2023

King Djet

Around 2941-2930 BC, the fourth Egyptian pharaoh of Dynasty I was Dyet, also known as Uadye, the "serpent".
Calling him Uenephis, Manetho attributes his reign to Sextus Julius Africanus (23 years) or Eusebius of Caesarea (42 years). Vavenephys reigned for forty-two years, according to the Armenian translation of Eusebius. A part of the Palermo Stone that was lost due to damage contained information about his reign.
Manetho states that during the reign of this king, there was a great famine but the Palermo Stone, which reports the flood levels of the Nile (a circumstance closely linked to the lack of the wealth of agricultural production), is broken precisely in correspondence with the reign of Djet.

Based on the rarity of elements in the archaeological documentation, which could indicate the lesser importance of this king compared to others of the first dynasty, many scholars believe that the duration of the reign of Djet is be estimated between five and ten years unlike what Manetho seems to attribute to him.

King Djet is known, with certainty, of the burial in the necropolis of Umm El Qa'ab, near Abydos, (tomb Z) while what is traditionally associated with him in Saqqara is probably the mastaba of a high official of the court.

Outside the tomb, there was a stele erected so the visitors could pay tribute to the dead king. This famous 1.43 m tall stele is better known as the Stele of the Serpent King and is now located at the Louvre.

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Who was King Djet, and what was his fame?

King Djet, also spelled Wadj or Uadji, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ruled during the First Dynasty of Egypt, around 3050–3000 BC. He is known for his reign during a crucial period in the early development of ancient Egypt. While historical records from this time are limited, here are some aspects of King Djet's reign:

Hieroglyphic Evidence: King Djet's name and some of his activities are known from inscriptions on artifacts and objects. These inscriptions provide some of the earliest examples of hieroglyphic writing in Egypt.

Royal Tomb: King Djet's tomb is located in the ancient burial ground of Abydos, which was a significant necropolis associated with the god Osiris. His burial site is one of the earliest royal tombs discovered in Abydos, and it is believed to have included various grave goods and offerings for the afterlife.

Royal Succession: King Djet succeeded his predecessor, King Djer, continuing the hereditary system of rule in ancient Egypt. The transition of power from one pharaoh to the next marked the establishment of a dynastic system.

Iconography: King Djet is often depicted in ancient Egyptian iconography wearing the traditional crown of Upper Egypt, known as the white crown (Hedjet). This symbolized his authority over the southern region of Egypt.

Hieroglyphic Inscriptions: The inscriptions associated with King Djet's reign include early forms of hieroglyphic writing and provide insights into the development of written language in ancient Egypt.

Cult and Worship: Like other Pharaohs, King Djet was associated with divine and cultic aspects. His role as a ruler was intertwined with religious functions, and he would have been considered a god-king.

King Djet 16 / 5 / 2023