Second Dynasty of ancient Egypt

The Second Dynasty of ancient Egypt (or Dynasty II, c. 2890 – c. 2686 BC) was the latter of the two dynasties of the Egyptian Archaic Period when the seat of government was centred at Thinis. It is most known for its last ruler, Khasekhemwy, but is otherwise one of the most obscure periods in Egyptian history.

Though archaeological evidence of the time is very scant, contrasting data from the First and Third Dynasties indicates essential institutional and economic developments during the Second Dynasty.

Table Of Contents

Rulers of the Second Dynasty of Egypt

Rulers of the Second Dynasty of Egypt

For the first three pharaohs, sources are pretty close in agreement, and the order is supported by an inscription on the statuette of Hetepdief, who served in the mortuary cults of these three kings.

The following list contains various king names from different sources:

Hotepsekhemwy

Hotepsekhemwy is the Horus name of an early Egyptian king who was the founder of the Second Dynasty of Egypt. His reign’s exact length is unknown; the Turin canon suggests an improbable 95 years. While the ancient Egyptian historian Manetho reports that the authority of “Boëthôs” lasted for 38 years. Egyptologists consider both statements to be misinterpretations or exaggerations. They credit Hotepsekhemwy with either a 25- or a 29-year rule.

Nebra

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 available to him. They credit Nebra with either a 10- or 14-year rule.

Manetho states Thinis was the capital, as in the First Dynasty, but the first three kings were buried at Saqqara, suggesting the power centre had moved to Memphis. Beyond this, little can be said about the events during this period, as the annual records on the Palermo stone only survive to the end of the reign of Nebra and for parts of Nynetjer’s. One important event, the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, might have occurred during the reign of Khasekhemwy, as many Egyptologists read his name as “the Two Powers arise”.

Nynetjer

Nynetjer (also known as Ninetjer and Banetjer) is the Horus name of the third pharaoh of the Second Dynasty of Egypt. The length of his reign is unknown. The Turin Canon suggests an improbable authority of 96 years, and Egyptian historian Manetho suggested that Nynetjer’s reign lasted 47 years. Egyptologists question both statements as misinterpretations or exaggerations. They generally credit Nynetjer with a rule of either 43 or 45 years. Their estimation is based on the reconstructions of the well-known Palermo Stone inscription reporting the years 7–21 and the Cairo Stone inscription declaring the years 36–44. According to different authors, Nynetjer ruled Egypt from c. 2850 BC to 2760 BC or later from c. 2760 BC to 2715 BC.

With the last ruler, the sources return to an agreement:

But the identity of the following few rulers is unclear. Surviving sources might be giving the Horus name or the Nebty name and the birth names of these rulers. They may also be entirely different individuals or could be legendary names. This might never be resolved.

It has been theorised that following the reign of Nynetjer, the country was split and ruled by two successors due to the overly complex state administration of the whole of Egypt.

Weneg

Weneg (or Uneg), also known as Weneg-Nebty, is the throne name of an early Egyptian king who ruled during the Second Dynasty. Although his chronological position is clear to Egyptologists, it is unclear how long King Weneg governed. It is also unclear which of the archaeologically identified Horus-kings corresponds to Weneg.

Senedj

Senedj (also known as Sened and Sethenes) was an early Egyptian king (pharaoh) who may have ruled during the 2nd Dynasty. His historical standing remains uncertain. His name is included in the king lists of the Ramesside era. However, it is written differently: While the Abydos King List imitates the archaic form, the Royal Canon of Turin and the Saqqara King List form the name with the hieroglyphic sign of a plucked goose.

Neferkara I

Neferkara I (also Neferka and, alternatively, Aaka) is the cartouche name of a king (pharaoh) who is said to have ruled during the 2nd Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. The exact length of his reign is unknown since the Turin Canon lacks the years of rulership, and the ancient Egyptian priest Manetho suggests that Neferkara’s reign lasted 25 years. Egyptologists evaluate his statement as a misinterpretation or exaggeration.

Neferkasokar

Neferkasokar (Ancient Egyptian Nefer-Ka-Seker, which means “beautiful soul of Sokar” or “the soul of Sokar is complete”) was an Ancient Egyptian king (pharaoh). He may have ruled in Egypt during the 2nd Dynasty. Very little is known about him since no contemporary records have been found. Instead, his name has been found in later sources.

Hudjefa I

Hudjefa (Ancient Egyptian for “erased” or “missing”) was the pseudonym for a 2nd Dynasty pharaoh as reported on the Turin canon, a list of kings written during the reign of Ramses II. Hudjefa is now understood to mean that the name of the king was already missing from the document from which the Turin Canon was copied. The reign associated with Hudjefa in the Canon is 11 years. Because of the position of Hudjefa on the Turin list, he is sometimes identified with a king Sesochris reported in the Aegyptiaca, a history of Egypt written by the Egyptian priest Manetho in the 3rd century BC. Manetho credits this pharaoh with 48 years of reign. Egyptologists have attempted to relate Hudjefa with archaeologically attested kings of the period, particularly Seth Peribsen.

Seth Peribsen

Seth-Peribsen (also known as Ash-Peribsen, Peribsen and Perabsen) was the serekh name of an early Egyptian monarch (pharaoh) who ruled during the Second Dynasty of Egypt (c. 2890 – c. 2686 BC). His chronological position within this Dynasty is unknown, and who ruled before and after him is disputed. The duration of his reign is also unknown.

Nubnefer

Nubnefer was the birth name of a king (pharaoh) who may have ruled during the 2nd Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. The exact length of his reign is unknown, and his chronological position is unclear.