Iry-Hor

Last updated

Iry-Hor (or Ro [2] ) was a predynastic pharaoh of Upper Egypt during the 32nd century BC. [1] Excavations at Abydos in the 1980s and 1990s [3] [4] [5] and the discovery in 2012 of an inscription of Iry-Hor in Sinai confirmed his existence. [1] Iry-Hor is the earliest ruler of Egypt known by name and is sometimes cited as the earliest-living historical person known by name. [6]

Contents

Name

Iry-Hor's name is written with the Horus falcon hieroglyph (Gardiner sign G5) above a mouth hieroglyph (Gardiner D21). While the modern reading of the name is "Iry-Hor", Flinders Petrie, who discovered and excavated Iry-Hor's tomb at the end of the 19th century, read it "Ro", which was the usual reading of the mouth hieroglyph at the time. [7] [8]

Given the archaic nature of the name, the translation proved difficult and, in the absence of a better alternative, Ludwig D. Morenz proposed that the literal translation be retained, giving "Horus mouth". [9]

In the 1990s, Werner Kaiser and Günter Dreyer translated Iry-Hor's name as "Companion of Horus". [3]

Two other attempts at translations presuppose that Iry-Hor was not a king, since his royal status was still controversial at the time of their publication. The Egyptologists Jürgen von Beckerath and Peter Kaplony proposed that the known inscriptions referred to a private person whose name is to be read Wer-Ra, wr-rꜣ (lit. "great mouth"), i.e. reading the bird above the mouth-sign as the swallow hieroglyph G36 rather than the Horus falcon. They translated the name as "Spokesman" or "Chief". [10] Toby Wilkinson, considering the person in question to have been a slave of a king, translated the signs as "Property of the king". [11]

Identity

Clay seal with the signs r-Hr. Seal Iry Hor.png
Clay seal with the signs r-Ḥr.
Iry-Hor's name Iry Hor.svg
Iry-Hor's name

Controversy regarding his social status

Until 2012, the name of Iry-Hor had not been found in or next to a serekh, so the identification of Iry-Hor as a king was controversial. Toby Wilkinson contended that Iry-Hor was not a king, but a slave of a king. [11] Egyptologists Jürgen von Beckerath and Peter Kaplony also initially rejected the identification of Iry-Hor as a king and proposed instead that the known inscriptions refer to a private person whose name is to be read Wer-Ra, wr-rꜣ (lit. "great mouth"), i.e. reading the bird above the mouth-sign as the swallow hieroglyph G36 rather than the Horus falcon. They translated the name as "Spokesman" or "Chief". [10]

Egyptologists Flinders Petrie, [2] Laurel Bestock [8] and Jochem Kahl [12] nonetheless believed that he was indeed a real ruler.

Following the excavations at Abydos and the discovery of an inscription of Iry-Hor in the Sinai in 2012, Wilkinson's hypothesis is now rejected by most Egyptologists and Iry-Hor is widely accepted as a predynastic king of Egypt. [1] [13] [14]

Resolution

Dreyer's excavations of the necropolis of Abydos revealed that Iry-Hor was in fact well attested there with over 27 objects bearing his name and that his tomb was of royal proportions. [15] Furthermore, in 2012 an inscription mentioning Iry-Hor was discovered in the Sinai, the inscription comprising furthermore an archaic empty serekh on the right of Iry-Hor's name. [1] The inscription mentions the city of Memphis, pushing back its foundation to before Narmer and establishing that Iry-Hor was already reigning over it. Following this discovery, most Egyptologists, including G. Dreyer and the discoverers of the inscription, Pierre Tallet and Damien Laisney, now believe that Iry-Hor was indeed a king. [1] Continuing excavations of Iry-Hor's tomb at Abydos by Dreyer established that the tomb was of similar dimensions and layout as those of Ka and Narmer and must, therefore, have belonged to a king. This was consequently accepted by von Beckerath and Iry-Hor is now the first entry in the latest edition of von Beckerath's Handbook of Egyptian Pharaohs. [16]

Reign and attestations

Name of Iry-Hor as found in Abydos. Iry-hor signs.jpg
Name of Iry-Hor as found in Abydos.

Iry-Hor was most likely Ka's immediate predecessor [17] and thus would have reigned during the early 32nd century BC. He probably ruled from Hierakonpolis over Abydos and the wider Thinite region and controlled Egypt at least as far north as Memphis, since the Sinai rock inscription relates a visit of Iry-Hor to this city. [1] [18] The Egyptologists Tallet and Damien Laisney further propose that Iry-Hor also controlled parts of the Nile Delta. [1]

He was buried in the royal cemetery of Umm el-Qa'ab near Ka, Narmer and the First Dynasty kings. Iry-Hor's name appears on clay vessels from his tomb in Abydos and a clay seal with the hieroglyphs for r-Ḥr was found in Narmer's tomb and may refer to Iry-Hor. In total, no less than 22 pottery jars incised with Iry-Hor's name have been in Abydos as well as at least 5 ink-inscribed fragments and a cylinder seal. [15] A similar seal was also found far to the north in the tomb Z 401 of Zawyet el'Aryan in Lower Egypt. [3] [19] An incision on a spindle whorl found in Hierakonpolis during James E. Quibell and Petrie excavations there in 1900 may refer to him. [20] Finally, the discovery of a rock inscription of Iry-Hor in the Sinai constitutes his northernmost attestation. The inscription shows the name of Iry-Hor on a boat, next to the word Inebu-hedj meaning "white walls", the ancient name of Memphis. [1]

Tomb

Iry-Hor's tomb at the Umm el-Qa'ab comprises two separate chambers B1 and B2, shown in inset. Iry-Hor's tomb is located close to Ka's (B7, B8, B9) and Narmer's tombs (B17, B18). AbydosMat Iry-Hor.jpg
Iry-Hor's tomb at the Umm el-Qa'ab comprises two separate chambers B1 and B2, shown in inset. Iry-Hor's tomb is located close to Ka's (B7, B8, B9) and Narmer's tombs (B17, B18).

Iry-Hor's tomb is the oldest tomb of the Abydos necropolis B in the Umm el-Qa'ab. [21] It comprises two separate underground chambers B1 (6 m × 3.5 m) and B2 (4.3 m × 2.45 m) excavated by Petrie in 1899 and later by Werner Kaiser. [2] [22] A further chamber, now known as "B0", was uncovered during re-excavations of Iry-Hor's tomb in the 1990s. [19] These chambers have a size similar to those found in the tombs of Ka and Narmer. No superstructure, if there ever was one, survives to this day. Chamber B1 yielded jar fragments incised with his name. [21] Chamber B2 produced another incised jar fragment, a seal impression, several ink inscriptions and vessel fragments bearing the names of Ka and Narmer. Parts of a bed were also found onsite. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menes</span> Founder of Manethos 1st dynasty and unifier of Egypt

Menes was a pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period of ancient Egypt, credited by classical tradition with having united Upper and Lower Egypt, and as the founder of the First Dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narmer</span> Ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period

Narmer was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period, whose reign began at a date estimated to fall in the range 3273–2987 BC. He was the successor to the Protodynastic king Ka. Many scholars consider him the unifier of Egypt and founder of the First Dynasty, and in turn the first king of a unified Egypt. He also had a prominently noticeable presence in Canaan, compared to his predecessors and successors. Neithhotep is thought to be his queen consort or his daughter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khasekhemwy</span> Final King of the Second dynasty of Egypt

Khasekhemwy was the last Pharaoh of the Second Dynasty of Egypt. Little is known about him, other than that he led several significant military campaigns and built the mudbrick fort known as Shunet El Zebib.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Djer</span> First dynasty Pharaoh of Egypt

Djer is considered the third pharaoh of the First Dynasty of ancient Egypt in current Egyptology. He lived around the mid 31st century BC and reigned for c. 40 years. A mummified forearm of Djer or his wife was discovered by Egyptologist Flinders Petrie, but was discarded by Émile Brugsch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hor-Aha</span> Egyptian pharaoh (First Dynasty)

Hor-Aha is considered the second pharaoh of the First Dynasty of Egypt by some Egyptologists, while others consider him the first one and corresponding to Menes. He lived around the 31st century BC and is thought to have had a long reign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpion II</span> Protodynastic Egyptian king

Scorpion II, also known as King Scorpion, was a ruler during the Protodynastic Period of Upper Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umm El Qa'ab</span> Ancient Egyptian necropolis

Umm El Qaʻāb is a necropolis of the Early Dynastic Period kings at Abydos, Egypt. Its modern name means "Mother of Pots" as the whole area is littered with the broken pot shards of offerings made in earlier times. The cultic ancient name of the area was (w-)pkr or (rꜣ-)pkr "District of the pkr[-tree]" or "Opening of the pkr[-tree]", belonging to tꜣ-dsr "the secluded/cleared land" (necropolis) or crk-hh "Binding of Eternity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khaba</span> Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh of 3rd dynasty

Khaba was a pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, active during the 3rd Dynasty of the Old Kingdom period. The exact time during which Khaba ruled is unknown but may have been around 2670 BC, and almost definitely towards the end of the dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebra (pharaoh)</span> Horus name of the second early Egyptian king of the 2nd dynasty

Nebra or Raneb is the Horus name of the second early Egyptian king of the 2nd Dynasty. The exact length of his reign is unknown since the Turin canon is damaged and the year accounts are lost. Manetho suggests that Nebra's reign lasted 39 years, but Egyptologists question Manetho's view as a misinterpretation or exaggeration of information that was available to him. They credit Nebra with either a 10- or 14-year rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seth-Peribsen</span> Ancient Egyptian ruler

Seth-Peribsen is the serekh name of an early Egyptian monarch (pharaoh), who ruled during the Second Dynasty of Egypt. His chronological position within this dynasty is unknown and it is disputed who ruled both before and after him. The duration of his reign is also unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anedjib</span> Egyptian pharaoh

Anedjib, more correctly Adjib and also known as Hor-Anedjib, Hor-Adjib and Enezib, is the Horus name of an early Egyptian king who ruled during the 1st Dynasty. The Egyptian historian Manetho named him "Miebîdós" and credited him with a reign of 26 years, whilst the Royal Canon of Turin credited him with an implausible reign of 74 years. Egyptologists and historians now consider both records to be exaggerations and generally credit Adjib with a reign of 8–10 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semerkhet</span> Egyptian pharaoh

Semerkhet is the Horus name of an early Egyptian king who ruled during the First Dynasty. This ruler became known through a tragic legend handed down by the historian Manetho, who reported that a calamity of some sort occurred during Semerkhet's reign. The archaeological records 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ka (pharaoh)</span> Predynastic pharaoh of Upper Egypt

Ka, also (alternatively) Sekhen, was a Predynastic pharaoh of Upper Egypt belonging to Dynasty 0. He probably reigned during the first half of the 32nd century BC. The length of his reign is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horus name</span> Oldest known crest of ancient Egyptian rulers

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 name". This is because not every pharaoh placed the falcon, which symbolizes the deity Horus, atop his serekh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neithhotep</span> Ancient Egyptian queen consort

Neithhotep or Neith-hotep was an ancient Egyptian queen consort who lived and ruled during the early First Dynasty. She was once thought to be a male ruler: her outstandingly large mastaba and the royal serekh surrounding her name on several seal impressions previously led Egyptologists and historians to the erroneous belief that she might have been an unknown king. As the understanding of early Egyptian writings developed, scholars learned that Neithhotep was in fact a woman of extraordinary rank. She was subsequently considered to be the wife of unified Egypt's first pharaoh, Narmer, and the mother of Hor-Aha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double Falcon</span> Ruler of Lower Egypt from Naqada III during the 32nd century BCE

Double Falcon was a ruler of Lower Egypt from Naqada III. He may have reigned during the 32nd century BC. The length of his reign is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crocodile (pharaoh)</span> Provisional name of an Egyptian predynastic ruler

Crocodile is the provisional name of a predynastic ruler, who might have ruled during the late Naqada III epoch. The few alleged ink inscriptions showing his name are drawn very sloppily, and the reading and thus whole existence of king "Crocodile" are highly disputed. His tomb is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elephant (pharaoh)</span> Provisional name of the first known predynastic Egypt ruler (existence disputed)

Elephant is the provisional name of a Predynastic ruler in Egypt. Since the incarved rock inscriptions and ivory tags showing his name are either drawn sloppily, or lacking any royal crest, the reading and thus whole existence of king "Elephant" are highly disputed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ny-Hor</span> Egyptian ruler

Ny-Hor was a possible pharaoh from the Predynastic Period. His name means "The Hunter" according to egyptologist Werner Kaiser. He may have ruled during the 31st century BC.

Bull or Taurus is the provisional name for a predynastic ruler, the existence of whom is highly controversial. He is considered a ruler of the late pottery neolithic Naqada III culture of southern Egypt.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 P. Tallet, D. Laisnay: Iry-Hor et Narmer au Sud-Sinaï (Ouadi 'Ameyra), un complément à la chronologie des expéditios minière égyptiene, in: BIFAO 112 (2012), 381-395, available online
  2. 1 2 3 Flinders Petrie (1900). The Royal tombs of the earliest dynasties. pp. 29 & 30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kaiser, Werner; Dreyer, Günter (1982). "Umm el-Qaab. Nachuntersuchungen im frühzeitlichen Königsfriedhof: 2. Vorbericht". Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts Kairo (MDAIK) (in German). 38. Berlin: German Archaeological Institute, Orient-Abteilung, de Gruyter: 211–246. ISSN   0342-1279.
  4. ↑ Werner Kaiser; Günter Dreyer (1993). "Umm el-Qaab. Nachuntersuchungen im frühzeitlichen Königsfriedhof 5./6. Vorbericht". Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts Kairo (MDAIK) (49): 56.
  5. ↑ Werner Kaiser; Günter Dreyer (1996). "Umm el-Qaab. Nachuntersuchungen im frühzeitlichen Königsfriedhof 7./8. Vorbericht". Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts Kairo (MDAIK) (52): 48–57 and taf. 9.
  6. ↑ Odenwald, Sten (August 15, 2014). "Who Was the First Named Human?". Huffpost. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  7. ↑ W. M. F. Petrie: Abydos I, pp. 4–6.
  8. 1 2 Bestock, Laurel (2009). The Development of Royal Funerary Cult at Abydos. pp. 16, 17, 21 & 28. ISBN   978-3-447-05838-4.
  9. ↑ Ludwig D. Morenz: Bildbuchstaben und symbolische Zeichen, p. 88
  10. 1 2 Kaplony, Peter (1963). Inschriften der Ägyptischen Frühzeit. Vol. 1. p. 468.
  11. 1 2 Wilkinson, Toby (1993). "The identification of Tomb B1 at Abydos: refuting the existence of a king 'Ro/Iry-Hor'". Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. 79. London: Egypt Exploration Society: 91–93. ISSN   0307-5133.
  12. ↑ Jochem Kahl: Das System der ägyptischen Hieroglyphenschrift in der 0.-3. Dynastie, pp.96–101.
  13. ↑ van den Brink, Edwin C. M. (1996). "The incised serekh signs of Dynasties 0–1. Part I: complete vessels". In Spencer, A. Jeffrey (ed.). Aspects of Early Egypt. London: British Museum Press. pp. 140–158. ISBN   978-0-7141-0999-2.
  14. ↑ van den Brink, Edwin C. M (2001). "The incised serekh signs of Dynasties 0–1. Part II: Fragments and Additional Complete Vessels" (PDF). 11. Retrieved April 23, 2021.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. 1 2 Edwin C. M. van den Brink: Two Pottery Jars Incised with the Name of Iry-Hor from Tomb B1 at Umm El-Ga'ab, Abydos, available online, in : Zeichen aus dem Sand, Streiflichter aus Ägyptens Geschichte zu Ehren von Günter Dreyer, Eva-Maria Engel, Vera Müller and Ulrich Hartung editors, Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden, 2008, ISBN   978-3-447-05816-2
  16. ↑ Jürgen von Beckerath: Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen, Münchner ägyptologische Studien, Volume 49, Mainz: P. von Zabern, 1999, ISBN   3-8053-2591-6, Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine pp. 9, 36–37
  17. ↑ Winfried Barta: Zur Namensform und zeitlichen Einordnung des Königs Ro, in: GM 53, 1982, pp. 11–13.
  18. ↑ Owen Jarus, Live Science, Early Egyptian Queen Revealed in 5,000-Year-Old Hieroglyphs,
  19. 1 2 Darrell D. Baker: The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I - Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300–1069 BC, Stacey International, ISBN   978-1-905299-37-9, 2008, p. 156
  20. ↑ James E. Quibell, Flinders Petrie: Hierakonpolis. Part I. Plates of discoveries in 1898 by J. E. Quibell, with notes by W. M. F. P[etrie], London 1900, available online
  21. 1 2 Raffaele, Francesco (2003). "Dynasty 0" (PDF). Aegyptiaca Helvetica. Basel, Switzerland: Schwabe: 99–141. ISSN   1017-5474.
  22. ↑ Kaiser, Werner (1964). "Einige Bemerkungen zur ägyptischen Frühzeit". Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde. 91 (2): 86–124. doi:10.1524/zaes.1964.91.2.86. S2CID   201840428.
Preceded by King of Thinis
Protodynastic 		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.