Unification? Achieved! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Menes

Manetho was an Egyptian priest who lived in the 3rd century BC. He wrote that there were thirty dynasties in the history of ancient Egypt, a claim which was also supported by the Greek Herodotus, who completed a tour of Ancient Egypt. Manetho also stated in his work that Narmer was the first pharaoh of the First Dyansty. Since his chronologies have been supported with historical evidence over the years, historians generally believe his information to be valid.

Although not all modern historians agree that Menes and Narmer are the same person, most history books state that the names are interchangeable for the same person.

Answer: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt

Over time, in predynastic Egypt, tribes of people who lived along the Nile organized themselves into small political units call nomes. Each nome was ruled by a leader, a nomarch, who lived in and ruled from the capital city of the nome. The annual flooding of the Nile created the need for the various nomes to cooperate on some level; as time went on they became loosely organized into what was called Upper Egypt (south along the Nile River) and Lower Egypt (at the Nile Delta). If these names seem backwards to you, remember that it does make sense that Upper Egypt would be close to the source of the river, and Lower Egypt would be at the end! Narmer was described as the "King of Both Lands and Bearer of Both Crowns".

Answer: 3100 BC

Wow, wouldn't that have been a great time to be a world traveler! What a list of sights to behold! In addition to what is already listed, the Anu Ziggurat in Uruk, Mesopotamia, was under construction, drainage and sewage systems were being built in the Indus Valley, and the Comet Hale-Bopp was seen in the night sky!

Answer: Memphis

What a diplomat Narmer was! In order to make sure that neither kingdom felt slighted, Memphis was built where the two kingdoms joined! Located in the Nile Delta area, Memphis was the capital of Eqypt throughout the Old Kingdom, and continued to be an important, thriving commercial city for hundreds of years.

The temple to the god Ptah, the creator god and patron of craftsmen, was also built there; future leaders continued to build there even after the capital was moved during the Middle Kingdom.

Answer: Serpent and vulture

The White Crown, or "Hedjet", of Upper Egypt, was adorned with a vulture while the symbol of the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, or "Deshret", was a cobra or "uraeus". Symbolizing the goddess Wadjet, the protector of Lower Egypt, the uraeus on a crown also strengthened and legitimized the ruler's claim to rule the land.

The patron of Upper Egypt, Nekheb, was associated with the vulture, the symbol of maternal protection. When Narmer unified Upper and Lower Egypt, he literally put the two crowns together to form one that was symbolic of his reign as king of both Upper and Lower Egypt.

Answer: Pharaoh

The pharaoh was not only the political and religious leader of ancient Egypt, he was also the military leader. Having the absolute power of a god, he owned all the land, collected taxes, made laws, and defended Egypt from foreign armies. From this image on the "Smiting Side" of the Narmer Palette, it appears that Narmer became pharaoh after successful battle with his enemies; although it is not absolutely sure who they were, some say they were Libyans or perhaps a Lower Egyptian stronghold that Narmer conquered.

Answer: Striking Catfish

If it seems odd to you that Narmer would choose a name connected to a catfish, then you must consider this: The catfish is a huge, strong fish. Some species grow as long as 7.5 feet and can weigh up to 250 pounds. In the Nile there is a species of catfish, "Malapterurus electricus", that can discharge as much as 350 volts in a single jolt.

There have also been debates as to whether the fins of the catfish were mounted on arrows. It would appear as though the name had significance beyond the obvious, as what seems have been the practice in naming all the first dynasty pharaohs.

Answer: She is the earliest woman in history whose name is known

There is no evidence that Narmer married his sister, as was the practice with future pharaohs. Perhaps, as a prince of Upper Egypt, marriage to a princess from Lower Egypt further symbolized unification of the two kingdoms. It is believed that Narmer and Neithhotep had a son, Hor-Aha, who succeeded Narmer as pharaoh.

His wife, Benerib, might have been his sister. The drawing above was of Neithhotep's funerary mastaba, now lost to erosion, which was excavated at the end of the 19th century.

Answer: It was used in war and weaponry

A mace is "a weapon with a heavy head on a solid shaft used to bludgeon opponents". The depiction of Narmer on the Narmer Palette clearly shows him using a mace to smite his enemies. This Narmer Macehead is highly decorated. Historians believe the events depicted on the mace happened the year it was made and presented as a gift to the temple.

Answer: It was used for grinding cosmetics

The Narmer Palette was probably not created for personal use. Some believe it might have been used to grind cosmetics used to decorate the statues of the gods, and therefore would have been made for use in a temple. Although there is still discussion regarding the interpretation of the pictures on the Palette, it is considered to be one of the earliest representations of a king of Egypt, and the first historical document in the world.

There are several theories concerning the Palette; while some consider it to be a history showing actual events, others believe it might be a visual of the king asserting his power.