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 Hor-Aha, potentially the same event. which is believed to have been built by 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.
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 ==