Hor-Aha

Reign

Successor to Narmer

Seal impressions discovered by Günter Dreyer in the Umm El Qa'ab from Den and Qa'a burials identify Hor-Aha as the second pharaoh of the first dynasty. His predecessor Narmer had united Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt into a single kingdom, Upper and Lower Egypt. Hor-Aha probably ascended the throne in the mid 31st century BC.

Interior policy

Hor-Aha appears to have commemorated visits to a number of religious sites, for ritual activities. One year label of Aha (Aha3) from Abydos appears to record both a visit to a shrine of Neith (likely at Sais). It has been suggested this was to honour the lower Egyptian origins of Neithhotep if she was indeed his mother. Furthermore, the same label in the second register appears to commemorate a visit to the Djebaut (ḏbꜥ.wt) shrine in Buto. A third visit to a religious site may be recorded on the right hand side of the first register of the Naqada label. Which has a combination of signs, that although often argued to be evidence in the Narmer-Menes debate, may simply be read instead as a visit or founding of a nb.tj (nebty, two ladies) shrine. It is now the general consensus that the Naqada label has no bearing on the Narmer-Menes debate. Moreover, many scholars doubt that it is a nebty name as the nebty name simply is not in use this early on.

Furthermore, the first register of the Naqada label may show an iꜥb nṯr.w or iꜥb sḫm.w barque of Sokar (rather than a Henu or Maaty barque), or alternatively it may depict a following of Horus event which is more administrative in nature. The other above mentioned label Aha3 which commemorates the visit to the Djebaut shrine at Buto, also shows other ritual activity taking place there, possibly even a running of the Apis bull along with other connected rituals. Moreover, the second register of the Naqada label depicts potentially some kind of ritual feast. One other label of Aha (Aha2) also appears to depict a ritual event in which human sacrifice takes place. Furthermore, the labels of Aha's reign attest to the fashioning of 2 or 3 Imiut (im.i-wt) fetishes. Label Aha5, however, depicts the sign Gardiner code E15, and so may instead be read as Anubis instead of an Imiut fetish, and thus interpreted as the fashioning of a statue of Anubis. A making of a statue of Anubis is also recorded on the surviving year entries on the Palermo stone dated to the last year of the reign of Hor-Aha.

The magnificent Naqada Mastaba at a size of 54m by 27m, Excavated by De Morgan, dates to the reign of Hor-Aha. It is a monumental 'palace facade' mastaba tomb, with 16 chambers and 5 larger and deeper inner chambers, of which the middle is the burial chamber. De Morgan states that the outer 16 chambers are for burial goods, but according to Kahl et al they are purely architectural features formed by the supporting walls as a structural element of the superstructure. The structure had a low bench around the outer walls, and a mud brick enclosure wall. The names Narmer, Aha, Rekhit and Neithhotep have been found here. The burial assemblage of this tomb is exceedingly high status for this period, with ivory vessels inscribed with Rekhit, and Neithhotep in the Burial chamber, along with ivory fragments associated with a coffin like object. Furthermore, ivory and copper objects, as well as stone palettes, expensive beads, and stone vessels have been found in other chambers. As for the occupant of this tomb, there are two main candidates, Rekhit and Neithhotep, now considering the exceedingly high status of this burial and scale of the tomb, Neithhotep is often considered by scholars to be most likely, and so usually identified as the occupant. However, some consider Rekhit, a possible, brother/half brother or son of Aha to be the tombs occupant due to him being the most attested individual within the tomb. It is also now known, however, that Neithhotep out lived Aha, and is attested alongside Djer, Aha's successor on a graffito at Wadi Ameyra in the Sinai.

The oldest Mastaba at Saqqara is tomb S3357 which dates to the reign of Hor-Aha, and is of the 'palace facade' type, excavated by Emery. It is approximately 42m by 16m, and notably has a boat grave. It is generally considered to have had one the highest officials of Aha as its occupant, likely a member of the royal family. Which makes the possible princes of Aha, Het, Sa-Iset and Rekhit mentioned on seals and burial goods of the tomb potential candidates for the occupant of the tomb. Most importantly though, is it marks the appearance of the first tomb in Saqqara, the Memphite necropolis under Aha, coinciding with his larger concentration of attestations in the region compared to predecessors, for example, at Helwan and Zawyet el-Aryan. Showing an intensification of Royal interest in Memphis under Aha, which indeed would make sense given Manetho's remark that Aha built a palace in Memphis, it is likely according to Heagy that Aha moved the residence from Thinis to Memphis.

Economic development

Few artifacts remain of Hor-Aha's reign. However, the finely executed copper-axe heads, faience vessel fragments, ivory box and inscribed white marbles all testify to the flourishing of craftsmanship during Aha's time in power. Furthermore, Hor-Aha's tomb complex at Umm el-Qa'ab, is far larger than his predecessors. This has even been used by some as an argument for the identification of Aha with Menes. However, it in general testifies to a growing capacity for the contemporary administration to command significantly larger quantities of labour than ever before.

Activities outside Egypt

Inscription on an ivory tablet from Abydos suggests that Hor-Aha led an expedition against the Nubians. On a year tablet, a year is explicitly called 'Year of smiting of Ta-Sety' (i.e. Nubia).

During Hor-Aha's reign, trade with the Southern Levant seems to have been on the decline. Some scholars consider Hor-Aha to be unattested in the Southern Levant. However, many would identify a serekh on a vessel fragment from En Besor as his, and so it is quite possible Hor-Aha is indeed attested in the Southern Levant. Although, clearly a major drop in attestations in the Southern Levant when compared to Narmer, who is attested securely many times at multiple sites. Either way the Egyptian outpost in En Besor is known to have been active in the reign of Hor-Aha, and Hor-Aha's tomb also contained fragments of pottery from Syro-Palestine. Furthermore, the Naqada label mentioned above may also attest to this. If Helck's interpretation of the boat scene in the Neith shrine visit labels third register is followed, and timber is indeed being transported. Then it may imply that the toponyms mentioned could be as far out as Lebanon, the usual source for Egypt's timber. To corroborate this, analysis of the timber in Hor-Aha's tomb has shown it is cedar wood which was procured by Egyptians exclusively from Lebanon. Thus the earliest known Egyptian contact with Lebanon (likely Byblos), is securely dated to Hor-Aha's reign.

Year-by-year records

The Palermo stone lists the final year and death of Hor-Aha's reign, as well as the heights of the Nile for each.

• last year: Following of Horus, creating an image of Anubis. (damaged)
• year of death: 6 months and 7 days.

Manetho

According to the Egyptian priest Manetho (who lived over 2,600 years after Hor-Aha's reign), Aha built a palace in Memphis and was a skilled physician who wrote multiple books on anatomy.

Family

One possible family member of Aha, is the occupant of tomb B14 within his funerary complex, named Imaib (imꜣ-ib) or "Benerib" (bnr-ib), which is best translated as "Beneficent of heart, or Sweet of heart". Usually taken by scholars to be a chief wife of Aha or an important official. Based on the translation of this individuals name they have typically been identified as a female family member of Aha, however, Bestock (2009) points out that the use of the name element ib "heart", is not exclusive to women in the Early Dynastic period. Furthermore, Bestock pointed out that from Aha's funerary complex, all the occupants of the subsidiary graves (of which B14 is one), have been male. Which does indeed cast doubt on the identification of this individual as the chief wife of Aha. Three reasons were posited by Bestock for this discrepancy, firstly that, "Beneribs remains were among those recovered and the name was misinterpreted as female when Benerib is male.", "The remains weren't collected, but Benerib is male.", or "That the remains of benerib were not found but Benerib is female, thus being exceptional for her sex and status when compared to the other occupants of the subsidiary graves." Either way, based on their tomb size (chamber B14), and finds recovered, whatever Imaib/Beneribs sex, they were an important official under Aha and likely a relative of the king. Hence also Wilkinsons identification of them with a chief queen of Aha.

The Palermo stone, records the mother of Djer as Khenthap, who must then also be a Queen of Aha.

Rekhit has often been identified as a prince of Narmer, and thus a brother or half-brother to Hor-aha. However, he has also been identified as a prince of Hor-Aha, based on his name being juxtaposed next to Aha's name on some seal impressions in a type of seal known as the "prinzen seal".

Other individuals whose names have been found on seals of Aha, and whom maybe identified as Princes or Princesses, include het (ḥ.t) and Sat-iset (zꜣ.t-is.t).

Neithhotep, was most likely the mother of Hor-Aha and Queen of Narmer. Although, may also have been a wife of Aha instead, given that she lived until the reign of Djer.

Tomb

The tomb of Hor-Aha is located in the necropolis of the kings of the 1st Dynasty at Abydos, known as the Umm el-Qa'ab. It comprises three large chambers (designated B10, B15, and B19), which are directly adjacent to Narmer's tomb. The chambers are rectangular, directly dug in the desert floor, their walls lined with mud bricks. The tombs of Narmer and Ka had only two adjacent chambers, while the tomb of Hor-Aha comprises three substantially larger yet separated chambers. The reason for this architecture is that it was difficult at that time to build large ceilings above the chambers, as timber for these structures often had to be imported from Canaan.

A striking innovation of Hor-Aha's tomb is that members of the royal household were buried with the pharaoh, the earliest known retainer sacrifices in Egypt. It is unclear if they were killed or committed suicide. Among those buried were servants, dwarfs, women and even dogs. A total of 36 subsidiary burials were laid out in three parallel rows north-east of Hor-Aha's main chambers. As a symbol of royalty Hor-Aha was even given a group of young lions.

In popular culture

• Episode 1 of season 4 of Franklin & Bash, "The Curse of Hor-Aha" revolves around a rare Egyptian artifact and the protagonists trying to find it to get their boss back.
• Murder by the Gods: An Ancient Egyptian Mystery by William G. Collins is a thriller about Prince Aha (later king Hor-Aha), with Narmer as a supporting character.