To reign united Egypt in an orderly system, the concept of kingship became one of the most dominant ideologies and institutions supporting the future dynasties for about three thousand years, especially when Narmer is a clear example of the ruling elite throughout Egypt’s history. Narmer’s reign shows its importance for both the prehistoric way of life from which Egypt was emerging and of the dynastic civilization of Egypt’s future (Wilkson 2000:23). One way of retracing this meaningful moment in history is through the Narmer Palette, an iconic indicator excavated at Hierakonpolis that illustrates the political unification of Egypt and the significant symbolic role for the king.

By the time of entering The Early Dynasty & Old Kingdom Egypt, it represents the real start of the Egyptian state and its intricate social structures (Arsenault 2021:14). An administrative bureaucracy led by the king to rule, and Memphis is founded as a city capital of the unified kingdom throughout the early dynastic periods and subsequent dynasties until 7 century CE. Additionally, administrative hubs would have been established all around the nation to aid in running the sizable territorial state.

https://jstor.org/stable/community.18113146

This Egyptian ceremonial engraving comprises several fields with separate scenes on both sides: the observe into four fields and the reverse into three (Yadin 1955:2). The subject on each scene ranges from a victorious king, dead enemies, to vanquished peoples or towns while it is debatable whether there is a specific historical event depicted on the Palette (Bard 2015:115). The most noticeable characteristic of this Palette is that the divine king, Narmer, appeared on both sides, wearing the crown of Lower Egypt on observe side; reverse side, on the other hand, picturing Narmer in the crown of Upper Egypt. Overall, Narmer Palette tells the story of king Narmer highlighting the decency of his kingship and the remarkable achievement of combining two regions into one single kingdom.