Den (pharaoh)

Den
Udimu, Dewen
“MacGregor-Label” from Den's tomb in Abydos, EA 55586
Pharaoh
Reign	42 years, starting c. 2970 BC
Coregency	Merneith
Predecessor	Djet, Merneith
Successor	Anedjib
Royal titulary Horus name Hor-Den Ḥr-dn He who brings the waters Golden Horus Iaret-nebu-shen jˁr.t-nbw-šn Golden cobra Abydos King List Sepati sp3t.j He of the two districts Turin King List Qenenti Qnntj Prenomen  (Praenomen) Nisut-Bity-Khasty nsw.t-bjtj-ḫ3st.j King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the one of the two deserts
Consort	Seshemetka, Semat, Serethor, Nakht-Neith ? Qua-Neith ?
Children	Anedjib ?
Father	Djet
Mother	Merneith
Burial	Tomb T, Umm El Qa'ab
Dynasty	1st Dynasty

Den, also known as Hor-Den, Dewen, and Udimu, was the Horus name of a pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period who ruled during the First Dynasty of Egypt. He is the best archaeologically-attested ruler of this period, credited with bringing prosperity to his realm.

Den was the first to use the title "King of Upper and Lower Egypt" and the first depicted as wearing the double crown (red and white). Notably, the floor of his tomb at Umm El Qa'ab, near Abydos, was constructed using red and black granite, making it the earliest known use of this hard stone as a building material in Egypt with a flight of stairs leading to it. During his long reign, he established many of the customs of court ritual and royalty drawn on by later rulers and was held in high regard by his immediate successors.