Djer

(Iti) King c.3042-2995 BC.

    The third king of the First Dynasty, the name of Iti (Horus-name Djer) occurs in the Abydos King-list. He was apparently a ruler with an active foreign policy: a reference in the large Cairo fragment of the Palermo Stone mentions the 'Smiting of the Setje' (probably in Sinai) and his name also occurs in a rock-carving at Wadi Halfa, where it accompanies a battle scene and thus indicates that his military campaigns reached as far south as the Second Cataract.

    His funerary monument at Abydos may have been his actual tomb or a cenotaph, if he and the other rulers of this dynasty were buried at Saqqara. At Abydos there is evidence that the practise of human sacrifice reached its peak during his reign, for at his two funerary complexes the subsidiary burials of some six hundred attendants were found. In later times, his Abydos 'tomb' was regarded as the burial-place of the god *Osiris and a huge sarcophagus representing the god was placed there.

    It is probable that his wife was Queen Herneith, whose mudbrick tomb at Saqqara dates to his reign. In the north wall of his Abydos 'tomb', a macabre discovery was made: four bracelets made of gold, turquoise and lapis lazuli were discovered, still encircling the detached arm of a woman (probably a queen); this ancient booty had probably been hidden there by tomb-robbers who were disturbed in the course of their actions.

BIBL. Emery, W.B. Archaic Egypt. Harmondsworth: 1972; Emery, W.B. Great Tombs of the First Dynasty. (Three vols) Cairo and London: 1949-58; Petrie, W.M.F. The Royal Tombs of the First Dynasty. London: 1900.

Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt by Rosalie and Antony E. David

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(reigned c. 3050 BC)

   Third king of Dynasty 1. Successor and probable son of Aha. His mother was Khenethap. His tomb has been excavated at Abydos, and among the finds was an arm with fine jewelry of the period. His tomb was later identified as the tomb of Osiris.

   See also Djet.

Historical Dictionary Of Ancient Egypt by Morris L. Bierbrier