Ka (pharaoh): Difference between revisions

Ka
Ka
Sekhen
	Vessel found at Tarkhan bearing the serekh of King Ka. Petrie Museum, London
Pharaoh
Reign	32nd century BC
Predecessor	Iry-Hor
Successor	Scorpion II?, Narmer?
Horus name
Horus name
Consort	Ha
Burial	Chambers B7, B9, Umm el-Qa'ab
Dynasty	Dynasty 0

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Ka, also (alternatively) Sekhen,^[2]^[3] was a Predynastic pharaoh of Upper Egypt belonging to Dynasty 0. He probably reigned during the first half of the 32nd century BC. The length of his reign is unknown.

Name

The correct reading of Ka's name remains uncertain.^[4] There are vessel inscriptions which show a serekh with a typical Ka-symbol, both written upright correctly, but there are also inscriptions presenting an upright serekh with an upside-down Ka-symbol inside. The second form of that writing indicates a reading as Sekhen (meaning "to embrace someone") rather than Ka.^[5] It was also thought to be the birth name of Narmer.^[6] Because the reading of the name is so uncertain, Egyptologists and writing experts such as Ludwig David Morenz prefer a neutral reading as "King Arms".^[7] Ka's personal name may have been 'king Ap.'^[8]

Reign

Ka ruled over Thinis in the first half of the 32nd century BC and was buried at Umm el-Qa'ab. He most likely was the immediate successor to Iry-Hor and was succeeded either by Narmer or by Scorpion II. He is the earliest known Egyptian king with a serekh inscribed on a number of artifacts. This may thus be an innovation of his reign.^[9] Ka is one of the best attested predynastic kings with Narmer and Scorpion II. Beyond Abydos, he is attested in the predynastic necropolis of Adaima in Upper Egypt^[10] and in the north in Tarkhan, Helwan, Tell Ibrahim Awad, Tell el-Farkha (Eastern Nile Delta), Wadi Tumilat and as far north as Tel Lod in the Southern Levant.^[11]

The number of artifacts bearing Ka's serekh found outside Abydos is much greater than that of his predecessor.^[11] This may be the sign of an increasing influence and perhaps conquest of larger portions of Egypt by the Thinite kings.^[11]

Tomb

Two underground chambers, B7 and B9, in the Umm el-Qa'ab necropolis of Abydos are believed to be part of the tomb of King Ka. Each chamber is 1.90 m deep, B.7 is 6.0 × 3.2 m while B.9 is slightly smaller at 5.9 × 3.1 m; the two chambers are 1.80 m apart.^[11]

Ka's tomb was first excavated by Flinders Petrie in 1902. The excavations yielded fragments of flint knife and pottery. In the southernmost chamber B7, more than forty inscriptions have been found on tall jars and cylinder vessels as well as a seal impression.^[11]^[12] The tomb of Ka (B7, B9) is close to that of Iry-Hor (B1, B2) and Narmer (B17, B18). Furthermore, it is located within a sequential order linking the older "U" cemetery with the First Dynasty tombs, thus suggesting that Ka succeeded Iry-Hor and preceded Narmer on the throne.^[13]

A cylinder jar found within the tomb, along with Ka's name, has inscribed the name "Ha, wife of the Horus Ka".^[8]

Gallery

Vessel from Ka's tomb in Abydos bearing Ka's serekh on display at the British Museum.
Seal impression with Ka's serekh. Note the absence of the Horus falcon. British Museum.
Shard bearing Ka's serekh from his tomb in Abydos.^[14]^{[page needed]}
Shard bearing Ka's serekh from his tomb.
Ka's tomb in the Umm el-Qa'ab
Names of Ka and Ha on a jar.

References

^ Petrie, W.M. Flinders (1923). A History of Egypt Volume I (10 ed.). Methuen & Co. LTD. p. 4.
^ Rice, Michael (1999), Who's Who in Ancient Egypt, Routledge, p. 86.
^ Jürgen von Beckerath: Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen, Münchner ägyptologische Studien, Heft 49, Mainz : P. von Zabern, 1999, ISBN 3-8053-2591-6, available online Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine see p. 36-37
^ Wilkinson 1999, pp. 57–59.
^ Kaplony, Peter (1982), "Kleine Beiträge zu den Inschriften der ägyptischen Frühzeit", MDAIK (in German) (38), Berlin: Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Orient-Abteilung (Hrsg.). von Zabern: 221, 229.
^ Baumgartel, Elise Jenny (1975), "Some remarks on the origins of the titles of the Archaic Egyptian Kings", Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (61), London: Egypt Exploration Society: 31.
^ Morenz, Ludwig David, Bild-Buchstaben und symbolische Zeichen (in German), pp. 106–8.
^ ^a ^b Petrie, W.M. Flinders (1923). A History of Egypt Volume I (10 ed.). Methuen & Co. LTD. p. 4.
^ Wilkinson 1999, pp. 57f.
^ Grimal, N (1999), BIFAO, p. 451.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Raffaele, Francesco. "Dynasty 0" (PDF).
^ Gilroy, Thomas (2001), "'Forgotten' Serekhs in the Royal Ontario Museum", Göttinger Miszellen (180), Göttingen: Ägyptologisches Seminar der Universität Göttingen: 67–76, Fig. 2, Tafel I b, ISSN 0344-385X.
^ Barta, Winfried (1982), "Zur Namensform und zeitlichen Einordnung des Königs Ro", GM (in German), 53: 11–13.
^ Wilkinson 1999.

Bibliography

Wilkinson, Toby AH (1999), Early Dynastic Egypt, London/New York: Routledge, ISBN 0-415-18633-1

External links

Media related to King Ka at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by Iry-Hor?	King of Thinis	Succeeded by Scorpion II? Narmer?

[1] Petrie, W.M. Flinders (1923). A History of Egypt Volume I (10 ed.). Methuen & Co. LTD. p. 4.

[2] Rice, Michael (1999), Who's Who in Ancient Egypt, Routledge, p. 86.

[beck-3] Jürgen von Beckerath: Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen, Münchner ägyptologische Studien, Heft 49, Mainz : P. von Zabern, 1999, ISBN 3-8053-2591-6, available online Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine see p. 36-37

[FOOTNOTEWilkinson199957–59-4] Wilkinson 1999, pp. 57–59.

[5] Kaplony, Peter (1982), "Kleine Beiträge zu den Inschriften der ägyptischen Frühzeit", MDAIK (in German) (38), Berlin: Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Orient-Abteilung (Hrsg.). von Zabern: 221, 229.

[6] Baumgartel, Elise Jenny (1975), "Some remarks on the origins of the titles of the Archaic Egyptian Kings", Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (61), London: Egypt Exploration Society: 31.

[7] Morenz, Ludwig David, Bild-Buchstaben und symbolische Zeichen (in German), pp. 106–8.

[:0-8] Petrie, W.M. Flinders (1923). A History of Egypt Volume I (10 ed.). Methuen & Co. LTD. p. 4.

[FOOTNOTEWilkinson199957f-9] Wilkinson 1999, pp. 57f.

[10] Grimal, N (1999), BIFAO, p. 451.

[dyn0-11] Raffaele, Francesco. "Dynasty 0" (PDF).

[12] Gilroy, Thomas (2001), "'Forgotten' Serekhs in the Royal Ontario Museum", Göttinger Miszellen (180), Göttingen: Ägyptologisches Seminar der Universität Göttingen: 67–76, Fig. 2, Tafel I b, ISSN 0344-385X.

[13] Barta, Winfried (1982), "Zur Namensform und zeitlichen Einordnung des Königs Ro", GM (in German), 53: 11–13.

[FOOTNOTEWilkinson1999-14] Wilkinson 1999.

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[2]

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[14]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 | dynasty        = [[Naqada III|Dynasty 0]]
 | coregency      =
-| predecessor    = [[Iry-Hor]]?
+| predecessor    = [[Iry-Hor]]
-| successor      = [[Narmer]] (most likely) or [[King Scorpion|Scorpion II]]
+| successor      = [[King Scorpion|Scorpion II]]?, [[Narmer]]?
 | notes          =
 | prenomen_hiero =
 | nomen          =
 | nomen_hiero    =
-| horus          = Sekhen<br/>''sḫn''<br/>''Embraced by Horus / He who embraces Horus''<br/>{{Infobox pharaoh/Serekh|Horus=<hiero>D32</hiero>||prefix=<hiero>G5</hiero>}}
+| horus          = Sekhen<br/>''sḫn''<br/>''[[Arms-in-embrace (hieroglyph)|Embraced by]] Horus / He who embraces Horus''<br/>{{Infobox pharaoh/Serekh|Horus=<hiero>D32</hiero>||prefix=<hiero>G5</hiero>}}
 | horus_hiero    =
 | horus_prefix   = <!-- Default is <hiero>G5</hiero> -->
 | golden         =
 | golden_hiero   =
-| spouse         = [[Queen Ha|Ha]] (?)
+| spouse         =
 | children       =
 | father         =
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 | death_date     =
 | burial         = Chambers B7, B9, [[Umm el-Qa'ab]]
+| monuments      =|Spouse=Ha<ref>{{cite book |last1=Petrie |first1=W.M. Flinders |title=A History of Egypt Volume I |date=1923 |publisher=Methuen & Co. LTD. |page=4 |edition=10}}</ref>}}
-| monuments      =}}
 '''Ka''', also (alternatively) '''Sekhen''',<ref>{{Citation | first = Michael | last = Rice | title = Who's Who in Ancient Egypt | publisher = Routledge | year = 1999 | page = 86}}.</ref><ref name="beck">[[Jürgen von Beckerath]]: ''Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen'', Münchner ägyptologische Studien, Heft 49, Mainz : P. von Zabern, 1999, {{ISBN|3-8053-2591-6}}, [http://www.mediafire.com/view/?4xjd6j4qed3c9vl available online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222200801/http://www.mediafire.com/view/?4xjd6j4qed3c9vl |date=2015-12-22 }} see p. 36-37</ref> was a [[Predynastic Egypt|Predynastic]] [[pharaoh]] of [[Upper Egypt]] belonging to [[Dynasty 0]]. He probably reigned during the first half of the [[32nd century BC]]. The length of his reign is unknown.
 == Name ==
-The correct reading of Ka's name remains uncertain.{{Sfn | Wilkinson | 1999 | pp = 57–59}}  There are vessel inscriptions which show a [[serekh]] with a typical ''Ka''-symbol, both written upright correctly, but there are also inscriptions presenting an upright serekh with an upside-down ''Ka''-symbol inside. The second form of that writing indicates a reading as '''Sekhen''' (meaning ‘to embrace s.o.’) rather than ''Ka''.<ref>{{Citation | first = Peter | last = Kaplony | language = German | title = Kleine Beiträge zu den Inschriften der ägyptischen Frühzeit | journal = MDAIK | number = 38 | publisher = Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Orient-Abteilung (Hrsg.). von Zabern | place = Berlin | year = 1982 | pages = 221, 229}}.</ref> It was also thought to be the birth name of [[Narmer]].<ref>{{Citation | first = Elise Jenny | last = Baumgartel | title = Some remarks on the origins of the titles of the Archaic Egyptian Kings | journal = Journal of Egyptian Archaeology | number = 61 | publisher = Egypt Exploration Society | place = London | year = 1975 | page = 31}}.</ref> Because the reading of the name is so uncertain, Egyptologists and writing experts such as [[Ludwig David Morenz]] prefer a neutral reading as ‘King Arms’.<ref>{{Citation | first = Ludwig David | last = Morenz | title = Bild-Buchstaben und symbolische Zeichen | pages = 106–8 | language = German}}.</ref>
+The correct reading of Ka's name remains uncertain.{{Sfn | Wilkinson | 1999 | pp = 57–59}}  There are vessel inscriptions which show a [[serekh]] with a typical ''Ka''-symbol, both written upright correctly, but there are also inscriptions presenting an upright serekh with an upside-down ''Ka''-symbol inside. The second form of that writing indicates a reading as '''Sekhen''' (meaning "to embrace someone") rather than ''Ka''.<ref>{{Citation | first = Peter | last = Kaplony | language = German | title = Kleine Beiträge zu den Inschriften der ägyptischen Frühzeit | journal = MDAIK | number = 38 | publisher = Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Orient-Abteilung (Hrsg.). von Zabern | place = Berlin | year = 1982 | pages = 221, 229}}.</ref> It was also thought to be the birth name of [[Narmer]].<ref>{{Citation | first = Elise Jenny | last = Baumgartel | title = Some remarks on the origins of the titles of the Archaic Egyptian Kings | journal = Journal of Egyptian Archaeology | number = 61 | publisher = Egypt Exploration Society | place = London | year = 1975 | page = 31}}.</ref> Because the reading of the name is so uncertain, Egyptologists and writing experts such as [[Ludwig David Morenz]] prefer a neutral reading as "King Arms".<ref>{{Citation | first = Ludwig David | last = Morenz | title = Bild-Buchstaben und symbolische Zeichen | pages = 106–8 | language = German}}.</ref> Ka's personal name may have been 'king Ap.'<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Petrie |first=W.M. Flinders |title=A History of Egypt Volume I |publisher=Methuen & Co. LTD. |year=1923 |edition=10 |pages=4}}</ref>
 == Reign ==
 [[File:Map of ka serekh.png|thumb|150px|left|Map of the locations where Ka's serekhs have been found.]]
-Ka ruled over [[Thinis]] in the first half of the [[32nd century BC]] and was buried at [[Umm el-Qa'ab]]. He most likely was the immediate successor to [[Iry-Hor]] and was succeeded either by [[Narmer]] or by [[King Scorpion|Scorpion II]].<ref>{{Citation |first = Ian|last = Shaw|title = The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt|page = 71}}.</ref> He is the earliest known Egyptian king with a ''[[serekh]]'' inscribed on a number of artifacts. This may thus be an innovation of his reign.{{Sfn|Wilkinson|1999 | pp = 57f}} Ka is one of the best attested predynastic kings with Narmer and Scorpion II. Beyond Abydos, he is attested in the predynastic necropolis of Adaima in [[Upper Egypt]]<ref>{{Citation | first = N | last = Grimal | title = BIFAO | year = 1999 | page = 451}}.</ref> and in the north in [[Tarkhan (Egypt)|Tarkhan]], [[Helwan]], Tell Ibrahim Awad, [[Wadi Tumilat]] and as far north as Tel Lod in the [[Southern Levant]].<ref name=dyn0>{{Cite document|last = Raffaele|first = Francesco|title = Dynasty 0|url = http://xoomer.virgilio.it/francescoraf/hesyra/Dynasty0-Raffaele_AH17.pdf}}</ref>
+Ka ruled over [[Thinis]] in the first half of the [[32nd century BC]] and was buried at [[Umm el-Qa'ab]]. He most likely was the immediate successor to [[Iry-Hor]] and was succeeded either by [[Narmer]] or by [[King Scorpion|Scorpion II]]. He is the earliest known Egyptian king with a ''[[serekh]]'' inscribed on a number of artifacts. This may thus be an innovation of his reign.{{Sfn|Wilkinson|1999 | pp = 57f}} Ka is one of the best attested predynastic kings with Narmer and Scorpion II. Beyond Abydos, he is attested in the predynastic necropolis of Adaima in [[Upper Egypt]]<ref>{{Citation | first = N | last = Grimal | title = BIFAO | year = 1999 | page = 451}}.</ref> and in the north in [[Tarkhan (Egypt)|Tarkhan]], [[Helwan]], Tell Ibrahim Awad, Tell el-Farkha (Eastern Nile Delta), [[Wadi Tumilat]] and as far north as Tel Lod in the [[Southern Levant]].<ref name=dyn0>{{cite web|last = Raffaele|first = Francesco|title = Dynasty 0|url = http://xoomer.virgilio.it/francescoraf/hesyra/Dynasty0-Raffaele_AH17.pdf}}</ref>
 The number of artifacts bearing Ka's serekh found outside Abydos is much greater than that of his predecessor.<ref name = dyn0/> This may be the sign of an increasing influence and perhaps conquest of larger portions of Egypt by the Thinite kings.<ref name=dyn0 />
 ==Tomb==
-Two underground chambers, B7 and B9, in the [[Umm el-Qa'ab]] necropolis of [[Abydos, Egypt|Abydos]] are believed to be part of the tomb of King Ka. Each chamber is 1.90 m deep, B.7 is 6.0 × 3.2 m while B.9 is slightly smaller at 5.9 x 3.1 m; the two chambers are 1.80 m apart.<ref name=dyn0 />
+Two underground chambers, B7 and B9, in the [[Umm el-Qa'ab]] necropolis of [[Abydos, Egypt|Abydos]] are believed to be part of the tomb of King Ka. Each chamber is 1.90 m deep, B.7 is 6.0 × 3.2&nbsp;m while B.9 is slightly smaller at 5.9 × 3.1&nbsp;m; the two chambers are 1.80&nbsp;m apart.<ref name=dyn0 />
-Ka's tomb was first excavated by [[Flinders Petrie]] in 1902. The excavations yielded fragments of [[flint]] knife and pottery. In the southernmost chamber B7, more than forty inscriptions have been found on tall jars and cylinder vessels as well as a seal impression.<ref name=dyn0/><ref>{{Citation | first = Thomas | last = Gilroy | title = "Forgotten" Serekhs in the [[Royal Ontario Museum]] | journal = Göttinger Miszellen | number = 180 | publisher = Ägyptologisches Seminar der Universität Göttingen | place = Göttingen | year = 2001 | issn = 0344-385X | pages = 67–76, Fig. 2, Tafel I b}}.</ref> The tomb of Ka (B7, B9) is close to that of Iry-Hor (B1, B2) and Narmer (B17, B18). Furthermore, it is located within a sequential order linking the older "U" cemetery with the First Dynasty tombs, thus suggesting that Ka succeeded Iry-Hor and preceded Narmer on the throne.<ref>{{Citation | first = Winfried | last = Barta | title = Zur Namensform und zeitlichen Einordnung des Königs Ro | language = German | journal = GM | volume = 53 | year = 1982 | pages = 11–13}}.</ref>
+Ka's tomb was first excavated by [[Flinders Petrie]] in 1902. The excavations yielded fragments of [[flint]] knife and pottery. In the southernmost chamber B7, more than forty inscriptions have been found on tall jars and cylinder vessels as well as a seal impression.<ref name=dyn0/><ref>{{Citation | first = Thomas | last = Gilroy | title = 'Forgotten' Serekhs in the [[Royal Ontario Museum]] | journal = Göttinger Miszellen | number = 180 | publisher = Ägyptologisches Seminar der Universität Göttingen | place = Göttingen | year = 2001 | issn = 0344-385X | pages = 67–76, Fig. 2, Tafel I b}}.</ref> The tomb of Ka (B7, B9) is close to that of Iry-Hor (B1, B2) and Narmer (B17, B18). Furthermore, it is located within a sequential order linking the older "U" cemetery with the First Dynasty tombs, thus suggesting that Ka succeeded Iry-Hor and preceded Narmer on the throne.<ref>{{Citation | first = Winfried | last = Barta | title = Zur Namensform und zeitlichen Einordnung des Königs Ro | language = German | journal = GM | volume = 53 | year = 1982 | pages = 11–13}}.</ref>
+A cylinder jar found within the tomb, along with Ka's name, has inscribed the name "Ha, wife of the Horus Ka".<ref name=":0" />
 == Gallery ==
@@ Line 52: / Line 54: @@
 File:KaSerekh2.png|Shard bearing Ka's serekh from his tomb.
 File:Ka Tomb.jpg|Ka's tomb in the [[Umm el-Qa'ab]]
-File:Names of King Ka and Queen Ha on a jar.jpg|Names of King Ka and [[Queen Ha]] on a jar.
+File:Names of King Ka and Queen Ha on a jar.jpg|Names of Ka and [[Ha (queen)|Ha]] on a jar.
 </gallery>
@@ Line 59: / Line 61: @@
 ==Bibliography==
-*{{Citation|first = Toby AH|last = Wilkinson|title = Early Dynastic Egypt|publisher = Routledge|place = London/New York|year = 1999|isbn = 0-415-18633-1}}
+*{{Citation|first = Toby AH|last = Wilkinson|author-link=Toby Wilkinson|title = Early Dynastic Egypt|publisher = Routledge|place = London/New York|year = 1999|isbn = 0-415-18633-1}}
+==External links==
+*{{commons category-inline|King Ka}}
 {{S-start}}
 {{S-bef | before=[[Iry-Hor]]?}}
 {{S-ttl | title=[[List of pharaohs#Early Dynastic Period|King of Thinis]]}}
-{{S-aft | after=[[King Scorpion|Scorpion II]]?}}
+{{S-aft | after=[[King Scorpion|Scorpion II]]? [[Narmer]]?}}
 {{s-end}}
 {{Pharaohs}}
-{{authority control}}
+{{Authority control}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Ka}}
-[[Category:32nd-century BC Pharaohs]]
+[[Category:32nd-century BC pharaohs]]
-[[Category:4th-millennium BC deaths]]
 [[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
+[[Category:Year of death unknown]]
 [[Category:Wadi Tumilat]]