Sanakht facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sanakht |
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| Nebka ? Horus Sa ? | |
Relief fragment of Sanakht in the pose of smiting an enemy. Originally from the Sinai, now EA 691 on display at the British Museum.
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| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 18 years according to the Turin Canon, most likely less, starting ca. 2650 BC (3rd Dynasty) |
| Predecessor | uncertain, Sekhemkhet (most likely) or Khaba, Djoser, Khasekhemwy |
| Successor | uncertain, Khaba (most likely) or Sekhemkhet, Huni, Qahedjet, Djoser |
| Father | Khasekhemwy ? |
| Mother | Nimaathap ? |
| Burial | mastaba K2 at Beit Khallaf? |
Sanakht (also known as Hor-Sanakht) was an ancient Egyptian king, or pharaoh, who ruled during the Third Dynasty. This period is part of Egypt's Old Kingdom. Historians are still unsure exactly when Sanakht ruled. They also don't know which name the ancient historian Manetho used for him. Many experts think Sanakht might be the same king as "Nebka", but this is still debated. We know Sanakht existed because of two stone carvings found in the Sinai Peninsula.
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Unraveling Sanakht's Identity
Sanakht's exact place in the Third Dynasty is a bit of a puzzle. We know he was a real king because we've found pieces of his seals and a drawing with his name. These were found at a large tomb called mastaba K2 in Beit Khallaf.
Who Ruled First?
For a long time, some thought Sanakht was the first king of the Third Dynasty. This idea came from old lists by Manetho and the Turin Canon. However, new discoveries at Abydos have changed this view. Seals with the name of Djoser were found at the entrance to King Khasekhemwy's tomb. This suggests Djoser was the one who buried Khasekhemwy, meaning Djoser likely ruled right after him, not Sanakht.
Some experts still argue that Djoser's seals only mean he performed important ceremonies for Khasekhemwy. They say it doesn't prove Djoser was the very next king. One idea is that Sanakht married Queen Nimaathap, who might have been Khasekhemwy's daughter. Then, Sanakht and Nimaathap could have been Djoser's parents. Another idea is that Sanakht was Djoser's older brother.
Sanakht and "Nebka"
Today, most experts believe Sanakht ruled later in the Third Dynasty, after Djoser. Many Egyptologists think Sanakht is the same king as "Nebka," a name found in later king lists from the Ramesside period. They found a small piece of a clay seal that seems to show part of the name "Nebka."
However, some experts disagree. They point out that the name "Nebka" hasn't been found on any monuments or documents from before Djoser's time. Instead, some believe "Nebka" might be another king named Khaba. Others think Sanakht might be a king called Mesochris by Manetho. This shows how much mystery still surrounds Sanakht!
Sanakht's Time as Pharaoh
We don't know exactly how long Sanakht ruled Egypt. There aren't many objects or writings left from his time. This makes it hard to believe the old records that say he ruled for 18 years. These old records, like the Turin Canon, were written more than a thousand years after Sanakht lived. So, they might not be perfectly accurate.
What Did Sanakht Do?
We know very little about what Sanakht did during his reign. However, carvings of him have been found in the Wadi Maghareh in the Sinai region. Carvings of Djoser and Sekhemkhet were also found there. This suggests that ancient Egyptians had an important presence in the Sinai during the Third Dynasty. They likely went there to get valuable minerals, especially turquoise.
Where Was Sanakht Buried?
We aren't completely sure where Sanakht's tomb is. For a long time, people thought his tomb was the large mastaba K2 at Beit Khallaf. This is because pieces of stone carvings with his name were found there. However, some Egyptologists now think this mastaba might have been for a high-ranking official, a prince, or a queen, not a pharaoh. Others still believe it was Sanakht's burial place.
A Tall Discovery
Inside mastaba K2, archaeologists found the bones of a very tall man. He was over 1.87 meters (about 6 feet 2 inches) tall! This was much taller than the average height of ancient Egyptians, which was about 1.67 meters (about 5 feet 6 inches). The man's skull was also very large.
Because of this tall skeleton, some connected the tomb to an old story by Manetho. He wrote about a king from the Second Dynasty named Sesochris who was said to be unusually tall.
In 2017, a team of researchers studied the bones again. They concluded that these remains are the oldest known case of gigantism in the world. Gigantism is a condition where a person grows much taller than average due to too much growth hormone.
Another idea about Sanakht's tomb is that it might be an unfinished building west of Djoser's pyramid. This is just a theory, though.
See also
- List of Pharaohs
- List of Egyptian pyramids
- List of megalithic sites
Images for kids
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Clay seal fragment bearing Sanakht's serekh from mastaba K2 at Beit Khallaf.
