Iry-Hor
Encyclopedia
Iry-Hor or Ro was a Predynastic pharaoh
of ancient Egypt
, although some archaeologists are doubtful of his existence. He was most likely Ka
's immediate predecessor. He ruled over Abydos
and was buried in its local cemetery at Umm el-Qa'ab
near Ka, Narmer
and the First Dynasty kings.
The argument against his existence rests on the lack of a serekh
in front of his name and the poor attestation. The only other inscription of Iry-Hor outside of Abydos is located in Lower Egypt
at Zawyet el'Aryan
, while Ka and Narmer have many inscriptions located as far as Palestine
. Toby Wilkinson
dismisses the tomb as a storage pit and the name as a treasury mark.
Supporters point to the size and location of the tomb. It is a double tomb as big as Ka's and Narmer's, located within a sequential order linking the older "U" cemetery with the First Dynasty
tombs. The name is inscribed on a large jar, like that of other pharaohs, and contains the royal Horus
falcon. The serekh could have been a tradition that started with Ka.
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
of ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
, although some archaeologists are doubtful of his existence. He was most likely Ka
Ka (Pharaoh)
Ka, also Sekhem Ka or Ka-Sekhen, was a Predynastic pharaoh of Upper Egypt.- Biography :Ka ruled over Abydos in the late 32nd or early 31st century BC, and was buried at Umm el-Qa'ab. He most likely was the immediate successor to Iry-Hor and was succeeded by Narmer...
's immediate predecessor. He ruled over Abydos
Abydos, Egypt
Abydos is one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, and also of the eight Upper Nome, of which it was the capital city. It is located about 11 kilometres west of the Nile at latitude 26° 10' N, near the modern Egyptian towns of el-'Araba el Madfuna and al-Balyana...
and was buried in its local cemetery at Umm el-Qa'ab
Umm el-Qa'ab
Umm el-Qa`āb is the necropolis of the Early Dynastic kings at Abydos, in Egypt. Its modern name means Mother of Pots, as the whole area is littered with the broken pot shards of offerings made in earlier times...
near Ka, Narmer
Narmer
Narmer was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period . He is thought to be the successor to the Protodynastic pharaohs Scorpion and/or Ka, and he is considered by some to be the unifier of Egypt and founder of the First Dynasty, and therefore the first pharaoh of unified Egypt.The...
and the First Dynasty kings.
The argument against his existence rests on the lack of a serekh
Serekh
In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a serekh is a rectangular enclosure representing the niched or gated façade of a palace surmounted by the Horus falcon, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name...
in front of his name and the poor attestation. The only other inscription of Iry-Hor outside of Abydos is located in Lower Egypt
Lower Egypt
Lower Egypt is the northern-most section of Egypt. It refers to the fertile Nile Delta region, which stretches from the area between El-Aiyat and Zawyet Dahshur, south of modern-day Cairo, and the Mediterranean Sea....
at Zawyet el'Aryan
Zawyet el'Aryan
Zawyet el-Aryan is a town in Egypt, located between Giza and Abusir. To the west of the town, just in the desert area, is a necropolis, referred to by the same name. Almost directly east across the Nile is Memphis. In Zawyet el-Aryan, there are 2 pyramid complexes.* The Layer Pyramid was built in...
, while Ka and Narmer have many inscriptions located as far as Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. Toby Wilkinson
Toby Wilkinson
Toby A. H. Wilkinson is an English Egyptologist. He is a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Archaeology, University of Durham.-Selected works:...
dismisses the tomb as a storage pit and the name as a treasury mark.
Supporters point to the size and location of the tomb. It is a double tomb as big as Ka's and Narmer's, located within a sequential order linking the older "U" cemetery with the First Dynasty
First dynasty of Egypt
The first dynasty of Ancient Egypt is often combined with the Dynasty II under the group title, Early Dynastic Period of Egypt...
tombs. The name is inscribed on a large jar, like that of other pharaohs, and contains the royal Horus
Horus
Horus is one of the oldest and most significant deities in the Ancient Egyptian religion, who was worshipped from at least the late Predynastic period through to Greco-Roman times. Different forms of Horus are recorded in history and these are treated as distinct gods by Egyptologists...
falcon. The serekh could have been a tradition that started with Ka.