Herodotus confirms that the first king of Egypt was Min (named Menes by Manetho and recorded as Men on the Abydos kings list). According to Herodotus, all of Egypt, except the area around Thebes, was a marsh when Min became pharaoh. However, Min redirected the Nile and created an embankment on which he established the city of Memphis and built a temple to Hephaistos (the Greek name for Ptah).
It is not clear which Ancient Egyptian king is referred to but the most likely contenders are Scorpion, Narmer and Aha. Min may also be a combination of elements from each of these three rulers.
Herodotus: Pharaohs
- Min
- Cheops
- Chephren
- Mykerinos
- Asychis
- Nitocris
- Moiris
- Sesostris
- Pheros
- Proteus
- Rhampsinitos
- Anysis
- Sethon
- Psammis
- Apries
- Amasis
- Cambyses
- Darius
Copyright J Hill 2010