Definition: In Egyptian legend, the first king of Egypt was Menes. At least, Menes is the form of the king's name that was used by the 3rd century B.C. historian Manetho. Two other first dynasty kings' names are associated with Menes, Narmer (as in the Narmer Palette) and Aha. Manetho says Menes' dynasty had 8 kings and that a hippopotamus carried off Menes at the end of his life.
The Greek historian Herodotus calls Menes Min. The Jewish historian Josephus calls him Minaios and the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus refers to him as Manas, the first law-giver.
There are various etymologies for the name, including an attempt to connect Menes with the name of the city he founded, Memphis, which he reclaimed by means of dam construction.
The Roman Pliny says Menes invented writing.
Source: Steve Vinson "Menes" The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Ed. Donald B. Redford, Oxford University Press, Inc.,
