You Know More Pharaohs Than You Think Quiz

Answer: Narmer

Narmer (also identified with Menes) was the first pharaoh to fully unite Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. ("Lower" in this case refers to the lower part of the Nile River--the Nile Delta--and "upper" refers to the portion of the Nile adjacent to but upstream of the Delta.) He reigned so far back in history that historians do not have exact dates for him but he was probably alive somewhere around 3100 BCE (give or take a century).

The process of unification was begun by his immediate predecessors, but Narmer is the one who made it viable in the long term. If we try to go back to leaders before Narmer we are moving back into the realm of semi-historical and mythical figures who were rulers over Upper Egypt or Lower Egypt or even smaller areas. These earlier rulers are often only know by a few inscriptions on stone.

By comparison, we have a much higher number of references to Narmer throughout Egypt and even outside of Egypt. Artifacts (including pottery shards) suggest that Narmer led an expedition into Canaan, causing an increase of trade and Egyptian influence over that region. Egyptologists consider Narmer's reign to be the beginning of Egypt's First Dynasty.

Answer: Khufu

Khufu reigned during Egypt's Old Kingdom as the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. Khufu (also known as Cheops) reigned over Egypt in the period around 2600 BCE. He is probably best known for his association with the Great Pyramid of Giza. Under the religious beliefs of Ancient Egypt, a person felt compelled to preserve his or her body in order to be part of the afterlife. Khufu, being the pharaoh, could had a more permanent solution for the situation.

The Great Pyramid, in addition to being broad at the base, was also the tallest man-made structure in the world (at 455 feet) when it was built--a record it would hold for almost 4,000 years. Contrary to popular belief, the Pyramid was probably built not with slave labor but conscripted (though paid) laborers. Over a period of about 27 years, thousands of laborers largely using hand tools and human effort constructed the Pyramid.

Several of the historical sources (including Herodotus and Diodorus) describe Khufu as a tyrannical leader who was not liked. Perhaps there is a connection between the large amount of labor on the Pyramid and how the contemporary Egyptians felt about Khufu. Other historians and Egyptologists suggest that the negative interpretations of Khufu were overstated.

Answer: Pepi II

While there were a handful of pharaohs who have had very long lives and very long reigns, Pepi was the choice that reigned during the Sixth Dynasty. It is suggested that his lifespan may have been from 284-2184 BCE with his reign beginning in 2278 BCE. Historians suggest that there may have been a drop off in Pepi's effectiveness in the last few years of his reign due to a loss of vigor in his old age. His mother was likely his regent in the early years of his reign.

His foreign policy include a steady stream of trade including with Nubia. Otherwise there was a decline of power of the Old Kingdom as Egypt began to decentralize.

Answer: Senusret III

While some historians believe that Senusret encountered Joseph, there is no record of him appointing a foreigner from Canaan to a high government position. Joseph's pharaoh would have lived during the second millennium BCE and would probably been a successful leader. In Egypt and some foreign lands, he was even worshipped as a god during his lifetime.

Senusret III ruled Egypt from 1878 to 1839 BCE. He reign is generally described as peaceful and economically prosperous. He may be the basis for the legendary Pharaoh Sesostris. He did lead multiple--though seemingly successful--military expeditions into Nubia. He also was responsible for a canal that ran alongside much of the lower length of the Nile River.

Answer: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut (1479-1458 BCE) was one of the earliest women to rule over Egypt and a member of the 18th Dynasty. In the royal family of an Egyptian dynasty, the pharaoh was often married to a very close relative. Hatshepsut and her husband, the Pharaoh Thutmose II, were also half-siblings (they shared a common father, Pharaoh Thutmose I.) Hapshetsut would claim the throne after the death of Thutmose II and in turn would be succeeded by Thutmose III (son of Thutmose II by another wife). Hatshepsut initially served as a regent for Thutmose III before claiming the throne in her own right. Thutmose II and Hatshepsut had a daughter, Neferure, who held high positions in government (though never as pharaoh).

During Hatshepsut's reign, a trade delegation was able to bring 31 myrrh trees back from the land of Punt (an ancient region that is suggested may be in modern Somalia or northern Sudan) and had the successfully replanted. In addition, a number of temples were built during her reign.

Answer: Akhenaten

He began his reign (1353-1336 BCE) as Amenhotep IV, but spent most of it as Akhenaten. He did not invent the "cult of Aten" (focus on Aten, the sun disc), but he did bring it royal support. As such he attempted to switch Egypt's religious focus from polytheism (worship of multiple gods) to a more monotheistic (belief in one god) focus. It is unclear whether his beliefs were truly monotheistic or focused on one primary god but acknowledged the existence of other gods.

Akhenaten is also known for having had a particularly loving family life with his primary wife Nefertiti and his daughters. Art depicting Akhenaten also portrayed a very human-looking man and not idealized as many other pharaohs were. His portrayals have led historians to speculate if Akhenaten suffered from various physical ailments.

Along with the religious focus of his reign, Akhenaten called for the development of a new royal capital at Amarna. The site had largely been unoccupied before this. Contrary to the belief of some Egyptologists, Akhenaten launched various military campaigns during his reign, with mixed success. The cult of Aten would fall out of royal favor shortly after his death.

Answer: Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun had a relatively brief reign (1332-1323 BCE) where probably many significant decisions would be made by a regent. He was only eighteen (1341-1323 BCE) at the time of his death. What makes Tutankhamun one of the best known of all of the Egyptian pharaohs? Unlike many pharaohs whose tombs had already been robbed, the tomb of Tutankhamun had been discovered mostly intact in the 20th century.

A group under the leadership of archaeologist Howard Carter and financially supported by George Herbert, Earl of Carnarvon, discovered "King Tut's" tomb in 1922. It was a relatively small tomb for a pharaoh (who had died at a relatively young age, before a larger one could be prepared). The contents of the tomb have since been exhibited around the world.

Answer: Ramesses II

Ramesses II, of the 19th Dynasty, had a very long reign (1279-1213 BCE). He lived until approximately 90 and was a vigorous leader through nearly all if not all of his reign. A number of scholars has suggested that Ramesses was the pharaoh mentioned in the Biblical Book of Exodus. However, he appears not to have died drowned in the Red Sea.

Early in his reign, Ramesses led a number of military campaigns to regain Egyptian territory that had been lost under his predecessors. He also inaugurated a large building campaign including a number of temples. The capital of Egypt was moved to the city of Pi-Ramesses, built by one of his ancestors.

Answer: Necho II

The reign of Necho II (610-595 BCE) took place during the 26th Dynasty. He is known to have at least two military campaigns during his one--one involving the Assyrians and one involving Babylon. During his reign there was an attempt to build a canal connecting the Nile River with the Red Sea. He also led the creation of an Egyptian navy.

The ancient historian Herodotus describes an naval exhibition sent out by Necho that circumnavigated (nearly) Africa over the course of three years from the Red Sea to Egypt's northern coast.

Answer: Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra VII (51 to 30 BCE) was the final ruler of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, itself the final dynasty to rule Egypt before its conquest by Rome. She was the only ruler of Ptolemy's line to learn the Egyptian language. During her reign, she was involved in civil war much of the time with her brothers/co-rulers. In history, she was known in part for her relationships with both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, though her attraction to the two men may have been more personality than beauty.

Siding with Marc Antony is his conflict with Octavian (later Augustus), she became separated from him following the Battle of Actium. In danger of being captured by Octavian and paraded in Rome, Cleopatra committed suicide by poisoning (not an asp as Shakespeare suggested). After her death, rulers of the Roman Empire sometimes used the title pharaoh (though only in reference to Egypt) as late as the fourth century. It would be in reference to Egypt as a province rather than an independent entity.