In the beginning, when Egyptian civilization began to develope, Ra needed a counterpart on earth to help rule over man. This counterpart became Pharaoh, or Per-a'a. Per-a'a was no ordinary man, for he was endowed with divine power given to him by Ra himself.

Before the time of unification, there was disorder in Egypt in an era known as the Pre-Dynastic Period. This was before there were any great monuments, pharaohs, or even an organized religion. Because Lower Egypt's population merely dotted the landscape of the delta, there was hardly a chance for unification amongst themselves. In Upper Egypt, however, the Nile became their center for interaction and it was less difficult for communition, unlike the Lower Egyptians.

Hierokonpolis, or Nekhen, would be a catalyst in Egyptian history. This city produced a string of rulers and conquerors who consolidated the power of Upper Egypt. The last ruler from Hieorokonpolis, Narmer, finished the task of uniting Upper and Lower Egypt. Afterwards, King Aha (Probably the Menes of the Greeks) moved the capitol of both Upper and Lower Egypt to Memphis, Men-Nefer to the Egyptians. Something interesting about Aha is his untimely demise. According to legend, one day while hunting, he was carried off by the vicious and territorial Nile hippopotamus. Despite this, Aha and his sons ensured the existence of the dynasties to come.