Hotepsekhemwy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hotepsekhemwy |
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| Bedjatau, Bedjau, Boethos, Bochus | |
Stone vase bearing Hotepsekhemwy's serekh, National Archaeological Museum (France).
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| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 25-29 years (2nd Dynasty; starting c. 2890 BC.) |
| Predecessor | uncertain; Qa'a or Sneferka |
| Successor | Raneb |
| Children | Perneb ? |
| Burial | Saqqara |
Hotepsekhemwy was an early Egyptian king. He was the first ruler of the Second Dynasty. Historians are not sure how long he ruled. Some ancient lists say he ruled for 95 or 38 years. Today, most experts believe Hotepsekhemwy ruled for about 25 to 29 years.
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Discovering Hotepsekhemwy's Name
Hotepsekhemwy's name has been found in many places. These include Saqqara, Giza, Badari, and Abydos. His name appears on clay seals, stone pots, and bone cylinders. Some stone pots even mention Hotepsekhemwy along with his successor, King Raneb.
His "Horus name" can tell us about the politics of his time. The Egyptian word "Hotep" means "peaceful" or "to be reconciled." So, Hotepsekhemwy's full name might mean "the two powers are reconciled." This hints at an important political event. "The two powers" could refer to Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. It might also mean the two main gods, Horus and Seth.
From Hotepsekhemwy's time, it became a tradition to write the Horus name and the "nebty name" (meaning "two ladies") in the same way. This might show that the Horus name was used when a person became king.
Hotepsekhemwy's Family
We do not know the name of Hotepsekhemwy's wife. He might have had a son named Perneb. Perneb had important titles like "son of the king" and "priest of Sopdu." Clay seals with Perneb's name were found in a tomb shared by Hotepsekhemwy and his successor, Raneb. Because of this, it is hard to know which king was Perneb's father.
Different Names for Hotepsekhemwy
Hotepsekhemwy is known from lists made much later, during the time of Ramesses II. These lists sometimes show his name differently. For example, the Abydos King List calls him Bedjau. A list from Giza calls him Bedjatau. The Saqqara Tablet calls him Netjer-Bau. The Turin King List has the name Bau-hetepju.
Another similar name, Bedjatau, is on a writing board found in a tomb at Giza. "Bedjatau" means "the foundryman." Experts think this name might be a mistake when copying "Hotepsekhemwy." The ancient Egyptian writing (hieroglyphs) for "Hotep" look a lot like signs for a pottery kiln and a chick. Also, the signs for two "Sekhem" scepters were misread as a leg and a drill. This kind of mistake happened with other kings too.
Important Events During His Rule
Not much is known about Hotepsekhemwy's time as king. Some evidence suggests he became king after a period of fighting. Before him, there were kings like Horus "Bird" and Sneferka who ruled for very short times. Sneferka might have been another name for King Qaa.
King Qaa's tomb was robbed at the end of the First Dynasty. It was later fixed during Hotepsekhemwy's rule. The robbing of the cemetery and the peaceful meaning of Hotepsekhemwy's name might suggest there was a struggle for power. Kings like Sneferka and Horus "Bird" were left out of later king lists. This could be because their struggles led to problems for the First Dynasty.
Hotepsekhemwy built a new royal home called "Horus the shining star." He also built a temple near Buto for the god Netjer-Achty. He also started the "Chapel of the White Crown." The white crown, called the hedjet, was a symbol of Upper Egypt. This tells us that Hotepsekhemwy's family likely came from Upper Egypt and gained power from there.
There is no mention of a Sed festival during his reign. This festival was usually celebrated after a king had ruled for 30 years. This suggests Hotepsekhemwy did not rule for longer than 30 years.
The ancient Egyptian historian Manetho wrote that during Hotepsekhemwy's reign, "a chasm opened near Bubastis and many perished." Manetho wrote this over two thousand years later. However, the area near Bubastis is known for earthquakes, so the story might be based on a real event.
Where is Hotepsekhemwy's Tomb?
The exact location of Hotepsekhemwy's tomb is still a mystery. Some experts think it might be the large underground Gallery Tomb B at Saqqara. This tomb is beneath the funeral passage of the Unas-necropolis. Many seals with King Hotepsekhemwy's name have been found in these galleries. However, other experts believe Gallery Tomb B is the burial place of King Raneb, because his seals were also found there.
Images for kids
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Bone cylinder with Hotepsekhemwy's name.
See also
In Spanish: Hetepsejemuy para niños
