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Qa’a (Qa’a hedjet Bieneches) (d. 2760 B.C.E.)Last
ruler of the First Dynasty
He reigned c. 2770 B.C.E. until his death. His name meant
“His Arm Is Raised,” and MANETHO, the Ptolemaic Period
historian, listed him as Bieneches. Few details of his reign
have survived, but he is recorded in the KING LISTSof
SAQQARA, ABYDOS, and Turin. Stone vessels bearing his
name were found in the pyramidal complex of DJOSER(r.
2630–2611 B.C.E.). Qa’a was possibly the son of
SEMERKHET.
He was probably buried at ABYDOS, where two stelae
were discovered on the east side of the tomb. The Abydos
gravesite was a deep pit with a burial chamber and maga-
zine roofed with timber. Some 26 graves surround his
Abydos resting place. A tomb in Saqqara was once
assigned to Qa’a, but it now is considered to be the grave
of a noble named MENKHAF. Four Saqqara funerary com-
plexes date to Qa’a’s reign, and stelae of Qa’a’s officials
have been discovered there.
Qakaré Iby(fl. c. 2100 B.C.E.) Ruler of the brief Eighth
Dynasty
All that remains from his undocumented reign is a small
pyramid in southern SAQQARA, bearing his name, which
translates as “Strong Is the Soul of Ré.” The Pyramid
Texts, popular in earlier dynasties, adorn Qakaré Iby’s
pyramid.
Qantir A modern village adjoining Khataneh in the
eastern Delta, once possibly the site of PER-RAMESSES, the
site served as the capital of the Ramessids (1307–1196,
1196–1070 B.C.E.), near BUBASTIS(Zagazig). The site was
abandoned for TANIS in the Twenty-first Dynasty
(1070–945 B.C.E.), and stones, monuments, and other
pieces were taken to Bubastis in the Twenty-second
Dynasty (945–712 B.C.E.).
Qar(fl. c. 2200 B.C.E.) Official of the Sixth Dynasty
He served as a judge and VIZIER. Qar’s tomb in ABUSIRis a
vast complex, containing the burials of several genera-
tions of his family. Painted reliefs depict many aspects of
that historical period and FALSE DOORSare part of the
design. The tomb has an open court with side chambers.
Qarta(fl. 23rd century B.C.E.) Priestly official of the
Sixth Dynasty
He served PEPI I(r. 2289–2255 B.C.E.) as chancellor. Qarta
was a priest and a noted librarian and archivist. He was
buried in the necropolis reserved for esteemed nobles in
SAQQARA, honored by his grave near Pepi I.
Qarun, Lake A body of water in the northwestern
edge of the FAIYUM, also called Berket el Kurun, or Qarun
Pond, the present lake is only a vestigial reminder of the
original body of water that was once subject to inunda-
tion by the Nile. By the New Kingdom (1550–1070
B.C.E.), the lake no longer exchanged water with the river.
Now it is a marshland, growing saltier, but still support-
ing a variety of fish and migratory birds.
qas This is the Egyptian word for an embalmed body
that has been wrapped in linen for burial.
See also MORTUARY RITUALS.
