Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

List of Rulers of Ancient Egypt and Nubia

See works of art

26.7.1392
37.6.1
18.2.4
13.182.3
07.230.2
08.200.5
14.3.17
26.7.1394
24.7.1
2006.270
26.3.30a
30.4.137
1995.21
29.3.2
66.99.20
30.8.45a-c
56.138
66.99.40
50.6
23.10.1
11.155.3a
22.2.21
26.7.1451
34.2.2
14.6.179
33.8.7
30.8.234
52.127.4

Our knowledge of the succession of Egyptian kings is based on kinglists kept by the ancient Egyptians themselves. The most famous are the Palermo Stone, which covers the period from the earliest dynasties to the middle of Dynasty 5; the Abydos Kinglist, which Seti I had carved on his temple at Abydos; and the Turin Canon, a papyrus that covers the period from the earliest dynasties to the reign of Ramesses II. All are incomplete or fragmentary. We also rely on the History of Egypt written by Manetho in the third century B.C. A priest in the temple at Heliopolis, Manetho had access to many original sources and it was he who divided the kings into the thirty dynasties we use today.

It is to this structure of dynasties and listed kings that we now attempt to link an absolute chronology of dates in terms of our own calendrical system. The process is made difficult by the fragmentary condition of the kinglists and by differences in the calendrical years used at various times. Some astronomical observations from the ancient Egyptians have survived, allowing us to calculate absolute dates within a margin of error. Synchronisms with the other civilizations of the ancient world are also of limited use.

Old Kingdom

ca. 2649–2150 B.C.

Dynasty 3

ca. 2649–2575 B.C.

Zanakht

ca. 2649–2630 B.C.

Djoser

ca. 2630–2611 B.C.

Sekhemkhet

ca. 2611–2605 B.C.

Khaba

ca. 2605–2599 B.C.

Huni

ca. 2599–2575 B.C.

Dynasty 4

ca. 2575–2465 B.C.

Snefru

ca. 2575–2551 B.C.

Khufu

ca. 2551–2528 B.C.

Djedefre

ca. 2528–2520 B.C.

Khafre (26.7.1392)

ca. 2520–2494 B.C.

Nebka II

ca. 2494–2490 B.C.

Menkaure (37.6.1)

ca. 2490–2472 B.C.

Shepseskaf

ca. 2472–2467 B.C.

Thamphthis

ca. 2467–2465 B.C.

Dynasty 5

ca. 2465–2323 B.C.

Userkaf

ca. 2465–2458 B.C.

Sahure (18.2.4)

ca. 2458–2446 B.C.

Neferirkare

ca. 2446–2438 B.C.

Shepseskare

ca. 2438–2431 B.C.

Neferefre

ca. 2431–2420 B.C.

Niuserre

ca. 2420–2389 B.C.

Menkauhor

ca. 2389–2381 B.C.

Isesi

ca. 2381–2353 B.C.

Unis

ca. 2353–2323 B.C.

Dynasty 6

ca. 2323–2150 B.C.

Teti

ca. 2323–2291 B.C.

Userkare

ca. 2291–2289 B.C.

Pepi I

ca. 2289–2255 B.C.

Merenre I

ca. 2255–2246 B.C.

Pepi II

ca. 2246–2152 B.C.

Merenre II

ca. 2152–2152 B.C.

Netjerkare Siptah

ca. 2152–2150 B.C.

First Intermediate Period

ca. 2150–2030 B.C.

Dynasty 8–Dynasty 10

ca. 2150–2030 B.C.

Dynasty 11 (first half)

ca. 2124–2030 B.C.

Mentuhotep I

ca. 2124–2120 B.C.

Intef I

ca. 2120–2108 B.C.

Intef II (13.182.3)

ca. 2108–2059 B.C.

Intef III

ca. 2059–2051 B.C.

Mentuhotep II (07.230.2)

ca. 2051–2030 B.C.

Middle Kingdom

ca. 2030–1640 B.C.

Dynasty 11 (second half)

ca. 2030–1981 B.C.

Mentuhotep II (cont.) (07.230.2)

ca. 2030–2000 B.C.

Mentuhotep III

ca. 2000–1988 B.C.

Qakare Intef

ca. 1985 B.C.

Sekhentibre

ca. 1985 B.C.

Menekhkare

ca. 1985 B.C.

Mentuhotep IV

ca. 1988–1981 B.C.

Dynasty 12

ca. 1981–1802 B.C.

Amenemhat I (08.200.5)

ca. 1981–1952 B.C.

Senwosret I

ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

Amenemhat II (14.3.17)

ca. 1919–1885 B.C.

Senwosret II

ca. 1887–1878 B.C.

Senwosret III (26.7.1394)

ca. 1878–1840 B.C.

Amenemhat III (24.7.1)

ca. 1859–1813 B.C.

Amenemhat IV

ca. 1814–1805 B.C.

Nefrusobek

ca. 1805–1802 B.C.

Dynasty 13

ca. 1802–1640 B.C.

Second Intermediate Period

ca. 1640–1540 B.C.

Dynasty 14–Dynasty 16

ca. 1640–1635 B.C.

Dynasty 17

ca. 1635–1550 B.C.

Tao I

ca. 1560 B.C.

Tao II

ca. 1560 B.C.

Kamose

ca. 1552–1550 B.C.

New Kingdom

ca. 1550–1070 B.C.

Dynasty 18

ca. 1550–1295 B.C.

Ahmose (2006.270)

ca. 1550–1525 B.C.

Amenhotep I (26.3.30a)

ca. 1525–1504 B.C.

Thutmose I (30.4.137)

ca. 1504–1492 B.C.

Thutmose II

ca. 1492–1479 B.C.

Thutmose III (1995.21)

ca. 1479–1425 B.C.

Hatshepsut (as regent)

ca. 1479–1473 B.C.

Hatshepsut (29.3.2)

ca. 1473–1458 B.C.

Amenhotep II (66.99.20)

ca. 1427–1400 B.C.

Thutmose IV (30.8.45a–c)

ca. 1400–1390 B.C.

Amenhotep III (56.138)

ca. 1390–1352 B.C.

Amenhotep IV

ca. 1353–1349 B.C.

Akhenaten (66.99.40)

ca. 1349–1336 B.C.

Neferneferuaton

ca. 1338–1336 B.C.

Smenkhkare

ca. 1336 B.C.

Tutankhamun (50.6)

ca. 1336–1327 B.C.

Aya

ca. 1327–1323 B.C.

Haremhab (23.10.1)

ca. 1323–1295 B.C.

Dynasty 19

ca. 1295–1186 B.C.

Ramesses I (11.155.3a)

ca. 1295–1294 B.C.

Seti I (22.2.21)

ca. 1294–1279 B.C.

Ramesses II

ca. 1279–1213 B.C.

Merneptah (26.7.1451)

ca. 1213–1203 B.C.

Amenmesse (34.2.2)

ca. 1203–1200 B.C.

Seti II

ca. 1200–1194 B.C.

Siptah (14.6.179)

ca. 1194–1188 B.C.

Tawosret

ca. 1188–1186 B.C.

Dynasty 20

ca. 1186–1070 B.C.

Sethnakht

ca. 1186–1184 B.C.

Ramesses III (33.8.7)

ca. 1184–1153 B.C.

Ramesses IV (30.8.234)

ca. 1153–1147 B.C.

Ramesses V

ca. 1147–1143 B.C.

Ramesses VI

ca. 1143–1136 B.C.

Ramesses VII

ca. 1136–1129 B.C.

Ramesses VIII

ca. 1129–1126 B.C.

Ramesses IX

ca. 1126–1108 B.C.

Ramesses X

ca. 1108–1099 B.C.

Ramesses XI

ca. 1099–1070 B.C.

Hight Priests (HP) of Amun

ca. 1080–1070 B.C.

HP Herihor

ca. 1080–1074 B.C.

HP Paiankh

ca. 1074–1070 B.C.

Third Intermediate Period

ca. 1070–713 B.C.

Dynasty 21

ca. 1070–945 B.C.

Smendes

ca. 1070–1044 B.C.

HP Painedjem I

ca. 1070–1032 B.C.

HP Masaharta

ca. 1054–1046 B.C.

HP Djedkhonsefankh

ca. 1046–1045 B.C.

HP Menkheperre

ca. 1045–992 B.C.

Amenemnisu

ca. 1044–1040 B.C.

Psusennes I

ca. 1040–992 B.C.

Amenemope

ca. 993–984 B.C.

HP Smendes

ca. 992–990 B.C.

HP Painedjem II

ca. 990–969 B.C.

Osochor

ca. 984–978 B.C.

Siamun

ca. 978–959 B.C.

HP Psusennes

ca. 969–959 B.C.

Psusennes II

ca. 959–945 B.C.

Dynasty 22 (Libyan)

ca. 945–712 B.C.

Sheshonq I

ca. 945–924 B.C.

Osorkon I

ca. 924–889 B.C.

Sheshonq II

ca. 890 B.C.

Takelot I

ca. 889–874 B.C.

Osorkon II

ca. 874–850 B.C.

Harsiese

ca. 865 B.C.

Takelot II

ca. 850–825 B.C.

Sheshonq III

ca. 825–773 B.C.

Pami

ca. 773–767 B.C.

Sheshonq V

ca. 767–730 B.C.

Osorkon IV

ca. 730–712 B.C.

Dynasty 23

ca. 818–713 B.C.

Pedubaste I

ca. 818–793 B.C.

Iuput I

ca. 800 B.C.

Sheshonq IV

ca. 793–787 B.C.

Osorkon III

ca. 787–759 B.C.

Takelot III

ca. 764–757 B.C.

Rudamun

ca. 757–754 B.C.

Iuput II

ca. 754–712 B.C.

Peftjaubast

ca. 740–725 B.C.

Namlot

ca. 740 B.C.

Thutemhat

ca. 720 B.C.

Dynasty 24

ca. 724–712 B.C.

Tefnakht

ca. 724–717 B.C.

Bakenrenef

ca. 717–712 B.C.

Late Period

ca. 712–332 B.C.

Dynasty 25 (Nubian)

ca. 712–664 B.C.

Piye (establishes Nubian Dynasty in Egypt)

ca. 743–712 B.C.

Shabaqo (55.144.6)

ca. 712–698 B.C.

Shebitqo (65.45)

ca. 698–690 B.C.

Taharqo (loses control of Lower Egypt) (41.160.104)

ca. 690–664 B.C.

Tanutamani (loses control of Upper Egypt)

ca. 664–653 B.C.

Dynasty 26 (Saite)

688–525 B.C.

Nikauba

688–672 B.C.

Necho I

672–664 B.C.

Psamtik I (X.358)

664–610 B.C.

Necho II

610–595 B.C.

Psamtik II

595–589 B.C.

Apries (09.183.1a)

589–570 B.C.

Amasis (35.9.3)

570–526 B.C.

Psamtik III

526–525 B.C.

Dynasty 27 (Persian)

525–404 B.C.

Cambyses

525–522 B.C.

Darius I

521–486 B.C.

Xerxes I

486–466 B.C.

Artaxerxes I

465–424 B.C.

Darius II

424–404 B.C.

Dynasty 28

522–399 B.C.

Pedubaste III

522–520 B.C.

Psamtik IV

ca. 470 B.C.

Inaros

ca. 460 B.C.

Amyrtaios I

ca. 460 B.C.

Thannyros

ca. 445 B.C.

Pausiris

ca. 445 B.C.

Psamtik V

ca. 445 B.C.

Psamtik VI

ca. 400 B.C.

Amyrtaios II

404–399 B.C.

Dynasty 29

399–380 B.C.

Nepherites I

399–393 B.C.

Psammuthis

393 B.C.

Achoris

393–380 B.C.

Nepherites II

380 B.C.

Dynasty 30

380–343 B.C.

Nectanebo I

380–362 B.C.

Teos

365–360 B.C.

Nectanebo II (34.2.1)

360–343 B.C.

Persians

343–332 B.C.

Khabebesh

343–332 B.C.

Artaxerxes III Ochus

343–338 B.C.

Arses

338–336 B.C.

Darius III Codoman

335–332 B.C.

Macedonian Period

332–304 B.C.

Alexander the Great (52.127.4)

332–323 B.C.

Philip Arrhidaeus

323–316 B.C.

Alexander IV

316–304 B.C.

Ptolemaic Period

304–30 B.C.

Ptolemy I Soter I

304–284 B.C.

Ptolemy II Philadelphos (12.187.31)

285–246 B.C.

Arsinoe II (20.2.21)

278–270 B.C.

Ptolemy III Euergetes I (66.99.134)

246–221 B.C.

Berenike II

246–221 B.C.

Ptolemy IV Philopator (66.99.166)

222–205 B.C.

Ptolemy V Epiphanes

205–180 B.C.

Harwennefer

205–199 B.C.

Ankhwennefer

199–186 B.C.

Cleopatra I

194–176 B.C.

Ptolemy VI Philometor

180–145 B.C.

Cleopatra II

175–115 B.C.

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II

170–116 B.C.

Harsiese

ca. 130 B.C.

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator

145–144 B.C.

Ptolemy IX Soter II

116–80 B.C.

Department of Egyptian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

October 2002

Citation

Department of Egyptian Art. “List of Rulers of Ancient Egypt and Nubia.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/phar/hd_phar.htm (October 2002)