Table of Contents
Summary
Menes is the first king who founded Memphis and constructed a dam and digged a deep and wide canal redirecting the Nile.
From Menes to Sethos, was a period of 341 generations. The calculation is made by the Egyptians themselves.
Menes instructed the people in the worship of the gods and in the practice of living together in cities.
Menes is the first king of the First Dynasty, with a reign lasting 62 years.
Menes introduced writing to Egypt.
Herodotus indeed mentions a timeline spanning from Menes, the first king of Egypt, to Sethos, a priest of Hephaestus who became king.
“They say that from Menes, the first king of Egypt, to Sethos, was a period of 341 generations. The calculation is made by the Egyptians themselves.”
Histories, Book 2, Chapter 142
Analysis of the Timeline
Herodotus’ claim of 341 generations from Menes to Sethos can be analyzed considering ancient Egyptian generational calculations. A generation in ancient times was typically considered to be about 30 years.
Calculation
- If we consider each generation to be approximately 30 years:
- 341 generations × 20 years/generation = 6,820 years
- 341 generations × 30 years/generation = 10,230 years
Menes as the First King
Herodotus identifies Menes as the first king of Egypt, who is credited with founding the city of Memphis.
“Menes, who was the first king of Egypt, raised the whole country around Memphis into a dam”.
Histories, Book 2, 2.99
Foundation of Memphis
Herodotus describes Menes’ significant engineering achievement of creating a dam to divert the Nile River, which allowed the establishment of Memphis.
“Menes, who was the first king of Egypt, raised the whole country around Memphis into a dam”
Histories, Book 2, 2.99
Temples of Hephaestus
Menes is credited with constructing the temple of Hephaestus (Ptah) in Memphis, reflecting his contributions to religious and architectural development.
“This king was the first to establish the city of Memphis, making use of the mud and earth that the river deposits in its floods. And after he had dammed off the river from the town, he first founded in the place where it used to run, and which is now the lake of Moeris, the temple of Hephaestus” .
Histories, Book 2, 2.99
Other Greek writers mentioning Menes
Yes, Menes is mentioned by other Greek writers in addition to Herodotus. These mentions often align with Herodotus’ portrayal of Menes as a foundational figure in Egyptian history. Here are some notable mentions:
Diodorus Siculus
In his work “Bibliotheca historica” (Historical Library), written in the 1st century BCE, Diodorus Siculus provides an account of Menes:
Foundation of Egyptian Civilization:
Diodorus describes Menes as the first king of Egypt who established the monarchy and founded the city of Memphis.
“Menes, the first king, having established himself in the royal power, instructed the people in the worship of the gods and in the practice of living together in cities, and he founded Memphis, the first and most ancient of the cities of Egypt”.
Bibliotheca historica, Book 1, Chapter 45
Memphis and the Nile:
Similar to Herodotus, Diodorus notes Menes’ engineering works, including the construction of a dam to control the Nile’s flooding and protect the new city.
“Menes turned the river into a new course, digging a deep and wide canal so that the site where the river formerly ran became dry land”.
Bibliotheca historica, Book 1, Chapter 45
Manetho
Manetho was an Egyptian priest and historian of the Ptolemaic era (3rd century BCE) who wrote “Aegyptiaca” (History of Egypt). Although his original work is lost, it is known through excerpts and summaries by later writers such as Josephus, Eusebius, and Africanus:
Menes as the First Pharaoh:
Manetho lists Menes as the first king of the First Dynasty of Egypt.
According to Africanus’ version of Manetho’s king list, Menes reigned for 62 years and was followed by Athothis (Manetho, via Africanus, “Chronographia”).
Pliny the Elder
In his “Natural History,” written in the 1st century CE, Pliny the Elder briefly mentions Menes in the context of notable ancient kings:
Inventions and Innovations
Pliny attributes to Menes the introduction of writing in Egypt.
“Menes, who first introduced letters into Egypt, was one of their kings”.
Natural History, Book 7, Chapter 57
