11 Facts About Iry-Hor

Iry-Hor was a predynastic pharaoh of Upper Egypt during the 32nd century BC.

Iry-Hor is the earliest ruler of Egypt known by name and is sometimes cited as the earliest-living historical person known by name.

Iry-Hor's name is written with the Horus falcon hieroglyph above a mouth hieroglyph.

Until 2012, the name of Iry-Hor had not been found in or next to a serekh, so the identification of Iry-Hor as a king was controversial.

Gunter Dreyer's excavations of the necropolis of Abydos revealed that Iry-Hor was in fact well attested there with over 27 objects bearing his name and that his tomb was of royal proportions.

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Furthermore, in 2012 an inscription mentioning Iry-Hor was discovered in the Sinai, the inscription comprising furthermore an archaic empty serekh on the right of Iry-Hor's name.

Iry-Hor was most likely Ka's immediate predecessor and thus would have reigned during the early 32nd century BC.

Iry-Hor probably ruled from Hierakonpolis over Abydos and the wider Thinite region and controlled Egypt at least as far north as Memphis, since the Sinai rock inscription relates a visit of Iry-Hor to this city.

Iry-Hor was buried in the royal cemetery of Umm el-Qa'ab near Ka, Narmer and the First Dynasty kings.

In total no less than 22 pottery jars incised with Iry-Hor's name have been in Abydos as well as at least 5 ink-inscribed fragments and a cylinder seal.

Iry-Hor's tomb is the oldest tomb of the Abydos necropolis B in the Umm el-Qa'ab.