Two Prevailing Winds

    Having arrived now at the III dynasty, it must be noted that the kings forming the end of the II dynasty such as Khasakemwy and the kings at the beginning of the III dynasty are shrouded in mystery. It is debated among certain Egyptologists that the kings, Horus Nebka or Horus Sanakht are not only the same king  but the first ruler of the III dynasty therefore this blog will attempt to discuss the life of the pharaoh Nebka (Sanakt) and the debate from both camps concerning the position of the kings Netjyrikhet and Nebka (Sanakht). This will rely heavily on sources that seem to side with notable Egyptologists like Toby Wilkinson and Stephen Siedlmayer.

Cartouche with the name Nebka
courtesy of  wikipedia

     Although as mentioned in previous blogs, the lives of the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom are very little known but this will be an attempt to resurrect Nebka somewhat. Unfortunately, there is even very little evidence that leads to his tomb. According to Wilkinson and Siedlmayer  among other Egyptologists, the very existence of Sanakht or Nebka can only be taken from the seal fragments found in a mastaba simply labelled K2 which do allude to the doubtful probability that he is the founder of the III dynasty. Recent discoveries found in and around Abydos have proven otherwise contrary to his founding of the dynasty. At this particular time, the popular theory finds Sanakht reigning later in the dynasty and equating the name Sanakht with the name of Nebka as it is found in the Rammeside king lists (Wilkinson 1999). Wilkinson continues to say that a clay seal fragment that contains a cartouche. On it is found the hieroglyph for ka which marks the end of the name Nebka. Others such as Dietrich Wildung support Wilkinson and Siedlmayer's theory however Wildung thinks that the clay relief, because of its damage, is not suitable or valid (Wildung, 1969).

Relief of Sanakht courtesy of ancient-egypt.org

      Those against this prevailing theory include John DeGreef, Nabil Swelim and Wolfgang Helck. They propose that the name "Nebka" in no documents and tombs that date prior to Netjyrikhet (Wildung, 1969). According to Ilario Incordino, she proposes two theories supporting DeGreef, Swelim and Helck. The first theory suggests this, "the direct succession between Khasekhemwy and Djoser, based on some architectural similarities between the Djoser Step Pyramid and the Khasekemuy funerary complex (cult enclosure and tomb), on some Djoser seals found in Khasekhemwy’s tomb, and on some Queen Nymaathapi seals in sites connected to both kings (Bet Khallaf and Abydos), bearing titles which make possible to consider her Khasekhemuy’s wife and Djoser’s mother," (Incordino, 2008). Her second theory is as follows as well, "the existence of at least one sovereign before Djoser, and it’s based on many structural and symbolic differences between Khasekhemwy’s enclosure and the Djoser pyramid (which cannot be the result of a single generation); on the presence of the name ‘Nebka’ before Djoser in almost all the historical sources; and on the existence of some great rectangular enclosures which may fill the gap in the development of royal funerary architecture between late II and early III dynasty," (Incondino, 2008).

   In conclusion, all of these theories seem to have one theme woven among them which is the clay fragment with the cartouche of the hieroglyph ka. The former Egyptologists think that the clay fragment is enough evidence to support Netjyrikhet as the founder of the III dynasty whilst the latter Egyptologists either find the clay fragment invalid evidence for Netjyerkhet as the founder or as in the case of Incondino, the Queen Nymaathapi who was either the wife of Khasakhemwy or Netjyrikhet. It seems there are still more questions concerning this rather unfortunate conundrum that has pitted Egyptologists with two contradicting theories about the founder of the II and III dynasties.

References

Wilkinson, Toby. 1999. Early Dynastic Egypt

Wildung, Dietrich. 1969. Die Rolle Ägyptischer Bewussstein ihrer Nachwelt Band 1 Posthume                Quellen über Könige der Ersten Vier Dynastien

Incondino, Ilario. 2008. Reign of Horus Sanakht: Possible Founder of the Third Dynasty.