Narmer was a pivotal individual who lived during the development of Egypt’s state and its rise of kingship. His burial was likely at Abydos. A number of artifacts relating to him have survived from this period and they show increasing use of hieroglyphs, as well as the development of specific imagery and iconography that suggest royalty. In addition, material connected with him derives from several locations in Egypt, suggesting his increased importance and influence in many parts of the land. But was he the first to rule all of Egypt? Recent research on Narmer and the whole period of early kingship suggests a different picture of those involved with the development of kingship and the state in ancient Egypt.
About the Speaker
David P. Silverman, Ph.D., is Eckley Brinton Coxe, Jr. Professor of Egyptology and Curator of Penn Museum's Egyptian Section, and one of the leading authorities on the civilization of ancient Egypt. Dr. Silverman was the national curator, advisor, and academic content creator for the blockbuster exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. He was also responsible for the curatorial content in the original 1977 Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibit and served as Curator in Chicago at the Field Museum. His extensive publications include numerous books and articles on Egyptian language, art, and religion, and he has directed several field expeditions at sites throughout Egypt.