(fl. c. B.C. 3100-3038 B.C.)
The first pharaoh of the united kingdoms of Upper and
Lower Egypt was Menes or Aha Mena. According to the Palarmo Stone ( an important source of historical information for the
first four Egyptian Dynasties), the Mrican King Menes decisively defeated the Asian invaders and went on to unite Egypt in
approximately 3100 B.C. The boundaries of the kingdoms of Lower and Upper Egypt were never clearly defined, although Lower
Egypt appears to have consisted primarily of the Delta and the area immediately south, while Upper Egypt comprised the remainder
of the country to the first cataract (waterfall) of the Nile River.
After defeating the northern kingdom, Menes referred
to himself as "King of Upper and Lower Egypt," a title that was retained by succeeding pharaohs for thousands of years. Menes'
rule began Dynasty I which consisted of five kings and is one of the three dynasties that make up the Early Dynastic Period
which flourished from about 3100 B.C. to 2613 B.C.
The basis for the pharaohs' chronology is the Lost History of Egypt,
by Manetho, a learned Egyptian priest. Manetho's list divides the Egyptian rulers into thirty dynasties, and modern historians
have grouped the dynasties into the following sub-divisions: the Early Dynastic Period; the Old Kingdom; the First Intermediate
Period; the Middle King- dom; the Second Intermediate Period; and the New Kingdom Period.
According to the Mrican concept
of kingship the pharaoh was not a mortal, but a god made in man's image. He was the bridge between the divine forces and his
subjects. The efficacy of the pharaoh's powers maintained his people while he ruled, and also helped to sustain them from
his tomb. These attributes were adopted by Egypt's kings following the reign of Menes.
Although modern historians find
Manetho's list inadequate, they do not have sufficient documentation to rearrange the list. In many cases, the relationships
between the various rulers and dynasties are either uncertain or unknown.l'1Irthermore, many of the dates of accession are
subject to questioning.
In addition to uniting Egypt, Menes is also credited with founding the ancient city of Memphis
which was located between the two kingdoms. Because of its central location, Memphis was one of Egypt's leading cities, and
it served as the capital for a considerable period of time. The city was named after Menes, and its ruins lie not far from
present- day Cairo.
Despite our limited knowledge of Menes, his contributions to world civilization have been of considerable
importance. The political unification of Egypt played a significant role in the social and cultural development of Egypt.
Governmental and social institutions were also developed during Menes' reign, which endured with comparatively little change
for almost two millennia. FUrthermore, hieroglyphic writing developed immensely during this period, as well as technical skills
and other arts. Egypt went on to become one of the most advanced nations in the ancient world and set records of achievement
that few civilizations can rival. Menes' dates of birth and death are uncertain, but it is documented that he came from Thinis,
a small town in southern Egypt. According to Manetho, Menes reigned for sixty-two years, and he was killed by a hippopotamus.
Despite the scarcity of our knowledge of Menes, history has recorded and time has demonstrated that great civilizations
rarely achieve under an inept leader, nor are coun- tries able to retain and consolidate their power without able leadership.
Since Egypt was one of the greatest civilizations of all time, it is quite possible that both time and history will render
Menes the most influential ruler in the history of humankind.
