Raneb (or Nebra, "Ra is Lord") ruled egypt during the second dynasty of the Early Dynastic Period. Manetho recorded that Raneb reigned for 39 years, but most scholars belive his reign was much shorter, possibly only ten years. Manetho also claims that he introduced the worship of Mendes (the sacred goat) and began the bull cults of the Mnevis in Heliopolis, and the Apis in Memphis. However, references to the cult of the Apis in Den's reign prove that the cult predates Raneb.
He is thought to have been Hotepsekhemwy's son or brother, but there is no firm evidence of a family relationship. As far as we know, he was the first pharaoh to include the sun god Ra in his name and his reign marked a swing in power to the cult of Ra. As a result, his name is sometimes given as "Nebra" (meaning "Lord of the Sun").
A granite statuette of the mortuary priest named Hetepdief, lists the names of Hotepsekhemwy, Raneb and Nynetjer, suggesting that there were no successional problems at the beginning of the second dynasty.
Sealings from Raneb's reign were found near the pyramid of Unas, and a granite stelea with his name in a serekh was discovered in Abydos. His burial place has not been confirmed, but could have been at Abydos or Saqqara.
Nomen; Kakau (from the Turin list)
Nomen; Kakau (from the Abydos kings list)
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