Second Dynasty of Egypt
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The Second Dynasty of ancient Egypt (or Dynasty II, c. 2890 – c. 2686 BC[1]) is the latter of the two dynasties of the Egyptian Archaic Period, when the seat of government was centred at Thinis. Save for the time of its last ruler Khasekhemwy, it marks one of the most obscure periods in ancient Egyptian history.
Though archaeological evidence of the time is very scant, contrast of data from the First and Third Dynasties indicates important institutional and economic developments during the Second Dynasty.[2][3]
Rulers
The names of the actual rulers of the Second Dynasty are in dispute. For the first five pharaohs, the sources are fairly close in agreement. Known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for this dynasty are as follows:
| Name | Years Reigned |
|---|---|
| Hotepsekhemwy | 38 |
| Nebra (maybe identifiable with Weneg)[4] | 10–14 |
| Nynetjer | 40 |
| Senedj (maybe identifiable with Horus Sa[5]) | 20 |
However, the identity of the next two or three rulers is unclear: we may have both the Horus-name or Nebty (meaning two ladies) name and their birth names for these rulers; they may be entirely different individuals; or they may be legendary names. On the left are the rulers most Egyptologists place here; on the right are the names that ultimately come from Manetho's Aegyptica:
| Proposed Ruler | Manetho's List |
|---|---|
| Seth-Peribsen | Kaires |
| Nepherkheres | |
| Sekhemib-Perenmaat | Sesokhris |
With the last ruler, we return to an agreement:
| Name | Years Reigned |
|---|---|
| Khasekhemwy | 17–18 |
Although Manetho states the capital was at Thinis, the same as during the First Dynasty, at least the first three kings were buried at Saqqara, suggesting the center of power had moved to Memphis. Beyond this, little can be said about the events during this period; the annual records on the Palermo stone only survive for the end of the reign of Nebra and for parts of Nynetjer's. One important event possibly happened during the reign of Khasekhemwy: many Egyptologists read his name ("the Two Powers arise") as commemorating the union of the Upper and Lower Egypts.
References
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| Preceded by | Dynasty of Egypt c. 2890 – 2686 BC |
Succeeded by Third dynasty |
