Early Dynastic Period
Hotepsekhemwy
2nd Dynasty · 2890-2686 BCE
Open full-size illustration →Background
Hotepsekhemwy is conventionally the first king of Dynasty 2. His name, often translated “the two powers are at peace,” has encouraged interpretations of reconciliation after a troubled succession, but the phrase should not be treated as proof of a specific event. Stone vessels and later king-list traditions preserve his identity, whereas his royal tomb has not been securely identified. He marks a chronological transition that is clearer than the historical circumstances behind it. The surviving evidence supports a recognised reign, but not detailed claims about administration, war or family. Research: UCL Digital Egypt.
Chronology: Shaw, Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000)
Full profile
The transition of power
Hotepsekhemwy was the first king of the Second Dynasty. The transition of power from the First Dynasty does not appear to have been violent. Evidence shows that he actually presided over the funeral of Qa'a (the final king of the First Dynasty), as Hotepsekhemwy's seals were discovered at the entrance to Qa'a's royal tomb in Abydos.
Breaking burial traditions
He broke with the established tradition of being buried in the royal cemetery of Abydos. Instead, Hotepsekhemwy chose the great cemetery at Saqqara, near the capital city of Memphis, as his final resting place.
A debated timeline
Despite his name being found on many artifacts, extremely little is known about his reign. The Turin Canon claims he ruled for an impossible 95 years, which historians reject. The ancient historian Manetho recorded a 38-year reign and noted that a disastrous, deadly earthquake occurred during his rule.