The origins of ancient Egypt date from the Predynastic period to the Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt (5000-2920BC). Scattered Predynastic chiefdoms become a civilisation through the imposition of order from chaos, derived from divinely conferred kingly power. Early evidence of such rulership is found at the Predynastic city of Nekhen. Dated to the Naqada IIC period (3600-3300BC), tomb 100 (“Painted Tomb”) is a tomb at the royal Nekhen cemetery. From Predynastic beginnings, rulers evolved from petty chiefs vying for power to god-kings ruling over a unified Egypt. The owner of Tomb 100 was one of the very first Predynastic kings, who helped establish a pattern for future rulers. Through this combination of religion and the establishment of order, such kings forged the ancient Egyptian civilisation.

1. Egypt: Land of God-Kings
By Caroline Seawright

2. The Rise of the Old Kingdom
☥ The origins of ancient Egypt date from the
Predynastic period to the Unification of Upper and
Lower Egypt (5000-2920BC).
☥ Scattered Predynastic chiefdoms become a
civilisation through the imposition of order from
chaos, derived from divinely conferred kingly
power.
☥ Early evidence of such rulership is found at the
Predynastic city of Nekhen.

3. Tomb 100
☥ Dated to the Naqada IIC period (3600-3300BC),
tomb 100 (“Painted Tomb”) is a tomb at the royal
Nekhen cemetery.
Figure 1: Plan of Tomb 100

4. Tomb 100
☥ Structure: a rectangular brick-lined pit, which had
been plastered and painted to symbolically depict
the ruler and his place in the universe.
Figure 2: Tomb 100 wall painting

5. Kingship
☥ The art displays links to later themes of kingship:
– The smiting of bound prisoners;
Figure 3a: From Tomb 100 (above)
Figure 3b: The Narmer Palette,
Old Kingdom (above)

6. Kingship
Figure 3d: Mentuhotep II,
Middle Kingdom (above)
Figure 3d: Thothmose
III, New Kingdom (above)

7. Kingship
– The royal heb-sed ritual;
Figure 4a: From Tomb 100
Figure 4b: Hatshepsut’s Heb-sed festival, New Kingdom

8. Kingship
Figure 4c: Djoser running the
heb-sed, Old Kingdom (above)
Figure 4d: Senusret I,
Middle Kingdom (above)

9. Kingship
– And the white sed-cloaked ruler with a flail.
Figure 5a: From Tomb 100 (above)
Figure 5b: King Sneferu, Old Kingdom
(right)

10. Kingship
Figure 5c: Amenemhat I,
Middle Kingdom (above)
Figure 5d: Akhenaten,
New Kingdom (above)

11. Religion
☥ The artwork also depicts religious activities, the
basis for much of the power of Egypt’s god-kings:
Figure 6: Possible religious activities

12. Religion
– The king in a heb-sed naos (shrine).
Figure 7a: From Tomb 100 (above)
Figure 7b: Ebony Label of Den, Old
Kingdom (right)

13. Religion
Figure 7c: Senusret III, Middle
Kingdom (above)
Figure 7d: Amenhotep I, New
Kingdom (above)

14. Religion
– And priests in leopard skins.
Figure 8a: From Tomb 100 (above)
Figure 8b: Ay wearing a leopard skin to
perform the Opening of the Mouth
Ceremony, New Kingdom (right)

15. Order and Chaos
☥ The painting also exhibits a common ancient
Egyptian motif: order versus chaos:
– Chaos (isfet) in the form of wild animals and warfare;
Figure 9a: From Tomb 100
Figure 9b: War relief, Middle Kingdom

16. Order and Chaos
– Order (ma’at) in the form the ruler subduing the chaos.
Figure 10a: From Tomb 100
Figure 10b: A pharaoh
spearing a lion, New Kingdom

17. Order and Chaos
Figure 11: War chest of Tutankhamen, New Kingdom
Note the overall composition, showing order on the left and chaos on the
right, with the king dominating the centre.

18. Conclusion
☥ From Predynastic beginnings, rulers evolved from
petty chiefs vying for power to god-kings ruling over
a unified Egypt.
☥ The owner of Tomb 100 was one of the very first
Predynastic kings, who helped establish a pattern
for future rulers.
☥ Through this combination of religion and the
establishment of order, such kings forged the
ancient Egyptian civilisation.

19. Questions?
Figure 12: 1898-9 Excavation of Tomb 100

20. References
☥ Beyoku 2008, Mentuhotep Smiting, image, Flickr.com, viewed 24 August 2013, <http
://www.flickr.com/photos/8350072@N05/2826116984/>.
☥ Braverman, A 2007, Tutankhamun, image, Flickr.com, viewed 24 August 2013, <
☥
☥
☥
☥
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/theheartindifferentkeys/2451975178/>.
CaptMondo 2008, Ebony Label of Den from the British Museum, image, Wikimedia
Commons,
viewed
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August
2013,
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21. References
☥ Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology n.d., Hierakonpolis Tomb 100 wall painting,
image,
Brown
University,
viewed
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August
2013,
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http://proteus.brown.edu/introtoegypt/6526>.
☥ Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology n.d.(b), Fragmentary war relief of Nebhepetre
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☥ Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology n.d.(c), One side of the Narmer palette, image,
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viewed
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August
2013,
<
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☥ Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology n.d.(d), Osiris statue of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II,
image,
Brown
University,
viewed
17
August
2013,
<
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☥ Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology n.d.(e), Thutmosis III smiting, from Karnak,
image,
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viewed
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August
2013,
<http://
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☥ Kairoinfo4u 2008, Museum Cairo Sesostris III, image, Flickr.com, viewed 24 August
2013, <http://www.flickr.com/photos/manna4u/2719445474>.

22. References
☥ Kairoinfo4u 2008b, Heb Sed Amenhotep I, image, Flickr.com, viewed 24 August 2013,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/manna4u/2254702849/>.
☥ Kemp, BJ 2007, Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization, 2nd edn, Routledge,
Abingdon, UK.
☥ Matthews, A 2009, This is a close up of king Sneferu in his Heb Sed robes, image,
Flickr.com,
viewed
24
August
2013,
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/allanmatthews/6519095313/>.
☥ Quibell, JE, and Green, FW 1902, Hierakonopolis Part II, William Clowes and Sons
Ltd, London.
☥ Rothenflug, R 2011, Course rituelle d'Hatchepsout, image, Les temples de Louxor,
viewed
17
August
2013,
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etRetourB.html>.
☥ Scarre, C, and Fagan, BM 2008, Ancient Civilizations, 3rd edn, Pearson Prentice Hall,
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☥ Study Blue Inc 2013, Running relief of Zoser, image, StudyBlue.com, viewed 24 August
2013, <http://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/old-kingdom-egypt-dynasties-iiiand-iv-/deck/1313742>.

23. References
☥
☥
Teeter, E 2011, Before the Pyramids: The Origins of Egyptian Civilization, The Oriental
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☥ Williams, B, Logan, TJ, and Murnane, WJ 1987, ‘The Metropolitan Museum Knife
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Figure 13: 1898-9 Excavation of Tomb 100