home | travelogue | itinerary | photos | history | books
Previous Kingdon Next Kingdon
Previous Dynasty Next Dynasty
   

 

Titulary what's this?
Horus Name Den, "Horus who Hits", "Horus who Strikes"
Nebty Name Nebti Khasti, Nebti Chasti, "Nebti, the one of the desert"
Golden Horus Name unknown
Praenomen unknown
Nomen Udimu
   
Manetho Hesepti, Usaphiados, Suaphais, Usafais
King Lists Semti, Septi , Hesepto
Alternate Names Horus-Den, Dewen, Oudimou
Dates what's this?
manetho 20 years
Piccione 2963 -- 2949 BCE
  2960-2915
grimal 3050-2995
krauss 2930/2910
von Beckerath 2914-2861
malek 2879-2832
Succession
Predecessor Father Djet
Successor Anedjib
Regent Mother Merneith
Associated People
Father Djet
Mother Merneith
Chancellor Hemaka
Burial Place
Tomb T in Abydos, including 136 subsidiary burials. There is a stairway in the burial chamber, in two sections separated by a wooden door -- the first time stairs are included in a burial. The tomb is surrounded by a brick wall.
Tomb at Saqqara with his name and possibly his body
Monuments
unknown
History

It is assumed that Den came to power as an infant, as his mother Merneith is closely associated with his rule as regent or possibly as a ruler in her own right. Den is listed as ruling for 20 years by Manetho, although evidence suggests that he had a much longer rule -- perhaps 50 years -- after the death of his father.

 

Den is the first king to adopt a "Nebti", or "Two Ladies" name and the first to be represented by the double crown -- the white crown of upper egypt and the red crown of lower egypt, which underlined his flourishing reign over the two regions. He created a chancellor position for Lower Egypt and filled it with a man names Hemaka who has a tomb at Saqqara. He is also the first to incorporate a long staircase in his tome, leading directly to the burial chamber. This feature would be adopted by his successors.

He also is credited with the first census of Egypt, counting "all people of the north, west, and east" to determine taxes.

An enormous surge in building occurred during his reign -- nearly 30 mastabas in Saqqara and Abu Rowash were built by his officials, far more than during the reigns of his predecessors. It signals a prosperous rule and strong administration.

 

pharaohs

Menes
Djer
Merneith
Djet
Den
Anedjib
Semerkhet
Qa'a
Sneferka

monuments

Tomb T, Abydos
Tomb, Saqqara