Third dynasty of Egypt
| Dynasties of Pharaohs in ancient Egypt |
| Predynastic Egypt |
| Protodynastic Period |
| Early Dynastic Period |
| 1st 2nd |
| Old Kingdom |
| 3rd 4th 5th 6th |
| First Intermediate Period |
| 7th 8th 9th 10th |
| 11th (Thebes only) |
| Middle Kingdom |
| 11th (All Egypt) |
| 12th 13th 14th |
| Second Intermediate Period |
| 15th 16th 17th |
| New Kingdom |
| 18th 19th 20th |
| Third Intermediate Period |
| 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th |
| Late Period |
| 26th 27th 28th |
| 29th 30th 31st |
| Graeco-Roman Period |
| Alexander the Great |
| Ptolemaic dynasty |
| Roman |
The Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, Old Kingdom.
While Manetho names one Necherophes, and the Turin King List names Nebka, as the first pharaoh of the Third Dynasty of Egypt, many contemporary Egyptologists believe Djoser was the first king of this dynasty, pointing out that the order in which some predecessors of Khufu are mentioned in the Papyrus Westcar suggests that Nebka should be placed between Djoser and Huni, and not before Djoser. More importantly seals naming Djoser was found at the entrance to Khasekhemwy's tomb at Abydos which demonstrates that it was rather Djoser, rather than Sanakhte who buried and succeeded this king. The Turin King List scribe wrote Djoser's name in red ink which indicates the Ancient Egyptians recognition of this king's historical importance in their culture.
In any case, Djoser is the best known king of this dynasty, for commissioning his vizier Imhotep to build the earliest surviving pyramids, the Step Pyramid. Some authorities believe that Imhotep lived into the reign of the Pharaoh Huni.
Little is known for certain of Sekhemkhet. However, it is believed that Khaba possibly built the Layer Pyramid at Zawyet el'Aryan.
Third Dynasty timeline
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from: -2686 till: -2668 color:PA text:"Sanakhte" from: -2668 till: -2649 color:PA text:"Djoser" from: -2649 till: -2643 color:PA text:"Sekhemkhet" from: -2643 till: -2637 color:PA text:"Khaba" from: -2637 till: -2613 color:PA text:"Huni"
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Categories
Third dynasty of Egypt