Introduction: The Second Pharaoh
While Narmer is credited with the violent unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, his successor, Hor-Aha (c. 3100 BCE), faced the monumental task of turning a conquest into a functioning nation. His name means "Horus the Fighter," reflecting the ongoing military struggles to maintain order. Yet, he is also known as "The Founder" because he established the administrative capital of Memphis, which would serve as the heart of Egypt for millennia.
1. The Founding of Memphis (Ineb-Hedj)
Hor-Aha's greatest strategic achievement was founding the city of Memphis (originally known as *Ineb-Hedj*, "The White Wall").
Why Memphis?
He chose a location at the exact apex of the Nile Delta, where the valley meets the sea. This allowed him to control both the agricultural wealth of the Delta and the trade routes of the Upper Nile simultaneously. Legend says he diverted the course of the Nile to create dry land for the city.
2. The Fighter King: Military Campaigns
Peace was not immediate. Hor-Aha led campaigns to suppress rebellions in Nubia (Ta-Sety) to the south, ensuring access to gold and trade routes. An ebony label found in Abydos depicts the "Smiting of the Nubians," confirming his military activity. He also secured the eastern borders in the Sinai.
3. The Royal Tomb at Abydos (B19)
Hor-Aha was buried in the ancestral cemetery of Umm el-Qaab at Abydos. His tomb complex consists of three large chambers (B10, B15, B19). It is significantly larger than Narmer's, reflecting the growing wealth of the state.
Human Sacrifice
Grim evidence from his tomb complex reveals the practice of retainer sacrifice. Dozens of young servants and lions were killed and buried around him to serve him in the afterlife. This brutal practice demonstrated the absolute power of the early kings but was abandoned by the end of the First Dynasty in favor of shabti figures.
4. Queens and Dynastic Marriage
To cement the union of the Two Lands, Hor-Aha likely married Neithhotep, a princess from the north (Lower Egypt), though she may also have been his mother. His primary wife was likely Benerib, whose name means "Sweet of Heart" and who was buried near him at Abydos.
5. The Mystery of Menes
Ancient historians like Manetho speak of a king named Menes who founded the First Dynasty. Egyptologists have long debated whether Menes was Narmer or Hor-Aha. The prevailing theory is that "Menes" is a title or a composite figure representing the acts of both kings, but the construction of Memphis is most strongly linked to Hor-Aha.