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| Cartouche of Hotepsekhemwy |
Hetepsekhemwy was the first pharaoh of the 2nd Dynasty. His name is a reference to the gods Horus and Seth (The Two Mighty Ones at Rest). The king ruled Ancient Egypt for more than 35 years. During his epoch, an earthquake hit the vicinity of Bubastis in the Nile Delta. Some historians say that his brother started a military coup and threw him out of power. Pharaoh Hotepsekhemwy came to power in an unknown way and it is possible that he reached office by union to a princess. Thus we don't know if he was concerned to the old Thinite line of rulers or not. He is not thought to be the son of king Qáa, but possibly his son in law. Anyhow he made offerings and possibly took care of the old king's funeral, because sealings with his name have recently (1993) been found outside Qáa's tomb at Abydos. His name implies "the two powers are at ease" meaning that the struggle between the Horus and Set fractions in society was at peace. But this was barely more than a hope from his side, because this conflict should be a burden for generations and nearly tore Egypt apart.
He made a variety in picking his place burial by give the established Abydos cemetery and choose a position at the burial ground of the capital - Saqqara. This was made as a political move, maybe as a gesture of conciliation in the internal political struggle. Not only did he change place of burial - he made a totally new type of tomb with a new new design for his last resting place. It was a huge complex of underground galleries hewn out in the bedrock, a gigantic work of a type that never had been done in Egypt or anyplace else on Earth before. So this was a total change and break through in the technique of stone cutting and a milestone in human progress. It was got merely by accident in 1902 a bit south of the Djoser complex by the Italian archaeologist Barsanti. In the almost empty tomb numerous seals with the king's name could be saved, and thereby placing the owner. The monument seems to be in an incomplete stadium though the grave chamber and side room were completed. Around 20 minor rooms around the king's bedroom might have been made for his staff of servants. Previous ground zero is left of a superstructure (if there ever existed one) and later constructions have been built upon it perhaps unaware of its existence.
Burial place of Hetepsekhemwy:
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| Entrance to the tomb of Hetepsekhemwy |
Either the tomb was built for and used by Hotepsekhemwi and Reneb left his varnish impressions when he buried his forerunner, and brought the required funerary offerings