Old Kingdom (Part One)

Old Kingdom is period between (2635 BC-2155 BC) when Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilization complexity and achievement- this was the first of three so-called “Kingdom” periods, which mark the high point civilization in Egypt (two others are Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom). Capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom was Memphis, where Djoser established his court. This period is however best known for the large numbers of Pyramids, which were constructed at this time as pharaoh burial places. For this reason, the Old Kingdom is frequently referred as “the Age of the Pyramids”.

Djoser's Step Pyramid

First pharaoh of the 3rd dynasty (2635 BC-2570 BC) was Djoser, which name is in Turin King List written in red color, what marks him as the establisher of the new dynasty. It’s possible that he marry daughter of the previous pharaoh Khasekhemwy. Name Djoser came from the word djeser-holly, so his name is “The Holly One”. In this time Egyptians worshiped their pharaoh as a god, believing that he ensured the annual flooding of the Nile that was necessary for their crops. Egyptian views of nature of time during this period held that the universe worked in cycles, and the Pharaon on earth worked to ensure the stability of those cycles. They also perceived themselves as a specially selected people “as the only true humans being on earth”. During Djoser ruling came to the great improvement in architecture. It is considered that he built the temple in Heliopolis, whose remains are not remaining. But the revolutionary turn in history of architecture is his “Step Pyramid”-first pyramid in Egypt. Some said that the first pharaoh of this dynasty was Sanakhte, not Djoser. An important person during the reingh of Djoser was his vizier and architect, Imhotep. In the time of Djoser, Egypt has grown into strong state.

Statue of Djoser

Successor of Djoser was Sekhemkhet or, how is called in Turin King List, Djoser- Teti. Building of his pyramid has also been lead by Imhotep, but probably because of pharaoh’s early death was never finished. He ruled only for 6 years and led one expedition in which he visited mines in Synai Peninsula.
Names of the others kings of 3rd dynasty are Khaba, Sanakht I Huni. It is possible that the step pyramid in Zawyet el Aryan belongs to Khaba. Huni was the last ruler of the 3rd dynasty. He was probably begins building of the step pyramid made in Meidum. On area from Faiyum till El Kab are found four pyramids that some things that they belong to the unknown kings of the 3rd dynasty.

Pyramid of Huni at Meidum

Early Dynastic Period

Evolution of writing from before the 1st dynasty up to 3rd dynasty

The Early Dynastic Period is period of some 500 years (approximately 3000 BC till 2575 BC) at beginning of history of Ancient Egypt. This time is culmination of formation Ancient Egyptian culture. At that time the established form of government became divine kingship, this will remain same in next more than 3 000 years. Writing evolved from the simple signs to the complex system of few hundreds of signs with phonetic and ideographic values. During this time was establish typical artistic canon that would be unchanged for few thousands years.

Craftsmen have started to use more durable materials. In architecture structures build of brick, wood and reed were replaced by stone. Inhabitants of small settlements throughout country moved to larger communities and cities what was beginning of the urbanism. Reasons for that kind of process could be: requirement for the safety behind city wall, changes in the natural environments, evolution of society beyond its mere agricultural needs and required craftsmen, traders and other skilled personnel, growth in population.

First dynasty of Egypt last approximately from 3 050 BC till 2890 BC. We know very little about rulers of that time. Hor-Aha has led one war campaign in Nubia. King Djet send one expedition to Red Sea. In the time of Den Egyptians has clashed with Bedouin tribe Yesennyou.

Peribsen serekh

About Second dynasty (2890 BC-2650 BC) we now even less than about First dynasty. Hotepsekhemwy, Nebra and Nynetjer are just a names for us because we don’t have much information about them.
King Peribsen has removed Horus eagle from his serekh (squared tombstone with distinguished symbol of pharaoh) and replaced him with his mythic enemy Seth, what represent not only end of tradition but also turn against it. This guides to conclusion of renewal of internal split between Upper and Lower Egypt. Peribsen had ruled only in south, while north of country had independent kings. We even know some names of the north rulers (Weneg, Sened). It is evident that the land was temporarily divided; military conflicts between these two parts are also not excluded. On Khasekhem’s statue, which was found in Hierakonpolis, the victory over the north and the unification of the lands are displayed. His successor Khasekhemwy has on his serekh both Horus and Seth, which says that the short conflict between north and south ended with gathering. Khasekhemwy was ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt. The vase with the name of Khasekhemwy, which was found in Byblos, proves the fact that even in that time Egyptians kings had contacts with neighboring lands. Kings of the Second dynasty of Egypt have been buried in Abydos, because there are found many graves of servants that surround the graves of their kings. According to Manetho first two dynasties have ruled from Abydos.

Tombs of the Kings of the First and Second Dynasty in Abydos

Protodynastic Period of Egypt

An example of pottery from the early protodynastic period

Protodynastic period of Egypt (generally dates around 3100 BC), refers to the time at the very end of Predynastic Period. The Protodynastic period is time when ancient Egypt was in the process of political unification, which leads to the unified state during Early Dynastic Period. During this time Egyptian language was first recorded in hieroglyphs.

Sculpture of King Narmer's head

Predynastic cultures were organized in two big units at first – those units were Upper (south) and Lower Egypt (north). Nobody knows exactly when this merging might have happened. However, when we’re talking about the unifying into a unique kingdom, it is presumed that it happened in 31st Century BC. Unification happens by the legendary King Menes, also called Narmer. Reference to these events can be found in numerous later Egyptian writings, which refer to King Narmer as the conqueror of all the societies along the length of Nile River; but details are fuzzy, which is expected after such a long time.
The most important archeological finding from the protodynastic period is Narmer palette.

Narmer palette

It was found in Hierakonpolis (egyp. Nekhen), in 1897. by James Quibell - the partner of a famous British explorer Petrie. Narmer palette is considered to be the most important document for founding of the first dynasty, because it is believed that the palette is a direct proof of the establishment of unified kingdom, which started the dynastic history of Egypt. Narmer is shown on the palette as the unifier of Egypt. This conclusion was made because on the obverse side, Narmer is wearing the crown of Upper Egypt, and on the reverse side, he is wearing the crown of the Upper Egypt. It is believed that the palette is celebrating his victory over the rulers of the northern cities, which is symbolically shown with the papyrus flowers (symbol of Lower Egypt), which is growing from the prisoner being held on the leash by Horus’ hawk – God of the South. It is shown on the palette how Narmer is killing his enemy with a mace, while two human characters in the run represent the defeated army. Behind the King is his sandal bearer. (a court function which existed throughout the entire history of ancient Egypt).
On the reverse side of the palette, the upper scene shows King’s soldiers marching before the King, wearing the symbols of their subnational administrative division- nomes, while in front of them, the bodies of their decapitated opponents are scattered around. In the center register, we see two men riding two animals with long implicated necks, which symbolizes the unification. On the lower register, a character is shown – this character is a symbol of the spirit kingdom (Ka), that is destroying the town out of which one character is escaping representing the defeated opponents again. Above the head of the central character is a hieroglyphic inscription, which is readable as ‘Narmer’.

General about Ancient Egypt

The thought of the Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus that Egypt is a gift of Nile accurately describes the surroundings in which this greatest civilization of Old Age was created. Two main characteristics of the area in which the Egyptian Kingdom was made are – hot desert on one side and the great river Nile that ‘cuts’ the desert in the north-south direction on the other, which creates a narrow zone of fertile ground around its river-bed. This is the only place that has conditions for life.


Because of the fact that rains in Egypt are a rare phenomenon, the yearly floods of Nile that irrigated the surfaces close to the river were the only source of rich crops that fed the entire Egypt. The yearly flood of Nile could be perfectly predicted by observing the location of the stars. This was the reason why Egyptians were the first to develop astronomy – a science that will later impress Greeks and Romans.



Egypt developed a very high degree of civilization that was in complete balance with nature and adapted to its surroundings. Ancient Egypt also had a very advanced system of watering channels. In the areas of certain cities and temples were many trees and vegetation, which is different comparing it to the looks of Egypt nowadays. The rich harvest allowed Egyptians to work in agriculture only for a part of the year. For the remainder of the time, they worked in other fields related to the development of material culture, but also to its upgrade with science, art, theological thoughts etc.


Economical power of Egypt, except on agriculture, also founded itself on natural resources (especially on limestone and sandstone - types of rocks that were most important in building of the statues, monuments and buildings).
It is believed that at the beginning of the historical period (around 3100 BC), 150 000 people lived in Egypt, while at the time of the New Kingdom (1552 – 1070 BC), the population reached 4 million inhabitants.


Egypt’s citizens had different roots, but the cultural and migrational influence of Mesopotamia is certain. The influence of Nubia from the south was strong as well. This can be seen on the statues and drawings from tombs – while some of them have Indo-European features, the others have more or less Negroid features.





To have the incredibly long chronology of Egyptian Kingdom, that lasted over 3000 years, divided on smaller time periods, these intervals have been accepted:

Protodynastic period – around 3100 BC
Early Dynastic Period – 2955 BC – 2635 BC
Old Kingdom – 2635 BC – 2155 BC
First Intermediate Period - 2155 BC – 2040 BC
Middle Kingdom – 2040 BC – 1785 BC
Second Intermediate Period – 1785 BC – 1552 BC
New Kingdom – 1552 BC – 1070 BC
Late Period – 1070 BC – 332 BC
Ptolemaic Period – 332 BC – 30 BC
Roman Period – 30 BC – 395.


This concludes the first part of my 'Ancient Egypt' blog.