The pharaohs of ancient Egypt were the political and religious leaders of the Egyptian people and were often considered gods or semi-god figures. Here’s a list of some notable ancient Egyptian pharaohs, along with some interesting facts
Early Dynastic Period
– Dynasty 1: Narmer (Menes), Hor-Aha, Djer, Djet, Den, Anedjib, Semerkhet, Qa’a
– Dynasty 2: Hotepsekhemwy, Raneb, Nynetjer, Weneg, Senedj, Seth-Peribsen, Khasekhemwy
Narmer (Menes)
: Often credited with uniting Upper and Lower Egypt around 3100 BC, Narmer is sometimes considered the first pharaoh of a unified Egypt. The Narmer Palette is a significant archaeological find depicting this unification.
Old Kingdom
– Dynasty 3: Djoser, Sekhemkhet, Sanakht, Khaba, Huni
– Dynasty 4: Sneferu, Khufu (Cheops), Djedefre, Khafre (Chephren), Menkaure, Shepseskaf
– Dynasty 5: Userkaf, Sahure, Neferirkare Kakai, Shepseskare, Neferefre, Nyuserre Ini, Menkauhor, Djedkare Isesi, Unas
– Dynasty 6: Teti, Userkare, Pepi I, Merenre I, Pepi II, Merenre II, Nitocris
Djoser:
Known for commissioning the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, which was designed by his architect Imhotep and is considered the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt.
First Intermediate Period
– Dynasty 7/8: (Poorly documented)
– Dynasty 9/10: (Herakleopolitan Kings, poorly documented)
– Dynasty 11: Mentuhotep I, Intef I, Intef II, Intef III, Mentuhotep II, Mentuhotep III, Mentuhotep IV
Mentuhotep_II : ruled for 51 years and he managed to reunify the 2 lands of Egypt again to be one united kingdom same as Narmer made before.
Middle Kingdom
– Dynasty 12: Amenemhat I, Senusret I, Amenemhat II, Senusret II, Senusret III, Amenemhat III, Amenemhat IV, Sobekneferu
Amenemhat III: reigned for at least 45 years, built 2 pyramids for him self one in Dahshour known as the black pyramid and one in Hawara and had many militry campaings during his life.
Second Intermediate Period
– Dynasty 13: (Numerous short-reigned kings, poorly documented)
– Dynasty 14: (Poorly documented)
– Dynasty 15: Hyksos rulers like Salitis, Khyan, Apophis
– Dynasty 16/17: (Local Theban rulers, poorly documented)
New Kingdom
– Dynasty 18: Ahmose I, Amenhotep I, Thutmose I, Thutmose II, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, Thutmose IV, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, Tutankhamun, Ay, Horemheb
– Dynasty 19: Ramesses I, Seti I, Ramesses II, Merneptah, Amenmesse, Seti II, Siptah, Twosret
– Dynasty 20: Setnakhte, Ramesses III, Ramesses IV, Ramesses V, Ramesses VI, Ramesses VII, Ramesses VIII, Ramesses IX, Ramesses X, Ramesses XI
Hatshepsut:
One of the few female pharaohs, Hatshepsut is known for her prosperous reign and ambitious building projects, including her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri.
Third Intermediate Period
– Dynasty 21: Smendes, Amenemnisu, Psusennes I, Amenemope, Osorkon the Elder, Siamun, Psusennes II
– Dynasty 22: Shoshenq I, Osorkon I, Takelot I, Osorkon II, Shoshenq II, Takelot II, Shoshenq III, Pami, Shoshenq IV, Osorkon III, Shoshenq V
– Dynasty 23: (Overlapping with Dynasty 22, poorly documented)
– Dynasty 24: Tefnakht, Bakenranef
Psusennes_II :Psusennes II’s reign was 24 years and an amazing intact tomb full of silver and gold was found for him in Tanis , well known as the silver king.
Late Period
– Dynasty 25: (Nubian/Kushite Dynasty) Piye, Shabaka, Shebitku, Taharqa, Tantamani
– Dynasty 26: Psamtik I, Necho II, Psamtik II, Apries, Amasis II, Psamtik III
– Dynasty 27: (First Persian Period) Cambyses II, Darius I, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, Darius II
– Dynasty 28: Amyrtaeus
– Dynasty 29: Nepherites I, Achoris, Psammuthes, Nepherites II
– Dynasty 30: Nectanebo I, Teos, Nectanebo II
– Dynasty 31: (Second Persian Period)
This list includes many of the key figures in ancient Egyptian history, These pharaohs, among many others, played crucial roles in the history and culture of ancient Egypt, leaving legacies that continue to intrigue historians and archaeologists today.
If you would like to discover more and the interesting Egyptian history check this link here for Pharaohs tours
Written by ATW Septmeber 2024