3rd-millennium BC births

Khufu or Cheops was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, reigning during the 26th century BC in the early Old Kingdom period. Khufu succeeded his father Sneferu as king. He is generally accepted as having commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but many other aspects of his reign are poorly documented. Khufu is also the main character noted in the Westcar Papyrus from the 13th dynasty.

Khafre or Chephren (died 2532 BC) was an ancient Egyptian monarch who was the fourth king of the Fourth Dynasty, during the earlier half of the Old Kingdom period ( 2700–2200 BC). He was son of the king Khufu, and succeeded his brother Djedefre to the throne.

Menkaure or Menkaura (; 2550 BC - 2503 BC) was a king of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt during the Old Kingdom. He is well known under his Hellenized names Mykerinos ( by Herodotus), in turn Latinized as Mycerinus, and Menkheres ( by Manetho). According to Manetho, he was the throne successor of king Bikheris, but according to archaeological evidence, he was almost certainly the successor of Khafre. Africanus (from Syncellus) reports as rulers of the fourth dynasty Sôris, Suphis I, Suphis II, Mencherês (=Menkaure), Ratoisês, Bicheris, Sebercherês, and Thamphthis in this order. Menkaure became fam

Nynetjer (also known as Ninetjer and Banetjer) was the third pharaoh of the Second Dynasty of Egypt during the Early Dynastic Period, prior to the Old Kingdom period. The dates for his reign are uncertain. Egyptologists have proposed that it took place at some point between the late 29th and the early 27th century BC for 35 to 49 years, and most probably lasted around 40 years. Archaeologically, Nynetjer is the best-attested king of the early Second Dynasty and he is also recorded on several king lists dating to the Old Kingdom and the later Ramesside and Ptolemaic periods. There is strong evi

Hotepsekhemwy is the Horus name of an early Egyptian king who was the founder of the Second Dynasty of Egypt. The exact length of his reign is not known; the Turin canon suggests an improbable 95 years while the ancient Egyptian historian Manetho reports that the reign of "Boëthôs" lasted for 38 years. Egyptologists consider both statements to be misinterpretations or exaggerations. They credit Hotepsekhemwy with either a 25- or a 29-year rule.

thumb|266x266px|Inscription IV-C: Personal name of Djedefre in a mountain hieroglyph, Water Mountain of Djedefre, New Valley, Western Desert, Egypt Djedefre (also known as Djedefra and Radjedef; died 2558 BC) was an ancient Egyptian king (pharaoh) of the 4th Dynasty during the Old Kingdom. He is well known by the Hellenized form of his name Rhatoisēs (Ῥατοίσης) by Manetho. Djedefre was the son and immediate throne successor of Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza; his mother is not known for certain. He is the king who introduced the royal title Sa-Rê (meaning “Son of Ra”) and the f

Unas or Wenis, also spelled Unis (, hellenized form Oenas or Onnos; died 2345 BC), was a king, the ninth and last ruler of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt during the Old Kingdom. Unas reigned for around 30 years in the mid-24th century BC (c. 2375–c. 2345 BC), succeeding Djedkare Isesi, who might have been his father.

Egyptian pharaoh of the 11th Dynasty

Shepseskaf (meaning "His Ka is noble") was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt, the sixth and probably last ruler of the Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom period. He reigned most probably for four but possibly up to seven years in the late 26th to mid-25th century BC.

Shulgi ( dšul-gi, (died 2046 BC) formerly read as Dungi) of Ur was the second king of the Third Dynasty of Ur. He reigned for 48 years, from (Middle Chronology). His accomplishments include the completion of construction of the Great Ziggurat of Ur, begun by his father Ur-Nammu. On his inscriptions, he took the titles "King of Ur", "King of Sumer and Akkad", adding "King of the four corners of the universe" in the second half of his reign. He used the symbol for divinity (Dingir|) before his name, marking his apotheosis, from at least the 21st year of his reign and was worshipped in the E

Gudea (, ; Sumerian: , Gu3-de2-a; died 2124 BC) was a Sumerian ruler (ensi) of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia, who ruled or c. 2144–2124 BC (MC). Though most likely not a native of Lagash, he married Ninalla, the daughter of its ruler Ur-Baba, which enabled him to enter the royal family. He was succeeded by his son, Ur-Ningirsu II. Gudea ruled during a period when the Gutian dynasty Mari. Under Gudea, Lagash experienced a golden age, with seemingly considerable independence from the Gutians, a language isolate populace who had come from northeastern regions beyond Mesopotamia.

Shepseskare or Shepseskara (Egyptian for "Noble is the Soul of Ra"; died 2458 BC) was an Ancient Egyptian king, the fourth or fifth ruler of the Fifth Dynasty (2494–2345 BC) during the Old Kingdom period. Shepseskare lived in the mid-25th century BC and was probably the owner of an unfinished pyramid in Abusir, which was abandoned after a few weeks of work in the earliest stages of its construction.

ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 5th Dynasty

Ptahhotep ( "Peace of Ptah"; ), sometimes referred to as Ptahhotep I or Ptahhotpe, was a vizier during the reign of Djedkare Isesi in Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty. He is best known as the author of The Maxims of Ptahhotep, one of the earliest works of Egyptian wisdom literature, intended to instruct young men in proper conduct and ethical behavior.

Enmerkar () was an ancient Sumerian ruler to whom the construction of the city of Uruk and a 420-year reign was attributed. According to literary sources, he led various campaigns against the land of Aratta.

Uru-ka-gina, Uru-inim-gina, Eri-enim-ge-na, or Iri-ka-gina ( ; died 2368 BC) ruled in the 24th century BC as King of the city-states of Lagash and Girsu in Mesopotamia, and was the last ruler of the 1st Dynasty of Lagash. He assumed the kingship, claiming to be divinely appointed, following the reign of his predecessor Lugalanda. It is generally thought that Lugalanda lived on for 4 or 5 years after the ascension of Urukagina with the title "ensi-gal". The wife of Urukagina was named Sagsag, and a statue of her in the temple of Baba in Lagash was still being venerated centuries later in the Ur

Rimush (or Rimuš, Ri-mu-uš; died 2270 BC) was the second king of the Akkadian Empire. He was the son of Sargon of Akkad. He was succeeded by his brother Manishtushu, and was an uncle of Naram-Sin of Akkad. Naram-Sin posthumously deified Sargon and Manishtushi but not his uncle. His sister was Enheduana, considered the earliest known named author in world history. Little is known about his brother Shu-Enlil. There was a city, Dur-Rimuš (Fortress of Rimush), located near Tell Ishchali and Khafajah. It was known to be a cult center of the storm god Adad.

Lugal-Zage-Si ( ; frequently spelled Lugalzaggesi, sometimes Lugalzagesi or "Lugal-Zaggisi") of Umma (died 2334 BC) was the last Sumerian king before the conquest of Sumer by Sargon of Akkad and the rise of the Akkadian Empire, and was considered as the only king of the third dynasty of Uruk, according to the Sumerian King List. Initially, as king of Umma, he led the final victory of Umma in the generation-long conflict with the city-state Lagash for the fertile plain of Gu-Edin. Following up on this success, he then united Sumer briefly as a single kingdom.

Manishtushu (Man-ištušu) (, Ma-an-ish-tu-su; died 2255 BC) was the third king of the Akkadian Empire, reigning 15 years c. 2270 BC until his death c. 2255 BC. His name means "Who is with him?". He was the son of Sargon the Great, the founder of the Akkadian Empire, and he was succeeded by his son, Naram-Sin who also deified him posthumously. A cylinder seal, of unknown provenance, clearly from the reign of Naram-Sin or later, refers to the deified Manishtushu i.e. "(For) the divine Man-istusu: Taribu, the wife of Lugal-ezen, had (this seal) fashioned". Texts from the later Ur III period show o

Egyptian pharaoh

Queen of Egypt during the 4th dynasty

Eannatum ( ; ) was a Sumerian Ensi (ruler or king) of Lagash. He established one of the first verifiable empires in history, subduing Elam and destroying the city of Susa, and extending his domain over the rest of Sumer and Akkad. One inscription found on a boulder states that Eannatum was his Sumerian name, while his "Tidnu" (Amorite) name was Lumma.

Ibbi-Sin (, ; died 2004 BC) was king of Sumer and Akkad and last king of the Ur III dynasty, and reigned c. 2028–2004 BC (Middle chronology). During his reign, the Sumerian empire was attacked repeatedly by Amorites. As faith in Ibbi-Sin's leadership failed, Elam declared its independence and began to raid as well.

Shu-Sin, also Šu-Suen (: DŠuDSîn, after the Moon God Sîn", the "𒀭" being a silent honorific for "Divine", formerly read Gimil-Sin; died 2028 BC) was king of Sumer and Akkad, and was the fourth king of the Ur III dynasty. He succeeded Amar-Sin, who might have been his father, and reigned c. 2037 – c. 2028 BC (Middle Chronology).

Ur-Nanshe (, ; ) also Ur-Nina, was the first king of the First Dynasty of Lagash in the Sumerian Early Dynastic Period III. He is known through inscriptions to have commissioned many building projects, including canals and temples, in the state of Lagash, and defending Lagash from its rival state Umma. He was probably not from royal lineage, being the son of Gunidu () who was recorded without an accompanying royal title. He was the father of Akurgal, who succeeded him, and grandfather of Eannatum. Eannatum expanded the kingdom of Lagash by defeating Umma as illustrated in the Stele of the Vult

Egyptian pharaoh

Amar-Sin (: DAmarDSîn, "calf of Sîn", the "𒀭" being a silent honorific for "Divine"; died 2037 BC) initially misread as Bur-Sin (c. 2046–2037 BC) middle chronology, was the third ruler of the Third Dynasty of Ur. He succeeded Shulgi, who might have been his father. His name translates to 'bull calf of the moon-god'. The name Amar-Sin was not recorded before his ascension and is a "throne name". His original name, and whether he was actually the son of Shulgi, is unknown. It has been proposed that Amar-Sin, Shu-Sin, and Ibbi-Sin were all brothers and sons of Shulgi. Alternatively, it has been

Queen of Ancient Egypt during the 4th dynasty

Enmebaragesi (Sumerian: Enmebárgisi [EN-ME-BARA2-GI4-SE]; ) originally Mebarasi () was the penultimate king of the first dynasty of Kish and is recorded as having reigned 900 years in the Sumerian King List. Like his son and successor Aga, he reigned during a period when Kish had hegemony over Sumer. Enmebaragesi signals a momentous documentary leap from mytho-history to history, since he is the earliest ruler on the king list whose name is attested directly from archaeology.

Egyptian pharaoh

thumb | right Thamphthis ( c. 2500 BC) is the hellenized name of an ancient Egyptian ruler (pharaoh) of the 4th Dynasty in the Old Kingdom, who may have ruled under the name Djedefptah or Djedefkaf for between two and nine years. His original Egyptian name is lost, but it may have been Djedefptah ("he endures like Ptah") according to Egyptologists like William C. Hayes, or Djedefkaf ("his Ka is enduring") according to other Egyptologists. Thamphthis is one of the shadowy rulers of the Old Kingdom, since he is completely unattested in contemporary sources. For this reason, his historical figure

Egyptian pharaoh

ancient Egyptian queen consort

Egyptian pharaoh

Merenhor may have been an Eighth Dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. His name is only attested on the Abydos King List (n. 46). Merenhor is absent from the Turin canon as a large lacuna in this document affects most kings of the 7th/8th Dynasty. No contemporary document or building with his name has been found.

Egyptian pharaoh

Neferirkare Pepi III (sometimes referred to as Neferirkare II because of Neferirkare Kakai; died 2160 BC) was an ancient Egyptian king of the Eighth Dynasty during the early First Intermediate Period (2181–2055 BC). According to egyptologists Kim Ryholt, Jürgen Beckerath, and Darrell Baker, he was the 17th and final king of the Eighth Dynasty. Many scholars consider Neferirkare to have been the last king of the Old Kingdom, which came to an end with the 8th Dynasty.

Egyptian pharaoh

Mesannepada (, [MES-AN-NE2-PAD3-DA]), Mesh-Ane-pada or Mes-Anne-pada ("Youngling chosen by An"; died ) was the first king listed for the First Dynasty of Ur on the Sumerian king list. He is listed to have ruled for 80 years, having overthrown Lugal-kitun of Uruk: "Then Unug (Uruk) was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur)". In one of his seals, found in the Royal Cemetery at Ur, he is also described as king of Kish.

Egyptian pharaoh

Egyptian queen consort

thumb|right|Plan of tomb PG 800, drawn by archaeologist Katharine Woolley thumb|Reconstructed Sumerian headgear necklaces found in the tomb of Puabi on three of her attendants, housed at the British Museum Puabi (Akkadian: 𒅤𒀜 pu3-AD ), also called Shubad or Shudi-Ad due to a misinterpretation by Sir Charles Woolley, was an important queen in the Sumerian city of Ur, during the First Dynasty of Ur. Commonly labeled as a "queen", her status is somewhat in dispute, although several cylinder seals in her tomb, labeled grave PG 800 at the Royal Cemetery at Ur, identify her by the title "nin" or "

ancient Egyptian queen consort

sovereign

Akkadian king

Neferkahor (died 2181 BC) may have been ancient Egyptian king of the Eighth Dynasty during the First Intermediate Period. According to Egyptologists Jürgen Beckerath and Darrell Baker, he was the eleventh king of this dynasty. His name is attested on the Abydos King List (number 50) and on a black steatite cylinder seal of unknown provenance. Neferkahor is absent from the Turin canon as a large lacuna in this document affects most kings of the 7th/8th Dynasty. No contemporary document or building with his name has been found.

Entemena, also called Enmetena (, ; ), was a son of Enannatum I who re-established Lagash as a power in Sumer. He defeated Il in a territorial conflict through an alliance with Lugal-kinishe-dudu of Uruk, successor to Enshakushanna, who is in the king list. The tutelary deity Shul-utula was his personal deity. His reign lasted at least 19 years.

Neferkamin (died 2188 BC) may have been an Eighth Dynasty king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period.

Neferkaure (died 2163 BC) was a king of ancient Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. According to the Abydos King List and the latest reconstruction of the Turin canon by Kim Ryholt, he was the 15th king of the Eighth Dynasty. This opinion is shared by the Egyptologists Jürgen Beckerath, Thomas Schneider, and Darell Baker. As a king of the Eighth Dynasty, Neferkaure's seat of power was Memphis and he may not have held power over all of Egypt.

Egyptian pharaoh

ancient Mesopotamian king

Nefermaat I () was an ancient Egyptian prince, a son of king Sneferu. He was a vizier possessing the titles of the king's eldest son, royal seal bearer, and prophet of Bastet. His name means "Maat is beautiful" or "With perfect justice".

Neferkauhor Khuwihapi (died 2161 BC) was an ancient Egyptian king of the Eighth Dynasty during the early First Intermediate Period (2181–2055 BC), at a time when Egypt was possibly divided between several polities. Neferkauhor was the sixteenth and penultimate king of the Eighth Dynasty and as such would have ruled over the Memphite region. Neferkauhor reigned for little over 2 years and is one of the best attested kings of this period with eight of his decrees surviving in fragmentary condition to this day.

Egyptian pharaoh

ancient Egyptian queen

Issi'ak Assur

Djedefhor or Hordjedef (died 2530 BC) was a noble Egyptian of the 4th Dynasty. He was the son of King Khufu and his name means "Enduring Like Horus".

Egyptian pharaoh

King of Lagash

ancient Egyptian queen consort