dynasty X [22]
  13. ↑ Dynasty XI before the reign of Mentuhotep II is typically classified as part of the First Intermediate Period of Egypt.
  14. ↑ The Turin King List gives the total as 143 years, but it includes Mentuhotep I, who was likely not a pharaoh but rather a local ruler.
  15. ↑ The Turin Canon records the duration of the dynasty as 213 years, but this is the sum of all reigns without taking co-regencies into account. [9]
  16. ↑ Some historians classify Dynasty XIII as part of the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt.
  17. ↑ Some historians consider Yakbim Sekhaenre to be the founder of Dynasty XIV, [23] while others believe Yakbim Sekhaenre reigned during Dynasty XVI. [24]
  18. ↑ The Turin King List gives a number that is often read as "108", but the correct sign is likely a "140". [25]
  19. ↑ The existence of the Abydos dynasty is debated.
  20. ↑ Later Memphis and Pi-Ramesses.
  21. ↑ Briefly in Akhetaten.
  22. ↑ The term "Dynasty XXIII" is used to group a series of rival lines that ruled contemporarily to Dynasty XXII.
  23. ↑ Cambyses II was the second monarch of the Achaemenid Empire and the first Achaemenid ruler to establish control over Egypt.
  24. ↑ Darius II was the ninth monarch of the Achaemenid Empire and the eighth Achaemenid ruler to rule over Egypt.
  25. ↑ Artaxerxes III was the eleventh monarch of the Achaemenid Empire and the first Achaemenid ruler to restore control over Egypt following a 61-year hiatus.
  26. ↑ Darius III was the thirteenth monarch of the Achaemenid Empire and the last Achaemenid ruler to rule over Egypt.
  27. ↑ The capital of Macedonia during its rule over Egypt was Pella. The Egyptian administrative center during this period was Alexandria.
  28. ↑ Starting on the far right of this chart, only one dynasty lasted over 250 years (18th dynasty). Two dynasties lasted between 200 and 225 years (two boxes). One dynasty lasted between 175 and 200 years (one box), etc.

References

  1. ↑ Hornung, Krauss & Warburton 2006, pp. 21–25, 94–101, 490.
  2. ↑ Dee, M.; Wengrow, D.; Shortland, A.; Stevenson, A.; Brock, F.; Girdland Flink, L.; Bronk Ramsey, C. (2013). "An absolute chronology for early Egypt using radiocarbon dating and Bayesian statistical modelling". Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 469 (2159): 20130395. Bibcode:2013RSPSA.46930395D. doi:10.1098/rspa.2013.0395. PMC   3780825 . PMID   24204188.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  3. ↑ Gardiner, Alan Henderson (1961). Egypt of the Pharaohs: An Introduction. Clarendon Press. pp. 61–68. ISBN   9780195002676.{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beckerath 1999, p. 283.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Bunson 2002, p. 105.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 University College London 2000.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shaw 2003, p. 481.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hornung, Krauss & Warburton 2006, p. 490.
  9. 1 2 Hornung, Krauss & Warburton 2006, pp. 170–175.
  10. ↑ Turin King List: 5
  11. ↑ Ramsey, Christopher Bronk; Dee, Michael W.; Rowland, Joanne M.; Higham, Thomas F. G.; Harris, Stephen A.; Brock, Fiona; Quiles, Anita; Wild, Eva M.; Marcus, Ezra S.; Shortland, Andrew J. (2010). "Radiocarbon-Based Chronology for Dynastic Egypt". Science. New Series. 328 (5985). American Association for the Advancement of Science: 1554–1557. Bibcode:2010Sci...328.1554R. doi:10.1126/science.1189395. JSTOR   40656429. PMID   20558717. S2CID   206526496.
  12. ↑ Hornung, Krauss & Warburton 2006, pp. 116–123.
  13. ↑ Bunson 2002, p. 106.
  14. 1 2 Hratch Papazian (2015). "The State of Egypt in the Eighth Dynasty". In Peter Der Manuelian; Thomas Schneider (eds.). Towards a New History for the Egyptian Old Kingdom: Perspectives on the Pyramid Age. Harvard Egyptological Studies. BRILL.
  15. ↑ Wilkinson, Toby (2010). "Timeline". The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt. New York: Random House. p. xiii. ISBN   9781408810026. The system of dynasties devised in the third century B.C. is not without its problems—for example, the Sixth Dynasty is now recognized as being wholly spurious, while several dynasties are known to have ruled concurrently in different parts of Egypt...
  16. ↑ Hratch Papazian (2015). "The State of Egypt in the Eighth Dynasty". In Peter Der Manuelian; Thomas Schneider (eds.). Towards a New History for the Egyptian Old Kingdom: Perspectives on the Pyramid Age. Harvard Egyptological Studies. BRILL.
  17. ↑ Hornung, Krauss & Warburton 2006, pp. 482.
  18. ↑ Petrie, William M.F. (1897). A History of Egypt from the Earliest Times to the XVIth Dynasty. C. Scribner's Sons. p. 114-115.
  19. ↑ Alan Gardiner, Egypt of the Pharaohs. An introduction, Oxford University Press, 1961, p. 112.
  20. ↑ William C. Hayes, in The Cambridge Ancient History , vol 1, part 2, 1971 (2008), Cambridge University Press, ISBN   0-521-07791-5, p. 464.
  21. ↑ Grimal, Nicolas; Shaw, Ian; Grimal, Nicolas (2001). A history of ancient Egypt. Oxford: Blackwell. p. 140. ISBN   978-0-631-19396-8.
  22. ↑ Beckerath 1999, p. 74.
  23. ↑ Ryholt (1997), p. 409
  24. ↑ Sekhaenre Yakbim on Egyphica.net
  25. ↑ Hornung, Krauss & Warburton 2006, pp. 192–195.

Works cited

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