NARMER AND DYNASTY I

Narmer known as Menes to the Greeks is considered to be the first Pharaoh of Kemet (Ancient Egypt). Dishonest academics claim 3100 BCE as the emergence of Kemet as a nationstate. However this is false. A falsified version of history political motivated and perpetuated by both early racist Egyptologist and the Arab Republic of Egypt. Contrary to popular belief Narmer was not the first Pharaonic King in the Nile Valley. He was merely the first Pharaonic King to conquer the Delta region and absorb Asiatics into the Southern Kingdom of Ta-Shemau “the Land of Reeds” now referred to as Upper Egypt.

Tjenu, known as Thinis to modern Egyptians was the birthplace of Narmer and remains undiscovered, yet is well attested by ancient writers, including the classical historian Manetho, who cites it as the center of the Thinite Confederacy, a tribal confederation whose leader, Narmer (or Menes), united Kemet and was its first pharaoh to rule over the native population and Asiatic settlers of the Delta. After coming from the south and marching North to the Delta to unite the two lands, Lower Kemet (ancient Egypt) would become a major hub for trade and commerce for the Southern Monarchs as the Delta was a strategic region which allowed the Pharaonic Kings of Upper Kemet to control the flow of African goods such as gold, ivory, ebony, spices and incense, into the near East and Mediterranean world.

The Delta become a doorway into the Levant and Mediterranean world and by absorbing this region into their Southernly Kingdom the Africans of Upper Kemet now controlled trade and commerce between Africa, Europe and Asia. Ta-Seti, a Nubian Provence was the first Nome of ancient Kemet located within a historical region where the culture of Pharaonic Kingship was developed. This region was the home of Black Africans and remain that to this day. It is over 1000 km from the Mediterranean Sea and bordered modern day Sudan. The Delta was the last Nome to be absorbed into the African civilization of ancient Kemet.

When Narmer came from the South he conquered the Delta region uniting Lower and Upper Kemet. Upper Kemet would continue to serve as the political, spiritual and power center of the nation. Lower Kemet in these times was inhospitable and the Delta was but a wet marshland. But centuries earlier in the seasonally dry channels between the Forth and Second Cataract, early African farmers learned to manage parts of the river’s annual flood. These farming techniques are directly connected to the Napta Stone Circle located in modern day Sudan and the tracking of the procession of the equinox. This ancient knowledge would be transferred into Kemet’s wide floodplain, giving rise to the early Naqada civilization in Upper Kemet.

The Kemetyu through their relationship and cultural fusion with the Nehesy (Nubians) used the thousands of years of accumulated knowledge to accurately predict the flood season and transform the wet marshlands of the Delta into the world’s most fertile farmland. They would also use this knowledge to build the Great Pyramids. Their mastery of sacred geometry allowed them to align the Great Pyramid nearly perfectly along the cardinal points, North, East, South and West, within one fifteenth of a degree of true north. Although each was their own nation with its own idenтιтy, Ta-Meri , Ta- Netjer, And Ta-Seti were connected, culturally, commercially, and spiritually. The cultural exchange between these three Nile Valley civilizations was fluid. The emergence of Kemet was an evolution of African science, philosophy and agriculture which seeded the very foundations of civilization.

Were Ancient Egyptians Black? Let’s Look at the Evidence

Ancient Egyptians were sophisticated and culturally rich, but how much do we know about what they really looked like?

maiherpri papyrus black egyptian king tut mask

Ancient Egypt is one of the most fascinating periods in our human history, and it has been studied for thousands of years. Although we have many surviving artefacts from this time period, there is still much speculation about what Ancient Egyptians actually looked like. In Western drama productions Egyptians are often portrayed with white or brown skin. But is this actually accurate? Or were ancient Egyptians black? Let’s look into the history of Ancient Egypt to find out more.

Ancient Egyptians Were Likely To Be Ethnically Diverse

Ancient Egyptian portraits MEN WOMEN — Egyptian mummy portraits, 1st c. B.C.E. – 1st c. C.E., image courtesy of People of Ar

Historical evidence from Egyptian texts, artworks and mummies suggests ancient Egypt was always ethnically diverse, so could not be classed as belonging to any one racial category. But it is worth noting that the skin-colour distinctions we have today didn’t exist in ancient Egypt. Instead, they simply classified themselves by the regions where they lived. Scholarly research suggests there were many different skin colours across Egypt, including what we now call white, brown and black. But this is still a subject of much debate. Many believe skin colours varied between different regions of Egypt, such as Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt and Nubia. Because Ancient Egyptians were around for about 3,000 years, it is also highly likely that changes in ethnicity took place throughout this long timespan.

Evidence Reveals There Were Many Black Ancient Egyptians

Kemet people ancient Egypt — Kemet people of Ancient Egypt, image courtesy of The African History

Some historians, archeologists and writers over the years have argued that ancient Egypt was a predominantly black civilization, populated by Sub-Saharan Africans. Their research shows how ancient Egyptians once called the land of Egypt and the entire African continent Kemet, meaning “land of the black people.” Some scholars even argue that all black people are descended from ancient Egypt – Michael Jackson’s 1991 music video for Remember the Time is one of the most popular and widespread allusions to this interpretation of history.

Prominent Black Ancient Egyptians

Maiherpri Egyptian papyrus — Papyrus of Maiherpri revealing his dark hair and skin tone, image courtesy of the Egypt Museum

There is much evidence showing how ancient Egypt was ruled and governed by various prominent black leaders. One is the powerful nobleman Maiherpri, who was alive during the reign of Thutmose IV. After his death he was buried in the Valley of the Kings. We know of his skin colour from his mummy and from illustrated manuscripts, in which he appears darker skinned than the more widely circulated images of Egyptians. It is believed he may be Nubian or of Nubian descent. Queen Ahmose-Nefertari is also often identified as black, and according to contemporary Egyptologist Sigrid Hodel-Hoenes, her skin colour was worshipped because it echoed the “colour of both the fertile earth and the netherworld and death.” It is thought Lady Rai, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Nefertari was also black. Her mummy is in remarkably good condition and reveals her dark skin and braided hair.

Were Ancient Egyptians Black? Let’s Look at the Evidence

Ancient Egyptians Were Likely To Be Ethnically Diverse

Evidence Reveals There Were Many Black Ancient Egyptians

Prominent Black Ancient Egyptians

Some Ancient Egyptians Were From the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East

These Discoveries Tie In With Some Surviving Egyptian Artworks and Decorated Artefacts

Egyptians Painted Different Skin Colours For Men and Women

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