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Ancient Egyptians - Hor-Aha |
Profile of Pharaoh Hor-Aha Profile of Hor-Aha History Time Period: The Early Dynastic Period Dynasty: 1st DynastyPredecessor: King Narmer Parents: Narmer and Queen NeithhotepDates of his Reign: Exact dates unknown - 31st century BC Foremost of Women: Queen BerenibLesser Wives: Khenthap (mother of Djer) and Tey Successor: King DjerKing Hor-Aha Ancient Egyptian King - Hor-Aha Fact Sheet Fact 1 on Hor-Aha: Name: This king of ancient Egypt is also associated with the legendary name of Menes. The name Hor-Aha is the kings's Horus-name, which associates him with Horus the son of Osiris. His name means "Horus the Fighter" and he is also referred to as the "Fighting Hawk" and simply by the name Aha. Fact 2 on Hor-Aha: History: Hor-Aha ruled as the king of Egypt for 30 years, during the period in ancient Egyptian history known as the Early Dynastic Period and was a pharaoh of the 1st dynasty of kings by right of inheritance. He succeeded King Narmer to the throne of Egypt. Fact 3 on Hor-Aha: Family: His father was King Narmer and his mother was Queen Neithhotep. The marriage between his parents was primarily a political union. Neithhotep was a princess of Lower Egypt and Narmer was a warrior king of Upper Egypt. The marriage undoubtedly contributed to the initial the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. The unification of Egypt was not completed until the end of the 2nd dynasty. Fact 4 on Hor-Aha: Family: Hor-Aha married Berenib whose status and title was the "Foremost of Women" and "Consort of the Two Ladies". Fact 5 on Hor-Aha: Family: The names of his other wives were Khenthap and Tey. It was acceptable for the king of Egypt to practise Polygamy, meaning he had more than one wife at the same time. Having several wives or concubines in the Royal Harem enabled the pharaoh to maintain the 1st dynasty and ensure the line of succession of his family. Fact 6 on Hor-Aha: Hor-Aha learnt much from his father Narmer, as he did not become king until he was thirty years old. He witnessed the military expeditions launched by his father and his success in establishing new trade agreements. Fact 7 on Hor-Aha: When he assumed the throne of Egypt he continued with this strategy and established trade agreements with Palestine and Syria, whilst campaigning to bring more of Egypt under his control. Fact 8 on Hor-Aha: His father founded the Northern capital Memphis and the development of the city and its buildings were completed by Hor-Aha. He also established the religious cult of the Apis bull at Memphis. Fact 9 on Hor-Aha: His building projects continued and he contributed to the number of royal tombs and temples to the gods that were built at Abydos, Naqada and Saqqara during the 1st dynasty. He is believed to have built a Mastaba Tomb in honor of his mother Queen Neithhotep at Naqada, near Thinis.
Ancient Egyptian King - Hor-Aha Fact Sheet Pharaoh Hor-Aha King Hor-Aha Ancient Egyptian King - Hor-Aha Fact Sheet Fact 10 on Hor-Aha: Hor-Aha is depicted on an ivory fragment found in the tomb of Queen Neithotep performing a ceremony called "receiving the South and the North". Fact 11 on Hor-Aha: The "receiving the South and the North" ceremony is believed to symbolize the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by the symbolic tying of papyrus and lotus stalks. The lotus flower was a symbol of Upper Egypt and the papyrus plant is a symbol of Lower Egypt. Fact 12 on Hor-Aha: Although his marriage to Queen Berenib was childless one of his lesser wives, called Khenthap, provided the heir to the throne who they named Djer. Fact 13 on Hor-Aha: The system of a central government, started by Narmer was extended and further skills were developed in writing, art and architecture. Fact 14 on Hor-Aha: Hor-Aha founded a temple to the Goddess Neith at Sais in the Nile Delta, a temple to the god Ptah at Memphis Fact 15 on Hor-Aha: The development of new astronomical instruments during this time had a significant effect on the culture and religion of the ancient Egyptians. Fact 16 on Hor-Aha: During his reign the religious ceremonies of the ancient Egyptians included the practise of Human Sacrificeas part of the royal funerary rituals. Human sacrifice ensured the Pharaohshad servants in the Afterlife. Fact 17 on Hor-Aha: Evidence of human sacrifice has been discovered at his massive tomb complex in Saqqara. All of the kings of 1st Dynasty chose members of their royal household to be buried with them, some of which included high ranking officials. The remains of men and women were found 35 subsidiary graves in the complex, who had died in order to accompany Hor-Aha in the Afterlife. Bodies found from this era show marks of the throat having been cut before the victims were decapitated. Fact 18 on Hor-Aha: Seven young lions were also buried in his funerary complex, that symbolized royalty and the power and strength of the king. Fact 19 on Hor-Aha: The practise of human sacrifice ceased abruptly at the end of the 1st dynasty when 'shabtis' took the place of actual people. Fact 20 on Hor-Aha: His successor was his son by Khenthap, and continued the dynasty as King Djer. Ancient Egyptian King - Hor-Aha Fact Sheet Hor-Aha Hor-Aha |
