New Kingdom Egyptian king lists , such as the Turin Canon ( 13th century BCE ) and the Abydos king list ( reign of Seti I , 1294 -- 1279 BCE ) , identify Menes ( probably Narmer ) ( c. 3100 or 3000 BCE ) as the first king of the first dynasty and so credit him with unifying Egypt .
New Kingdom Egyptian king lists , such as the Turin Canon ( 13th century BCE ) and the Abydos king list ( reign of Seti I , 1294 -- 1279 BCE ) , say that Menes ( probably Narmer ) ( c. 3100 or 3000 BCE ) was the first king of the first dynasty .