Khasekhemwy (2610–2593 BC) | Egypt History

Who was the Pharoah Khasekhemwy?

King Khasekhemwy was the last king of the Second Dynasty after Peribsen according to the Abydos King List, Saqqara King List, and Royal Canon of Turin.

Khasekhemwy Family

King Khasekhemwy married Queen Nimaathap who carried the title of mother of the King’s Children. They were king Djoser’s wife Hetephernebti and the parents of his successors Sekhemkhet and Sanakhte.

 Khasekhemwy Royal titulary

From the beginning of the Old Kingdom onwards, each king had five names made up of his name. These titularies were announced at the coronation when a pharaoh officially became king.

Khasekhemwy was the last king of the Thinite Dynasty or the Early Dynastic Period which is before the Old Kingdom. So far, we found only three titularies for him.

Horus name

Kha sekhem (some believe he had a similar predecessor with a very similar name or maybe there are the same person)

The powerful one has appeared

Kha sekhem wy

The powerful ones have appeared

Kha sekhemwy hetep netjerwy imef

The two powerful ones have appeared, the two lords being satisfied with him

Nebty Name

Kha sekhemwy hetep netjerwy imef

The two powerful ones have appeared, the two lords being satisfied with him

Throne name

Bebety

Facts about Khasekhemwy

1. Khasekhemwy was the last King of the 2^nd Dynasty of ancient Egyptian history during the Early Dynastic Period.
2. The King ruled Egypt according to some for 30 years or 18 years
3. He was the successor of Peribsen
4. Some believe the king changed his name from Khasekhem to Khasekhemwy after he put down various rebellions.
5. The only one decorated his Serekh with the God Horus and The God Seth.
6. His name means “The Two Powerful Ones appear”
7. He fights the northern enemies in the city of Nekheb (Hierakonpolis)
8. To consolidate his rule, he married a northern princess names Nimaathap, who could be the mother of Djoser from the 3^rd Dynasty
9. The name Khasekhemwy was the first king to appear at the Lebanese site of Byblos
10. Schist and limestone statues were found in Hierakonpolis for Khasekhemwy
11. His tomb at Abydos is very huge and big
12. He defeated the Nubians according to a relief found at Hierakonpolis
13. Shunet el-Zebib is his very important building at Abydos close to the Kom El Sultan area where they found later the only ivory statue we have for Cheops, the builder of the Great Pyramid in Giza
14. Inside Shunet El Zebib, David O’Connor found the Ibis burials and Ibis Eggs
15. Khasekhemwy ruled Egypt from Abydos but the royal palace was never found

Conclusion

That was a quick idea about one of the most important Kings in the Archaic Period in Egypt and his building in Shunet El Zebib inspired Djoser later with his Step Pyramid complex.

We know the king was helped by some officials and he held all the reins of power. Meanwhile, we have hints about some national military organizations during the Thinite Period.

Tips for Knowing more about Khasekhemwy

If you want to know more about Khasekhemwy, do not forget to visit his amazing mudbrick building at Shunet El Zebib and the other monuments around it especially Kom El Sultan, the temple of Ramesses II, and the temple of Seti I.