Ancient Egyptians - Semerkhet
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Profile of King Semerkhet
The following profile provides a fast overview of Semerkhet.

Profile of Semerkhet

History Time Period: The Early Dynastic Period

Predecessor: Adjib

Dates of his Reign: Exact dates unknown ca. 2920 BC

Successor: Qa'a

King Semerkhet
Interesting facts, biography & information about the life of Pharaoh Semerkhet, the ancient Egyptian King. The Pharaoh Semerkhet fact sheet provides details of the major events and accomplishments in his life, his consort and his family. Information about the dynasty and period in ancient Egyptian history in which King Semerkhet lived. Refer to Pharaohs for additional interesting facts and information.

Ancient Egyptian King - Semerkhet Fact Sheet

Fact 1 on Semerkhet: Name: This pharaoh of ancient Egypt was also known as Semempses. His name means "companion of the divine community". His Nebty name was Iry-Nebty meaning "He who belongs to the Two Ladies".

Fact 2 on Semerkhet: History: He ruled as the king of Egypt by right of inheritance during the period in ancient Egyptian history known as the Early Dynastic Period. He was a pharaoh of the 1st dynasty of kings, whose family originated in from Thinis in Upper Egypt. He succeeded Pharaoh Adjib to the throne of Egypt. The unified Egypt created by King Narmer (also refer to Menes) had begun to break down with the rule of Anedjib.

Fact 3 on Semerkhet: "He who belongs to the Two Ladies": Following the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt Wadjet, the cobra goddess and protector of Lower Egypt, was paired with Nekhbet, the white vulture goddess and the protector of Upper Egypt. Together, Wadjet and Nekhbet were referred to as the "Two Ladies". 

Fact 4 on Semerkhet: The above picture of the 'eye' depicts Nekhbet, the white vulture goddess wearing the white crown of Upper Egypt and Wadjet, the cobra goddess wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt.

The Deshret, Red Crown of Lower Egypt

The Hedjet, White Crown of Upper Egypt

Pshent, Double Crown of
Unified Egypt

Fact 5 on Semerkhet: The 'Two Ladies' name was a device to legitimize his rule as king the "Two Lands", necessary because of the constant rebellions in the north of the country (Lower Egypt) disputing his claim to the throne of the unified Egypt.

Fact 6 on Semerkhet: No details of the names of his wives have survived, but he is believed to be the father of Qa'a.

Fact 7 on Semerkhet: The king appointed Henuka as High Chancellor of Egypt (Vizier) to assist him with running the country.

Ancient Egyptian King - Semerkhet Fact Sheet

Pharaoh Semerkhet
Discover fast, interesting fun facts about Pharaoh Semerkhet for kids with some amazing, cool and quick information about ancient Egypt and Egyptians. Ideal for children, homework, schools, teachers and kids of all ages! Find fascinating fun facts about Semerkhet for kids and the history, culture and civilisation of the ancient Egyptians and ancient Egypt. Interesting, fun facts about this king of Egypt for research, schools, students and kids of all ages.

King Semerkhet
Learn about this ancient Egyptian pharaoh the fast and easy way via the Semerkhet Fact sheet.

Ancient Egyptian King - Semerkhet Fact Sheet

Fact 8 on Semerkhet: Family: His father was Adjib and his mother was Betresh. Some records relating to Adjib's include a notation of the word 'Qesen', which according to E. A. Wallis Budge has the meaning of evil, calamity or violent.

Fact 9 on Semerkhet: There is no indication of the 'calamity' that struck during his father's reign but disasters also apparently took place during the reign of King Semerkhet.

Fact 10 on Semerkhet: The scant details of his reign are recorded on the Palermo Stone and the 'Cairo Stone'. In the Cairo Stone there is an entry referring to the "Destruction of Egypt". The inscription gives no further information about that event.

Fact 11 on Semerkhet: Historical authors, starting with 'Aegyptiaca' the "History of Egypt" by Manetho and a similar version by the historian Eusebius says: "...in his reign a very great calamity befell Egypt."

Fact 12 on Semerkhet: Once again there is no indication of the 'very great calamity'. But it seems reasonable to surmise that the disastrous events that occurred during the reigns of both these kings must have been somehow connected.

Fact 13 on Semerkhet: The reasons for such calamities are clearly unknown but could have related to natural disasters such as prolonged periods of drought and famine, a great plague, attacks by Asian enemies such as the nomadic Bedouins or Libyans or an escalation of internal conflicts between the nobles of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Fact 14 on Semerkhet: We do know that the tomb of the Pharaoh Semerkhet was located in Abydos, the ancestral burial place of the kings of Egypt but no corresponding Mastaba Tomb in Saqqara has been discovered.

Fact 15 on Semerkhet: His tomb was a simple construction compared to some of those of his predecessors, and his burial chamber was attached directly to 67 subsidiary tombs.

Fact 16 on Semerkhet: The 67 subsidiary tombs contained the bodies of his servants who had died as a result of Human Sacrifice. All of the kings of first Dynasty were associated with human sacrifice and chose members of their royal household to be buried with them. The practise of human sacrifice ceased abruptly at the end of the 1st dynasty when 'shabtis' took the place of actual people.

Fact 17 on Semerkhet: His son, Qa'a succeeded him as the next ruler of ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egyptian King - Semerkhet Fact Sheet

King Semerkhet and the 1st Dynasty
The following chart provides the names of the kings of the 1st Dynasty together with a map of ancient Egypt.

King Semerkhet - 1st Dynasty

Name - Dates of Reign

Narmer - Exact Dates Unknown

Djer - Exact Dates Unknown

Queen Merneith - Exact Dates Unknown

Adjib - Exact Dates Unknown

Qa'a - Exact Dates Unknown

Semerkhet
Learning about the ancient Egyptians and King Semerkhet inspires everyone to visit historical sites and undertake Egypt Travel and Tours to experience the wonders of this magical land at first hand. Many people choose to experience a tour of Egypt on a Nile Cruise stopping at the famous destinations and sites of Egypt such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. The information and facts about Pharaoh Semerkhet will provide you with a great insight into Egypt and the legacy of the ancient Egyptians.

Semerkhet