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Learn about the Egyptian Dynasties with our fast fact sheets. |
History of the 3rd Dynasty & its Pharaohs from King Nebka (Sanakhte) to King Huni Third Dynasty Dates: c. 2686–2575 BC Ancient Egyptian History - 3rd Dynasty Fact Sheet Fact 1 on 3rd Dynasty: The period of Civil war, in the later Early Dynastic Period with its military conflicts, ended with the marriage between the conflicting dynasties of King Khasekhemwy and a Northern princess called Nemathap. Their union consolidated the rule in both regions. Fact 2 on 3rd Dynasty: Queen Nemathap was the ancestor of the 3rd Dynasty and believed to be the mother of Sanakhte (Nebka) and his younger brother Djoser. Fact 3 on 3rd Dynasty: This era in ancient Egyptian history moved on to the period of the Old Kingdom, known as the Age of the Pyramids. Fact 4 on 3rd Dynasty: The consolidation of the monarchy led to the increased confidence of the rulers who increased their credibility and their power by adopting the divine status, claiming ancestry from the gods, and the role of mediator with the gods. Fact 5 on 3rd Dynasty: The new 'divine' status and the king's 'connection' with the gods did much to prevent further insurrections. Challenging the pharaoh would also mean defying the gods... Fact 6 on 3rd Dynasty: The role of the pharaoh had taken a dramatic and highly significant change. The well-being and success of the pharaoh was essential to the lives of the ancient Egyptians. Their ascendancy in joining the gods in the Afterlife also became of supreme importance. Fact 7 on 3rd Dynasty: The pharaohs of ancient Egypt started to employ as many of their subjects as they wanted in forced or conscripted labor. This was organised in such a way that conscripted labor was only required for a few weeks in every year, ensuring the agriculture and commerce of ancient Egypt was not unduly effected. Fact 8 on 3rd Dynasty: With access to a virtually unlimited labor force the Kings of Egypt during this era started to build elaborate burial sites that would include pyramids and obelisks. Fact 9 on 3rd Dynasty: King Nebka (aka Sanakhte) was the first king of the new royal house. Nebka was a forceful and ambitious military leader and with the stability of his kingdom was able to continue the military campaigns, started in the First Dynasty, into the east and the deserts of the Sinai. Fact 10 on 3rd Dynasty: King Nebka extended the Egyptians hold on the area and gained new quarries and mines in Sinai and the Eastern Desert that bordered on the Red Sea (see map below). He also initiated the building of fortresses for defence against the Bedouins and the Troglodytes the nomadic desert tribes. Fact 11 on 3rd Dynasty: Nebka's younger brother, King Djoser, succeeded him to the throne of Egypt. Also a military leader he looked to the gold-rich Nubia to increase the wealth of Egypt and strengthened the Egyptian bases in the south of the kingdom around the city of Aswan and the area of the First Cataract which marked the border between Egypt and Nubia. Continued... Ancient Egyptian History - 3rd Dynasty Fact Sheet Definition of the 3rd Dynasty Third Dynasty Dates: c. 2686–2575 BC Ancient Egyptian Dynasties Ancient Egytian Dynasties Early Dynastic Period: 1st - 2nd Dynasties The Old Kingdome 3rd - 6th Dynasties 1st Intermediate Period 7th - 10th Dynasties The Middle Kingdom 11th - 12th Dynasties 2nd Intermediate Period 13th - 20th Dynasties The New Kingdom 18th - 20th Dynasties Post Empire 21st - 31st Dynasties History of the 3rd Dynasty Pharaohs
Djoser Step Pyramid at Saqqara History of the 3rd Dynasty and its Pharaohs Ancient Egyptian History - 3rd Dynasty Fact Sheet Fact 12 on 3rd Dynasty: During the reign of Djoser a great man called Imhotep rose in the ranks of the royal household to become one of the greatest men of ancient Egypt. Fact 13 on 3rd Dynasty: Imhotep was born a commoner in ancient Egypt but rose to become the highest-ranking government official, the chancellor or vizier of Egypt. Imhotep was the political, religious and practical advisor of King Djoser. He was also the chief architect of the king. Fact 14 on 3rd Dynasty: Imhotep clearly had extensive knowledge of architecture and designed the famous step pyramid at Saqqara for the pharaoh. Fact 15 on 3rd Dynasty: The step pyramid at Saqqara was the first pyramid constructed in Egypt and the prototype of all future pyramid complexes. Fact 16 on 3rd Dynasty: The Step Pyramid at Saqqara, designed by Imhotep is one of the most brilliant architecture wonders of the ancient world and is recognized as the first monumental stone structure. Fact 17 on 3rd Dynasty: A building of the size of the Step Pyramid and made entirely out of stone had never before been attempted or constructed. The Age of the Pyramids had begun. Fact 18 on 3rd Dynasty: Djoser was buried in his famous step pyramid at Saqqara. Fact 19 on 3rd Dynasty: King Sekhemkhet aka Djoserty followed King Djoser to the throne and continued military campaigns in the desert areas containing the copper and turquoise mines. Fact 20 on 3rd Dynasty: King Sekhemkhet followed the example of Djoser and initiated the building of a second step pyramid at Saqqara. Fact 21 on 3rd Dynasty: Sekhemkhet aka Djoserty died suddenly before the building of his step pyramid was completed. Only the first step of the pyramid had been built, leaving a monument in shape of a large Mastaba, in which he was buried. This pyramid was not discovered until 1952, it was covered in the desert sands, and therefore given the title of the 'Hidden Pyramid'. Fact 22 on 3rd Dynasty: King Khabawas the next ruler associated with the Layer Pyramid, located at Zawyet el'Aryan, just south of Giza. It was another an unfinished pyramid. Fact 23 on 3rd Dynasty: Huni was the last ruler in this line of kings Huni and credited with building a great stepped Meidum Pyramid near Crocodilopolis. It was apparently left unfinished at the time of his death, and completed it near the beginning of his reign of his successor Snefru. Fact 24 on 3rd Dynasty: Huni had a daughter called Hetepheres who became the wife of Snefru. Fact 25 on 3rd Dynasty: King Snefruand Queen Hetepheres became the founders of the 4th royal house of Egyptian kings. Ancient Egyptian History - 3rd Dynasty Fact Sheet 3rd Dynasty Chronology - Succession and History of the Kings Chronology of the Kings Name - Dates of Reign Nebka (Sanakhte) - 2686–2630 BC Djoser - 2630–2611 BC Sekhemkhet aka Djoserty - 2611–2601 BC King Khaba - 2603–2599 BC King Huni - 2599–2575 BC Chronology of the Kings 3rd Dynasty History Ancient Egyptian History Egytian Time Periods Prehistoric Egytpt 5000 - 3100BCE Early Dynastic Period: 3100 - 2686 BCE The Old Kingdom 2686 - 2181 BCE 1st Intermediate Period 2181 - 2134 BCE The Middle Kingdom 2134 - 1782 BCE 2nd Interm ediate Period 1782 - 1550 BCE The New Kingdom 1550 - 1069 BCE 3rd Interm ediate Period 1069 - 664 BCE The Late Period 664 - 332 BCE Ptolemaic Egypt 332 - 30 BCE Roman & Byzantine Egypt 30 BCE - 641 CE 3rd Dynasty Ancient Egyptian History |
