Who is the oldest pharaoh?

Who is the Oldest Pharaoh?

First of all, more than five millennia ago, the captivating tale of Ancient Egypt began, and one of the most frequent questions posed by explorers and buffs of history alike is: Which Egyptian Pharaoh was the earliest? The response draws us into the world’s premiere civilization, which thrived in the Nile Valley.

The First Pharaoh of Egypt – Narmer (King Menes)

King Narmer is Menes to the rest of the world and the very first king of Egypt. Also, Menes, or the First Pharaoh, is celebrated for winning the conquest of Lesp and Upper Egypt in 3100 BCE. His victory marks the formation of the First Dynasty and the Early Dynastic Period, which includes his reign over the Twenty-Seventh and Twenty-Eighth Dynasties. Pharaoh Menes has become a cornerstone to all Egyptian rulers, as he is considerate the first of over 30 dynasties of pharaohs.

In addition, celebrated archaeologically is the Narmer Palette where we can see the depiction of Narmer. From it we can conclude that he is crowned with crowns of both Upper and Lower Egypt, symbols that mark the unification of both lands. Also, this is what celebrates him as the very first pharaoh and one of the most celebrated ones in ancient Egypt.

Other Ancient Pharaohs of the Early Dynasties

Even though Narmer is generally regarded as the first pharaoh, other First Dynasty pharoahs such as Hor-Aha, who is believed to have succeeded Narmer, and Djer, are also the earliest known kings. Additionally, their reign marked the beginning of effective political control alongside the political and religious customs and burial practices that would characterize Ancient Egyptian civilization for thousands of years.

Why Does the Oldest Pharaoh Matter?

Knowing the identity of the first pharaoh enables visitors and researchers to admire the length of Egypt’s civilization. Upon visiting the Egyptian Museum in Cairo or the Grand Egyptian Museum, you will explore the Egyptian civilization from Narmer’s offer and from more than 5,000 years back.

For travelers, visiting Egypt is like stepping into a living timeline—witnessing the time of the earliest Pharaohs from the First Dynasty and the magnificent rulers like Ramses II and Tutankhamun.

Final Answer

King Narmer (Menes), the oldest King of Egypt, is thought to be the Pharaoh who reigned ~3100 BCE and unified Lower and Upper Egypt. Ancient Egyptian civilization truly began with his rule, which makes him one of the historical persons with the utmost influence.