The Two Lands/King Menes

The early people who settled along the Nile River banded together into two main groups.

One group lived around the mouth of Nile River, near the Mediterranean Sea. Their king wore a Red Crown. Their land was called Lower Egypt.

The other group lived near the mountains to the South. Their king wore a White Crown. Their land was called Upper Egypt.

These two groups had much in common. They spoke the same language. They worshipped the same gods. They had the same culture. But, they did not get along. They were always fighting.

Around 3000 BCE, King Menes (also known as King Namer) ruled Upper Egypt. He conquered Lower Egypt. These two groups continued to fight. One day, King Menes had an idea. If the color of a crown was so important, why not invent a new crown?! King Menes created the Double Crown, a mix of white and red. 

His idea worked. Both Lower and Upper Egypt respected the Double Crown. They called their land "The Two Lands".  Over time, The Two Lands became known as Egypt.

 

The Crowns of Ancient Egypt