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Dynasty 0 (Terminal Nagada): 3250-3050 BC

Before Menes, the first king of Dynasty I, there were at least nine and as many as thirteen kings ruling from Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt whose history was unknown. The last four have identifiable (although not always legible) names. The name of one is read Nar-mer and the other is called the "Scorpion " king. The name of Narmer occurs on objects found at Abydos, in the tombs of the third and fifth kings of dynasty I. The first king Mena is universally acknowledged by every tablet known and by every literary record also. Nar-mer preceded Mena. In other words, he is one of the kings of Abydos who were local kings of Upper Egypt only. This inference is well supported by the inscriptions. The names of Nar-mer and Mena are characterised as royal in the same way. They are both enclosed in a rectangular banner which is surmounted by the hawk of Horus with temple signs in the two lower corners of the banner.

Another king has been unearthed at Hierakon. He is called the "Scorpion King". In one example his name is written several times round a lime; stone vase, without the rectangular banner around it, but with a hawk on the crescent moon (?) over each scorpion. In the other example we have the King himself holding a hoe, with his fan bearers behind and a man in front of him holding a basket 01 sieve. His name is written in front of him on a level with his head, just a carved " scorpion," and over it a seven leaved star or rosette, which Dr. Petrie translates as " King" here, and " Royal " in another place. There is no banner, there are no temple signs, nor is the Horns-hawk or the Hathor head associated with the monarch. The art is rude, though not deficient in expression. The nose of the king is straight, his lips thin, his forehead high, and on his head the white crown of Upper Egypt. Prom these points it is inferred that in the Scorpion King there is a predecessor of Narmer. It was from the region of Hieraconpolis that the dynastic kings of Egypt originally emanated.2- The "Scorpion," the earliest king of Upper Egypt of there is any knowledge, put the Hawk-sign over his name. This represented not merely the god Horus, but also the district of which that god was the protecting deity.