Reconstruction of a seal combining the names of Saiset and Horus Aha.
Source: Kaplony, Inschriften der ägyptischen Frühzeit III, Tafel 29, abb. 80.
Saiset is known through several sources, the bulk of which were found in Saqqara. He is also attested in Abydos and Naqada. If his name can be taken to mean “Son of Isis”, it would be one of the earliest occurrences of the name of the goddess Isis.
As is the case with two of his contemporaries, Heti and Rekhit, some inscriptions and seal impressions mention his name along with the name of Horus Aha. Although some researchers have taken this as evidence that Saiset was a son of Horus Aha, there are no sources that would support this hypothesis. Like his two contemporaries, Saiset is not bestowed with any titulary that would inform us of his status nor of his relationship with the king.
That his name occurs most in Saqqara, could, however, be an indication that he was mainly active in the Memphite region, whereas Heti and Rekhit may have been more active in Abydos and Naqada respectively. It is possible that Saiset was a local ruler or administrator of Memphis.
In view of the number of sources found in Saqqara tomb S3357 mentioning his name, it is possible that this was Saiset’s tomb.