(Redirected from Naqada IIIA)'Naqada III' is the last phase of the 'Naqadan period' of ancient Egyptian history. It is the period during which the process of state formation, which had begun to take place in
Naqada II, became highly visible, with named kings heading powerful polities. 'Naqada III' is often referred to as
Dynasty 0 to reflect the presence of kings at the head of influential states, although, in fact, the kings involved would not have been a part of a dynasty. They would more probably have been completely unrelated and very possibly in competition with each other. Kings names are inscribed in the form of serekhs on a variety of surfaces including pottery and tombs.
Wilkinson (1999) lists these early Kings as the un-named owner of
Abydos tomb B1/2 whom some interpret as
Iry-Hor, King A, King B,
Scorpion and/or Crocodile, and Ka. Others favour a slightly different listing.
Naqada III extends all over
Egypt and is characterized by some sensational firsts:
★ The first
hieroglyphs
★ The first graphical narratives on
palettes
★ The first regular use of
serekhs
★ The first truly royal cemeteries
★ Possibly, the first
irrigation
See also
★
Protodynastic Period of Egypt