Prehistory
Naqada Culture: Predynastic Egypt Before the Pharaohs
The Naqada culture spread across Egypt and its rulers founded the unified Egyptian state around 3100 BC.
Region
Africa
Prehistory
Gebel el-Arak Knife: A Predynastic Egyptian Masterpiece
The knife became a key piece of evidence for contact between late Predynastic Egypt and Uruk-period Mesopotamia.
Ancient World
Memphis: Ancient Capital of Egypt and Its Ruins at Mit Rahina
Memphis served as Egypt's capital through the Old Kingdom and stayed one of its chief cities until Alexandria and later Cairo eclipsed it.
Ancient World
Narmer and the Unification of Egypt (c. 3100 BC)
Upper and Lower Egypt were ruled as a single kingdom, and Narmer is usually counted as the first king of the First Dynasty.
Ancient World
Umm el-Qa'ab at Abydos: Royal Cemetery of the First Pharaohs
The cemetery preserved the burials of Egypt's earliest kings and later became revered as the tomb of the god Osiris.
Ancient World
Merneith: First Dynasty Queen and Possible Early Female Ruler
Merneith probably governed Egypt as regent for the young king Den and received a royal-scale tomb at Abydos.
Ancient World
Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara: Egypt's First Pyramid
Egypt's first pyramid was completed as a six-step tomb at the heart of a vast stone funerary complex, opening the age of pyramid building.
Ancient World
Imhotep: Architect of Djoser and Later God of Medicine
Imhotep was remembered as the inventor of stone architecture and a great sage, and was eventually worshipped as a god of healing.
Ancient World
Meidum Pyramid: The Collapsed Pyramid of Sneferu's Era
The pyramid was completed as a smooth-sided pyramid but later lost its outer layers, leaving a tower-like core rising from a mound of debris.
Ancient World
Tomb of Hetepheres: Khufu's Mother and Her Hidden Burial
The only largely intact royal burial equipment of the Old Kingdom was recovered, but the queen's alabaster sarcophagus proved to be empty.
Ancient World
Bent Pyramid of Dahshur: Sneferu's Changing-Angle Pyramid
An experimental pyramid whose slope was reduced partway through construction; it kept more of its original casing than any other Egyptian pyramid.
Ancient World
Mummification in Ancient Egypt: Methods, Beliefs and History
Artificial mummification became the standard Egyptian way of preparing the dead for eternity and lasted until the spread of Christianity.