Naqada III facts for kids

The Narmer Palette, a famous stone carving. It might show when Upper and Lower Egypt became one country. Look for the goddess Bat at the top and the strange serpopard creatures in the middle.

Naqada III was the final part of the ancient Egyptian Naqada culture. It lasted from about 3200 BC to 3000 BC. During this time, small kingdoms started to form and grow stronger. Kings began to rule these powerful areas.

People sometimes call Naqada III "Dynasty 0" or the "Protodynastic Period." This is because kings were in charge, even though they weren't part of a long family line (a dynasty) yet. These early kings' names were written in special symbols called serekhs. You can find them on pottery and inside tombs.

The Rise of Ancient Egypt

This period was a very important time for ancient Egypt. It saw many small areas slowly join together. This process eventually led to the creation of one big country. This single country then began the Early Dynastic Period.

It was also during Naqada III that the Egyptian language was first written down. This happened using hieroglyphs, which are picture-like symbols. Archaeologists have also found proof of Egyptian towns in southern Canaan. These were likely trading posts or small colonies.

How Egypt Became One Country

The idea of forming a single state started even before Naqada III. Many small city-states grew along the Nile River. Over hundreds of years, these smaller states fought and merged. Eventually, only three main states were left in Upper Egypt: Thinis, Naqada, and Nekhen.

Naqada was located between Thinis and Nekhen. It was the first of these three to be taken over. Then, Thinis conquered the areas of Lower Egypt. We are not sure how Nekhen and Thinis became one. They might have joined together peacefully. It seems the royal family from Thinis then ruled all of Egypt. These early kings were buried in a cemetery called Umm el-Qa'ab in Abydos.

Early Rulers

Many experts believe that Narmer was the last king of the Naqada III period. They also think he was the first king of the First Dynasty. Before Narmer, other kings might have ruled parts of Upper Egypt. These include kings like Crocodile, Iry-Hor, and Ka.

Another important ruler was possibly Scorpion II. His name might be linked to the goddess Serket. She was an early protector of gods and rulers.

Key Discoveries of Naqada III

The Naqada III period spread across all of Egypt. It was a time of many important firsts:

• The first hieroglyphs were used.
• The first stories told through pictures on palettes.
• The first regular use of serekhs to write royal names.
• The first truly royal cemeteries where kings were buried.
• Possibly the first example of irrigation to water crops.

There was also a notable second invention:

• The invention of sail navigation in Egypt. This idea came from the Persian Gulf, where it was invented about 2,000 years earlier.

In February 2020, Egyptian archaeologists found 83 tombs from the Naqada III period. These tombs contained small pottery pots, seashells, makeup tools, eyeliner pots, and jewels.

Decorative Palettes

Many beautiful decorative palettes come from the Naqada III period. One famous example is the Hunters Palette. These palettes were often used to grind makeup.

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  Hunters Palette, from around 3100 BC.

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  "Four Dogs Palette" (3300–3100 BC).

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  Fragment of a ceremonial palette showing a man and a staff, around 3200–3100 BC.

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  A palette shaped like a duck.

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  Bull Palette, from 3100 BC.

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  The Battlefield Palette, possibly showing Egyptian rulers taking control of another culture, around 3100 BC.

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  Fragment of a palette, 3200–2800 BC.

Other Important Artifacts

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  A baboon statue with the name of Pharaoh Narmer on its base.

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  The Scorpion Macehead, found in the Ashmolean Museum.

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  A piece of a royal staff from the Protodynastic period, showing a king and queen.

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  A hair comb decorated with rows of wild animals, 3200–3100 BC, Naqada III.

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  A Naqada III vase with a bird pattern.

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  A typical cylindrical jar from the Naqada III period.

See also

In Spanish: Naqada III para niños

• Badarian culture
• Early Dynastic Egypt
• First Dynasty of Egypt
• List of Pharaohs
• Naqada culture
• Scorpion II
• Scorpion Macehead