The Second Dynasty of Ancient Egypt History

• 16 / 5 / 2023

The Second Dynasty of Ancient Egypt History

The Second Dynasty of Ancient Egypt is characterized by continuities and disruptions. It was created out of the turmoil established in the wake of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt in the First Dynasty. In these years, much earlier tradition of the pharaohs and the state was being upheld while being punctuated by political instability, court intrigues, and emergent complexity of royal succession. The Second Dynasty further cemented certain cultural and political challenges Egypt was determined to encounter in the years thereafter. Thus, this period makes for a very interesting phase in the history of this ancient civilization.

Foundation of the Second Dynasty

The Second Dynasty begins with King Hotepsekhemwy in succession to the last ruler of the First Dynasty, Qa'a. Very little is known about the specifics of Hotepsekhemwy's reign; however, it is thought that he secured his own power through consolidating the policies of the first pharaohs and maintaining Egyptian unification. His reign was also the first that could truly be characterized as focused on securing the central authority of the pharaoh.

Considered after Hotepsekhemwy, his successor Djoser is often thought of as one of the most notable faces in the Second Dynasty, but his legacy cannot be as easily compared to that of the more famous Djoser of the Third Dynasty. Regardless, the pharaohs of the Second Dynasty continued to practice many of the traditions of their predecessors, supporting Egypt's central authority and enhancing the powers of the monarchy.

In fact, until now we do not know the reasons that led to the fall of the first dynasty and the establishment of a second family. We are unaware of the incidents that took place and ended with the capture of another family by the throne, and we also do not know the relationship between the two families if there is a fact that the king transferred from one family to another. We follow Manetho in his division of dynasties, and he undoubtedly had sufficient documentation to justify that division.

The first and the second dynasties are called the archaic period by historians, and it ended with the formation of the Old Kingdom and the beginning of the dynastic period by the third dynasty.

In fact, we do not see any change or sense of any effect of a sudden transition, so everything continued in its natural course, whether in terms of technical development or the organization of the government in general.
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These pharaohs did not differ from the previous kings in their deeds. Going to exploit the quarries of Sinai and trying to calm the north was one of their most important deeds.

Some traces indicating their activity were found, but no trace was found of the tombs of some of the kings of that family in Abydos, which is likely because they preferred to reside in the northern capital (Memphis) (white wall or white castle (according to the opinion of Dr. Ahmed Fakhry)) and preferred to construct their tombs. We see what these kings left as signs of palaces built by the kings after the fourth year of their rule.

and the temples they establish for various deities, especially the god “falcon” (the falcon), which is one of the greatest idols of the new capital. We also see from the seals of their employees' steady progress in the governmental organization and the presence of various departments.