Djoser (Netjerykhet) (2630—2611)

Djoser statue' base

King Djoser was the first king of the Third Dynasty (present-day sources give the Horus name Netjerkhet: the name Djoser is only attested in later sources). Builder of the step pyramid in Saqqara. The complex is published in several volumes (Lauer 1936/1939 - the architecture). The second pharaoh of the third dynasty was Netjerykhet, the son of Khasekhemwy. As Well known as Djoser, he governed for almost two decades and is credited with building the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The king's vizier, Imhotep, was the designer of that great tomb, and of the amazing Funerary Complex of Djoser at Saqqara. Egypt known a seven year famine during Djoser's reign, so he sought the advise of Imhotep and one of his governors, Medir, and agreed to travel to Elephantine at Aswan. Once there he raised a temple to the god Khnum, who was said to controlled the flow of the Nile. The famine finished, miraculously decent, and people considered it was due to this act of faith.

Djoser is the most famous pharaoh of the third Dynasty. Through contemporary sources, he is only identified by his Horus- and Nebti-names, Netjerikhet, "the divine of body". Later sources, among which a New Kingdom reference on his Step Pyramid at Saqqara, confirm that the Djoser from the king lists and the detergent builder of the Step Pyramid, Netjerikhet are one and the same. According to the Turin King-list, Netjerikhet governed for about 19 years, following the 20 year long reign of the opposite unattested Nebka. Archaeological sources, however, have shown that he must be considered as the first king after Khasekhemwi, the last king of the 2nd Dynasty. The order by which some heralds of Kheops are mentioned on the Papyrus Westcar may confirm that Nebka must be located between Netjerikhet and Huni and not before. The fact that the "Turin King list" has observed Netjerikhet's name in red may also be large.

In view of Netjerikhet's construction projects, especially at Saqqara, the number of years attributable to him by the Turin King-list has been doubted as well. It is not supposed that the Turin King-list has wrong bi-annual cattle-counts for years. If this is indeed the case, then Netjerikhet may have found up to 37 or 38 years. Nimaathapu, the wife of Khasekhemwi, is known to have kept the title "Mother of the King". This makes it likely that Netjerikhetwas her son, with Khasekhemwi his father. Three royal women are identified from during his reign: Inetkawes, Hetephernebti and a third one whose name is destroyed. One of them might have been his wife, others perhaps daughters or sisters. The relationship between Netjerikhet and his heir, Sekhemkhet is not known.