Ka (pharaoh) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ka
Sekhen
View of Umm el-Qa'ab
Pharaoh
Reign	32nd century BCE (Dynasty 0)
Royal titulary
Died	3100 BCE
Burial	Chambers B7, B9, Umm el-Qa'ab

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

He ruled over Abydos in the late 32nd or early 31st century BC and was buried at Umm el-Qa'ab. He most likely was the immediate successor to Iry-Hor and was succeeded by Narmer. He is the earliest known Egyptian king with a serekh, inscribed on a number of artefacts.

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, the two chambers are 1.80 m apart.

Ka's tomb was first excavated by 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. The tomb of Ka (B7, B9) is close to that of Iry-Hor (B1, B2) and Narmer (B17, B18).

Images for kids

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  Map of the locations where Ka's serekhs have been found.

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  Vessel from Ka's tomb in Abydos bearing Ka's serekh on display at the British Museum.

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  Seal impression with Ka's serekh. Note the absence of the Horus falcon. British Museum.

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  Shard bearing Ka's serekh from his tomb in Abydos.

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  Shard bearing Ka's serekh from his tomb.

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  Ka's tomb in the Umm el-Qa'ab

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  Names of Ka and Ha on a jar.