Den (pharaoh) - Identity

Identity

Den´s serekh name was “Den” or “Dewen”, most possibly meaning “he who brings the water”. This is consistent with his birth name, which was “Khasty”, meaning “he of the two deserts”. Egyptologists such as Toby Wilkinson and Francesco Tiradritti think that the birth name refers to the eastern and the western desert - both surrounding Egypt like protective shields - or to Lower and Upper Egypt. This is in accord with the introduction by Den of the Nisut-Bity-title. This royal title was designed to legitimise the ruler´s power over whole of Egypt.

Den´s family has been the subject of significant research. His Mother was queen Meritneith; this conclusion is supported by contemporary seal impressions and by the inscription on the Palermo Stone. Den´s wives were the queens Semat, Nakht-Neith and -possibly- Qua-Neith. He had also numerous sons and daughters, his possible successors to his heirs could have been king Anedjib and king Semerkhet.

Den´s royal court is also well researched. Subsidiary tombs and palatial mastabas at Sakkara belonged to high officials such as Ipka, Ankh-ka, Hemaka, Nebitka, Amka, Iny-ka and Ka-Za. In a subsidiary tomb at Den´s necropolis, the rare stela of a dwarf named Ser-Inpu was found.

The birth name of Den was misread in ramesside times. The Royal Table of Abydos has “Sepatju” written with two symbols for “district”. This derives from the two desert symbols Den originally had used. The Royal Canon of Turin refers to “Qenentj”, which is quite difficult to translate. The origin of the hieroglyphs used the Royal Canon of Turin remains unknown. The Royal Table of Sakkara mysteriously omits Den completely.